2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (Series tied 1-1)

[FlatearthZorro]

I’m still baffled by how the Pacers won the game. That entire first half they looked like a team that doesn’t even belong in the playoffs. Just crazy.

Again, this has been the appeal of the current PO.
A lots of unexpected things have happened, and I do believe this is good for people who enjoy the game(not casuals who go to games 1 time a year).

[xBulletproof]

If Pacers win they'd be overcoming a serious talent gap, maybe next year we'd be saying different things, Neismith will establish himself as a elite 3&D wing, Nembhard as great 3&D combo guard, but before this series started, there was a significant talent gap between the 2 teams.

Nesmith is an elite 3&D wing. He literally shot 50-40-90 this year. The defense part is obvious. There's a reason people called it being placed in Nembhell when you're guarded by Nembhard. He's been doing that for 2 years now. The stats put up when he's the primary defender has been crazy.

How you can say Turner isn't even close to Chet is wild. That may be true one day, but today? Not at all.

You said we may say they're elite next year, but before the series started there was a huge talent gap. The issue with that is no "talent gap" is going to be bridged in a couple weeks. That's wild to even say. The only thing that can happen is your recognition of that talent can be changed. The talent will be the same as it was before the series. This is a byproduct of the Pacers being ignored by everyone all year. For **** sales, most people thought they'd lose to the Bucks.

I don't see a talent gap as much as I do a recognition gap. Attention gap.

Names and reputation are built not given...
Indiana was average defensive (13th) team and above average offensive team (9th), 50 wins 4th seed in the east, last year people attributed their run to NYK injuries, if they had elite 3&D wins and elite rim protecter, why were they average defensively.
If they win they will earn that reputation, they already built good reputation with this run.

So no reputation from last years run? Only this one. Like I said, your recognition issue, not talent.

Also, Nembhard and Nesmith both were hurt early in the season. We were bottom 5 in the league until near Christmas. 21st at the All Star break and after that they were 111.5 DRTG the rest of the way. For example OKC with their Grand Canyon wide talent gap ..... 110.4 DRTG. They were only average defensively because those guys were hurt.

Again, you not watching or paying attention doesn't mean it's a talent gap.

EDIT - The Pacers were one of 4 teams left last year. Yet people wanted to blow it off as injuries, but you know who didn't for the most part? Celtics fans/players/coaches. On every social media and on here, I've seen Celtics fans (and their coach) trying to tell everyone who we were for a year. They recognized.

[Deivork]

Watch on YouTube

Great summary as usual. I did notice Shai's defensive lapses during the game...

[50yrceltsfan]

This series is closer than what many people have said the past week. The matchups are very close.

Two top 10 players in the league with high impact in SGA vs Haliburton

Two experienced vets with championship experience in Caruso vs Siakam

Versatile big men in Hartenstein/Chet vs Turner/Toppin

Great defensive players who can score when needed in Dort/Jalen Williams vs Nembhard/Nesmith

Good bench pieces Cason Wallace/Joe/Wiggins vs TJ McConnell/Mathurin/Sheppard

Great coaching Daigneault vs Carlisle

I don’t see any matchup where one team has the clear upper hand over the other.

We got ourselves a series

I got the Pacers in 6 or 7. Hali is just on another level of confidence right now and he might just match the production of the MVP SGA. With that matchup a wash, I trust Siakam more than JDub/Chet at this point. Thunder got the way higher ceiling though and if they figure it out quick they will win it.

This is very simplistic (and wrong) way of looking at it
SGA is top 3, Hali is top 10 after this run, he wasn't considered top 10 before, and everyone has significant gap between SGA and Haliburton.
JDubb and Siakam are similar, both top 25 players, most would have JDub over Siakam.
Siakam is much bigger key to Raptors championship than Caruso to the Lakers.
Chet > Turner, it's not really close, and OKC have Hartenstein and JWill to boost, much better than Toppin/Bryant.
Caruso/Dort/Wallace > Nembhard/Nesmith/Sheppard, again it's not really close.

Carlsile > Diagnault, more experienced, more creative, and has lots of tools at his disposal.
If Pacers win they'd be overcoming a serious talent gap, maybe next year we'd be saying different things, Neismith will establish himself as a elite 3&D wing, Nembhard as great 3&D combo guard, but before this series started, there was a significant talent gap between the 2 teams.

Yes, simplistic.
First of all, Haliburton is a premier shot maker in the clutch. SGA hasn't proven that. So there's that, which was the difference in the last 15 seconds of game 1.

I like JDubb but Siakam is money this time of year. He finishes in close, always makes the right play, great all around player. My respect for him has tripled this year. For the same reasons, Turner over Holmgren. Much more consistent presence at both ends.

Toppin over any other 4-5 that OKC has. Makes big shots.

Caruso/Dort/Wallace are impactful defensive players, no question. But Naismith/Nembhard/Sheppard bring way more offense. Naismith will win a game by himself this series like he did vs NY, and Nembhard is every bit the defender as Caruso & Dort (who are awesome defenders).

On top of all that, Carlisle has them playing calm and confident. They act like they've been here before. Each series they've come back from way down in the 4th on the road. It would not shock me if this is a short series.

[50yrceltsfan]

Nesmith is an elite 3&D wing. He literally shot 50-40-90 this year. The defense part is obvious. There's a reason people called it being placed in Nembhell when you're guarded by Nembhard. He's been doing that for 2 years now. The stats put up when he's the primary defender has been crazy.

How you can say Turner isn't even close to Chet is wild. That may be true one day, but today? Not at all.

You said we may say they're elite next year, but before the series started there was a huge talent gap. The issue with that is no "talent gap" is going to be bridged in a couple weeks. That's wild to even say. The only thing that can happen is your recognition of that talent can be changed. The talent will be the same as it was before the series. This is a byproduct of the Pacers being ignored by everyone all year. For **** sales, most people thought they'd lose to the Bucks.

I don't see a talent gap as much as I do a recognition gap. Attention gap.

Names and reputation are built not given...
Indiana was average defensive (13th) team and above average offensive team (9th), 50 wins 4th seed in the east, last year people attributed their run to NYK injuries, if they had elite 3&D wins and elite rim protecter, why were they average defensively.
If they win they will earn that reputation, they already built good reputation with this run.

So no reputation from last years run? Only this one. Like I said, your recognition issue, not talent.

Also, Nembhard and Nesmith both were hurt early in the season. We were bottom 5 in the league until near Christmas. 21st at the All Star break and after that they were 111.5 DRTG the rest of the way. For example OKC with their Grand Canyon wide talent gap ..... 110.4 DRTG. They were only average defensively because those guys were hurt.

Again, you not watching or paying attention doesn't mean it's a talent gap.

EDIT - The Pacers were one of 4 teams left last year. Yet people wanted to blow it off as injuries, but you know who didn't for the most part? Celtics fans/players/coaches. On every social media and on here, I've seen Celtics fans (and their coach) trying to tell everyone who we were for a year. They recognized.

Yes the Pacers were a handful last year, and that was with Hali out for most of the series. We also liked and miss Naismith, and the Pacers as a whole are a likeable team, no punks.

[tsherkin]

Man, I don't know why I wasn't watching it already, but the All the Smoke podcast with Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes is hysterical. I saw the watchthrough of Game 1 of the Finals with Vernon Maxwell and was howling the entire time.

[Dirk2Doncic]

I’m still baffled by how the Pacers won the game. That entire first half they looked like a team that doesn’t even belong in the playoffs. Just crazy.

Nerves + having to adjust to tougher defense.

Sometimes it takes a game or 2 for a team to adjust to facing a difficult defense. Only took the Pacers 1 half.

Pacers are in a great spot, are totally comfortable in clutch situation playoff basketball, have a beast of a HC who has been in this situation many times in his life.

Pacers have the 2nd best record in the league since January. I doubt the Pacers are going away.

[MoneyTalks41890]

Dang I just saw the L2M report confirmed no foul on Wallace re Siakam and also that Siakam had possession so it should’ve been a new shot clock. For the “rigged” for OKC crowd to chew on. In addition to the lane violation.

[Mavrelous]

Nesmith is an elite 3&D wing. He literally shot 50-40-90 this year. The defense part is obvious. There's a reason people called it being placed in Nembhell when you're guarded by Nembhard. He's been doing that for 2 years now. The stats put up when he's the primary defender has been crazy.

How you can say Turner isn't even close to Chet is wild. That may be true one day, but today? Not at all.

You said we may say they're elite next year, but before the series started there was a huge talent gap. The issue with that is no "talent gap" is going to be bridged in a couple weeks. That's wild to even say. The only thing that can happen is your recognition of that talent can be changed. The talent will be the same as it was before the series. This is a byproduct of the Pacers being ignored by everyone all year. For **** sales, most people thought they'd lose to the Bucks.

I don't see a talent gap as much as I do a recognition gap. Attention gap.

Names and reputation are built not given...
Indiana was average defensive (13th) team and above average offensive team (9th), 50 wins 4th seed in the east, last year people attributed their run to NYK injuries, if they had elite 3&D wins and elite rim protecter, why were they average defensively.
If they win they will earn that reputation, they already built good reputation with this run.

So no reputation from last years run? Only this one. Like I said, your recognition issue, not talent.

Also, Nembhard and Nesmith both were hurt early in the season. We were bottom 5 in the league until near Christmas. 21st at the All Star break and after that they were 111.5 DRTG the rest of the way. For example OKC with their Grand Canyon wide talent gap ..... 110.4 DRTG. They were only average defensively because those guys were hurt.

Again, you not watching or paying attention doesn't mean it's a talent gap.

EDIT - The Pacers were one of 4 teams left last year. Yet people wanted to blow it off as injuries, but you know who didn't for the most part? Celtics fans/players/coaches. On every social media and on here, I've seen Celtics fans (and their coach) trying to tell everyone who we were for a year. They recognized.

I absolutely am not watching except few games, so is everyone who isn't a Pacers fan, we watch few games and look at stats, and progress, odd that you expect other fans to know the details of your team.
This is 68 wins team Vs 50
MVP vs NBA 3rd team
All D and DPOY vote getters in Dort and Caruso Vs none of that in Nesmith and Nembhard.

You believe in your guys, go you, for the rest of us, going into this series, we see a clear talent gap.

[wang000hk]

Game 2 is a must win game for Thunder
I don't see them winning the series being down 0-2 with next 2 games being played in one of the loudest arenas

It might sound crazy now but Knicks might actually be worse matchup for Pacers because of KAT's scoring inside the paint and Knicks' rebounding
Thunder's defense is elite but they don't have strong bodies to protect the boards unlike Knicks

[bisme37]

.
Indy ranked 24th in defensive rating in 2023-24. This regular season, it improved to 14th

In the Playoffs, the Pacers rank 3rd in DefRtg in clutch time, helping earn an 8-1 record in such games and fueling improbable comebacks at every turn.

How improbable is improbable? Well, in the play-by-play era…

Entering Game 5 of the First Round vs Milwaukee, teams were 0-1,600 when trailing by 7+ points with 35 seconds left in a Playoff game. Indiana's rally made it 1-1,600

By Game 2 of Indiana's East Semis series vs Cleveland, teams were 2-1,621 when down 7+ with 48 seconds left in a Playoff game. Indiana's win made it 3-1,621

As of Game 1 of the East Finals, teams were 0-971 when trailing by 14+ with 2:50 left in a Playoff game. Indiana's shocking win vs NYK made it 1-971

In Finals games since 1971, teams were 0-182 when down 9+ points with three minutes left in a game. On Thursday, Indiana made it 1-182

(NBA.com)

[bisme37]

[JShuttlesworth]

Before the series started, I said Thunder in 6, the Pacers are scrappy and I figured they'd win a couple games

But I definitely wasn't expecting the Pacers to come out and win Game 1, especially being down early -- I thought maybe they'd take Game 3 and 5, a series where the Thunder would seemingly be in control the whole time

Game 2 is going to be an interesting one. If the Pacers can go up 2-0, all of a sudden things will be pretty interesting. I'm looking forward to another solid basketball game

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

Indy dominated the boards in game 1 56-39. This is the team that had trouble cleaning up the boards against Knicks. This was a factor in their come back. I don't see them being able to do that again.

I think a lot of that is just OKC took a lot more shots than the Pacers(and OKC was missing a ton.)

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

.
Indy ranked 24th in defensive rating in 2023-24. This regular season, it improved to 14th

In the Playoffs, the Pacers rank 3rd in DefRtg in clutch time, helping earn an 8-1 record in such games and fueling improbable comebacks at every turn.

How improbable is improbable? Well, in the play-by-play era…

Entering Game 5 of the First Round vs Milwaukee, teams were 0-1,600 when trailing by 7+ points with 35 seconds left in a Playoff game. Indiana's rally made it 1-1,600

By Game 2 of Indiana's East Semis series vs Cleveland, teams were 2-1,621 when down 7+ with 48 seconds left in a Playoff game. Indiana's win made it 3-1,621

As of Game 1 of the East Finals, teams were 0-971 when trailing by 14+ with 2:50 left in a Playoff game. Indiana's shocking win vs NYK made it 1-971

In Finals games since 1971, teams were 0-182 when down 9+ points with three minutes left in a game. On Thursday, Indiana made it 1-182

(NBA.com)

Take away the early part of the year where Nesmith, Nembhard, Jackson, and Wiseman were all out, and I wonder what their rating would have ranked. The start of the year wasn’t pretty haha.

[azcatz11]

Why is the game not on tonight??? So dumb

[GeorgeSears]

I’m still baffled by how the Pacers won the game. That entire first half they looked like a team that doesn’t even belong in the playoffs. Just crazy.

They hit 6 3s in the 4th quarter. That helps.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

Why is the game not on tonight??? So dumb

Definitely benefits OKC unfortunately.

Pacers wanna wear you out, these long breaks help with rest.

Also bizarre they didn’t want a game on Friday or Saturday night.

[nbafan38]

what the pacers did in game 1 was unreal. There is no quit in them. I still think OKC wins but they've likely made a run of the mill 5 game series into a likely 6-7 game series similar to game 1 vs Denver impact on that series.

[Revived]

Why is the game not on tonight??? So dumb

Definitely benefits OKC unfortunately.

Pacers wanna wear you out, these long breaks help with rest.

Also bizarre they didn’t want a game on Friday or Saturday night.

Adam Silver is such a dumbass when it comes to scheduling.