2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (IND leads 2-1)

[Raps in 4]

The effort level just wasn't there last game for the Pacers. Hopefully they can turn it around at home.

[Raps in 4]

JDub is so corny man. Talking about how he'd fry Caruso in the post-game... brother, you're in the finals and your team lost HCA because you haven't shown up. Same thing happened in the Denver series. Overrated frontrunner.

He's a very good player. He's definitely choked in these playoffs, but he's also still young (he's in his third NBA season). If he's still choking in 2-3 years, then he'll have earned the "choker" label.

[GiannisAnte34]

The idea that either J Dub or Chet are “off the table” in a hypothetical Giannis trade is a testament to how disconnected fans are regarding the value of their own guys and the value you need to give up for a top 20 all-time guy

[Black Jack]

All OKC needs is one of them Gainsbridge games and then the pressure is on Indiana, right now no one is under pressure.

It’s the finals. Everyone is under more pressure than anyone else can possibly be in the sport of basketball.

I think the Olympics is the most pressure. Losing the finals no big deal. Lose the gold in Olympics? you are getting mercilessly criticized.

[Tim_Hardawayy]

JDub is so corny man. Talking about how he'd fry Caruso in the post-game... brother, you're in the finals and your team lost HCA because you haven't shown up. Same thing happened in the Denver series. Overrated frontrunner.

He's a very good player. He's definitely choked in these playoffs, but he's also still young (he's in his third NBA season). If he's still choking in 2-3 years, then he'll have earned the "choker" label.

I don't think he's a choker, but someone made a thread about how he doesn't pass the eye test and I'd have to agree. The way he plays feels like his game relies entirely on the modern era (lots of 3's, minimal contact on your drives) and he'd be a role player at best 15-20 years ago.

SGA is the real deal though, my only complaint about him would be he doesn't enforce his will on the game enough, but he's skilled enough that I think he could.

[Black Jack]

Chet is hard to guard, using that height advantage for easy buckets is hard to stop.

[Tim_Hardawayy]

That OKC defense will travel well but the question will be if their offense can remain consistent. If we get something like game 1 - disorganized and bad shooting - then Indy has a chance for sure.

OKC defense by the numbers actually doesn't travel that well.

If I had to guess, I'd say they benefit a lot at home from getting away with more contact, which is an exponential modifier on your defense, since not being called for fouls gives you a huge advantage. People complain about SGA but I think he's been officiated completely fairly. While I'm not going to say OKC is getting away with murder on defense, that's definitely where their officiating advantage lies.

It's really more a case of the refs letting both teams play more physical in OKC though, and since OKC is better at it and more used to it, other teams seem to implode at times instead of taking advantage of their own ability to play more physical defensively.

[MasterIchiro]

I think the talent gap is significant and that Pacers overperformed.

I don't see how they win. They're overmatched which may not show up in any individual game but should play out over the full series.

Just to play competitive against this stacked Thunder squad amazes me.

[Jailblazers7]

A lot of the struggle from players like J-Dub and Chet are easy to write off as inexperience imo. It’s pretty unusual to be 23/24 and have such an important role in the Finals. They’ve both had ups and downs all playoffs but both played really well in that game 7 vs. Denver and had good response games last night.

Frankly, when I watch OKC on offense Shai looks like the only championship caliber player right now (although Caruso & Hartenstein deserve a shoutout for being so solid). The others are too inconsistent or undisciplined. But they’re so deep and Shai is so great that they’re able to cobble together a passable offense.

[boomershadow]

If I had to guess, I'd say they benefit a lot at home from getting away with more contact, which is an exponential modifier on your defense, since not being called for fouls gives you a huge advantage. People complain about SGA but I think he's been officiated completely fairly. While I'm not going to say OKC is getting away with murder on defense, that's definitely where their officiating advantage lies.

It's really more a case of the refs letting both teams play more physical in OKC though, and since OKC is better at it and more used to it, other teams seem to implode at times instead of taking advantage of their own ability to play more physical defensively.

https://youtube.com/shorts/ArZm9_TI6Aw?si=SBy3eviY1xRiPNoo

[bbms]

If I had to guess, I'd say they benefit a lot at home from getting away with more contact, which is an exponential modifier on your defense, since not being called for fouls gives you a huge advantage. People complain about SGA but I think he's been officiated completely fairly. While I'm not going to say OKC is getting away with murder on defense, that's definitely where their officiating advantage lies.

It's really more a case of the refs letting both teams play more physical in OKC though, and since OKC is better at it and more used to it, other teams seem to implode at times instead of taking advantage of their own ability to play more physical defensively.

https://youtube.com/shorts/ArZm9_TI6Aw?si=SBy3eviY1xRiPNoo

yeah it must be so frustrating all those blow outs and yeah min showed real mental toughness out there.



you guys are soooooooooooo soft oh my god.

you guys deserve to play with traffic cones like obi toppin and ddv

[Patches Perry]

The idea that either J Dub or Chet are “off the table” in a hypothetical Giannis trade is a testament to how disconnected fans are regarding the value of their own guys and the value you need to give up for a top 20 all-time guy

The problem is most fans creating hypothetical Giannis to OKC trades are not OKC fans. I like Giannis and recognize his value, and understand why Milwaukee would insist upon a talent like Chet or Jdub, but I just don't get why it makes sense for OKC. I imagine most OKC fans saying Chet and Dub are off the table aren't actively advocating for a trade for Giannis to begin with.

[bbms]

The idea that either J Dub or Chet are “off the table” in a hypothetical Giannis trade is a testament to how disconnected fans are regarding the value of their own guys and the value you need to give up for a top 20 all-time guy

The problem is most fans creating hypothetical Giannis to OKC trades are not OKC fans. I like Giannis and recognize his value, and understand why Milwaukee would insist upon a talent like Chet or Jdub, but I just don't get why it makes sense for OKC. I imagine most OKC fans saying Chet and Dub are off the table aren't actively advocating for a trade for Giannis to begin with.

the crux of the issue is if one of chet or jdub was max and the other was on a rookie deal that could even make sense because of salary matching.

given both on rookie deals the thunder would have to deplete depth to match salaries which would be a giant NO by the thunder. why trade for giannis to get worse? makes no sense.

[littlerock2277]

Why does OKC even need Gianass? They are 3 games away from winning a title. Plus his fit with SGA would be so poor he would just take away from his game.

[Raps in 4]

Why does OKC even need Gianass? They are 3 games away from winning a title. Plus his fit with SGA would be so poor he would just take away from his game.

3 games away from seeing the Pacers hoist the LOB trophy in OKC.

[jkvonny]

Toss up!
Have no idea who's going to win. But maybe leaning towards Indiana? Their fans will be loud and fired up. Pacers at home in Indianapolis.
Game 3 and 4 at Indiana. Have a feeling that these teams will split here.
Maybe series tied 2-2 heading back to OKC.

[littlerock2277]

Why does OKC even need Gianass? They are 3 games away from winning a title. Plus his fit with SGA would be so poor he would just take away from his game.

3 games away from seeing the Pacers hoist the LOB trophy in OKC.

Regardless of who wins, im just saying Gianass won’t solve OKC problems. They would have to give up a lot when they know have a team proven to do well in the playoffs.

[lethalizer]

The idea that either J Dub or Chet are “off the table” in a hypothetical Giannis trade is a testament to how disconnected fans are regarding the value of their own guys and the value you need to give up for a top 20 all-time guy

They are off the table correct, but probably not for the reasons you think.

1) Thunder as a team have SGA on their team. Shai likes to operate in the paint, and uses the shooters on his team to generate space inside the lane. Does this remind you of anyone?

2) Jalen and Chet are younger and their cap control will be much easier compared to someone like Giannis, who will receive a 65+ million extension once he doesn't exercise his player option for the 27-28 season.

If there was no salary cap, and if SGA was a shooter like, idk, Anthony Edwards in 24-25, yeah purely as a player value noone besides SGA on this team would be off the table in a trade involving Giannis.

But that is not how the NBA works.

[Optms]

The idea that either J Dub or Chet are “off the table” in a hypothetical Giannis trade is a testament to how disconnected fans are regarding the value of their own guys and the value you need to give up for a top 20 all-time guy

Currently top 3 player in the league as well. Some people believe the Spurs are better off keeping the 2 overall pick who may never even be one fifth as good as Giannis is. Crazy takes everywhere.

[Dadouv47]

The idea that either J Dub or Chet are “off the table” in a hypothetical Giannis trade is a testament to how disconnected fans are regarding the value of their own guys and the value you need to give up for a top 20 all-time guy

The problem is most fans creating hypothetical Giannis to OKC trades are not OKC fans. I like Giannis and recognize his value, and understand why Milwaukee would insist upon a talent like Chet or Jdub, but I just don't get why it makes sense for OKC. I imagine most OKC fans saying Chet and Dub are off the table aren't actively advocating for a trade for Giannis to begin with.

yeah most fans also don't understand that you gotta give up Hartenstein + JDub/Chet + Wiggins or Joe to make it work salary wise and it would kill our depth. OKC basically losing 2/3 of their front court in a potential Giannis trade and another role player with no money left to add a decent player.

I'm sick and tired of JDub struggling in those finals but a Giannis trade isn't the solution.