Finals.. OKC now up 3-2 and Haliburton not 100%

Midwest219 · Post #1 » by **Midwest219** » Sat Jun 14, 2025 12:37 am

ARE we Rooting for the PACERS? I AM. them Bulls VS Pacers back in the 90's was epic and then so was Pacers vs DET's Dynasty afterwards..so if PAcers can get a Chip , then we're loaded in the MIdwest.

GoBlue72391 · Post #2 » by **GoBlue72391** » Sat Jun 14, 2025 1:08 am

I'm rooting against SGA.

cocktailswith_2short · Post #3 » by **cocktailswith_2short** » Sat Jun 14, 2025 1:14 am

Id be proud to have NBA champ in our division so yes rooting pacers . I tend to root underdog regardless of matchup anyways .

Dominator83 · Post #4 » by **Dominator83** » Sat Jun 14, 2025 2:33 am

It would be cool to see them win. Downside is, they probably already gave AKME the delusion of "We can easily be just like them". When, no we cannot. Not when you draft Patrick Williams over Tyrese Haliburton. Look what they gave up for Siakam, and look what we gave up for Vuc and DDR. Indy starts a strong defensive center, and we start a defensive sieve. The list goes on

League Circles · Post #5 » by **League Circles** » Sat Jun 14, 2025 3:01 am

Pacers have basically always been my 2nd or 3rd favorite team plus they're the underdog and I'm not enamored with okc so I definitely want Indiana to win.

DropStep · Post #6 » by **DropStep** » Sat Jun 14, 2025 3:16 am

I am rooting for the Pacers, but I can't help but be happy for Caruso. He's on the perfect team, in the perfect role, really good game by him tonight. Quibble about the details, but the players in that Giddey trade made sense then, and they make a ton of sense now.

DropStep · Post #7 » by **DropStep** » Sat Jun 14, 2025 3:20 am

(Oops)

ThisGuyFawkes · Post #8 » by **ThisGuyFawkes** » Sat Jun 14, 2025 3:35 am

Yeah, I think we're all cheering for the Pacers.

Post #9 » by **kulaz3000** » Sat Jun 14, 2025 9:44 am

ThisGuyFawkes wrote:Yeah, I think we're all cheering for the Pacers.

I'm not. I'm rooting for the Thunder.

I know most root for the underdog, but I think the league needs a new dynasty, and I think Thunder could be it for a period of time. That's not to say I don't like the Pacers, and I'm not even rooting for the Thunder because of Alex, I just think they are the better team that just needs to get over the mental hump because they are the better team, and once they do, they could be really good for a very long time. Not to mention, they have so many draft assets still, even as they let talent go, they are going to be able to replenish their team over and over again.

At the end of the day, the team with the best player on either team tends to win more often than not, and the Thunder has that player. Both play a differing but appealing style of basketball, and quite frankly, they have really likeable players on both teams as well. Whoever wins is a great showcase for the league, no divas, great basketball, and fun likeable players to root for on both sides. I just think the league would benefit to have a new dynasty for the league to gun after for the next half decade or so.

kodo · Post #10 » by **kodo** » Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:28 pm

I like both teams, used to live in Seattle and the Thunder are basically the Sonics relocated. Pacers are easy to root for however.

It's also easier to root for OKC now because going 7 against an injured Denver and struggling to put away Indiana in the Finals will kill any more talk about them being the best team in NBA history that's been going around this season due to advanced stats saying they're the best. Both SRS and Net Rating says OKC is better than the 72 Bulls or the 73 Warriors.

Dominator83 · Post #11 » by **Dominator83** » Sat Jun 14, 2025 5:22 pm

DropStep wrote:I am rooting for the Pacers, but I can't help but be happy for Caruso. He's on the perfect team, in the perfect role, really good game by him tonight. Quibble about the details, but the players in that Giddey trade made sense then, and they make a ton of sense now.

A very rare trade where both teams really won. Which is really what you want. It makes the opposing GM feel good about doing business with you

Midwest219 · Post #12 » by **Midwest219** » Sun Jun 15, 2025 1:31 am

kodo wrote:I like both teams, used to live in Seattle and the Thunder are basically the Sonics relocated. Pacers are easy to root for however.

It's also easier to root for OKC now because going 7 against an injured Denver and struggling to put away Indiana in the Finals will kill any more talk about them being the best team in NBA history that's been going around this season due to advanced stats saying they're the best. Both SRS and Net Rating says OKC is better than the 72 Bulls or the 73 Warriors.

"talk about them being the best team in NBA history that's been going around this season due to advanced stats saying they're the best"

I don't see it. They're good, but i don't feel them like i felt the force of the mighty Bulls, Pistons, Spurs, and Lebron's Heat teams on that level of intensity.

CROBulls · Post #13 » by **CROBulls** » Sun Jun 15, 2025 9:52 am

I am rooting against SGA and fake franchise in OKC stolen from Seattle.

Post #14 » by **dougthonus** » Sun Jun 15, 2025 12:03 pm

I'm rooting for OKC primarily because I'm a big Sam Presti fan. He's implemented a lot of game theory GM tactics that I have been theorizing would create a great team, and it's awesome to see it all come together. Also a fan of Caruso (obviously) so nice to see him get the win too.

I wouldn't be upset if the Pacers won though, one of the greatest underdog stories in NBA history if they do. Both teams are really likeable for me, and it's probably now or never for the Pacers as I think they got lucky in a lot of ways that aren't likely to happen again next year whereas OKC probably legitimately has a decade long window if they play their assets right.

Jcool0 · Post #15 » by **Jcool0** » Sun Jun 15, 2025 12:13 pm

How is anyone rooting against Alex Caruso, his 2nd NBA championship & hopefully a future HOF induction.

SfBull · Post #16 » by **SfBull** » Sun Jun 15, 2025 4:12 pm

Midwest219 wrote:ARE we Rooting for the PACERS? I AM. them Bulls VS Pacers back in the 90's was epic and then so was Pacers vs DET's Dynasty afterwards..so if PAcers can get a Chip , then we're loaded in the MIdwest.

Can't find time for watching the Finals but I'm rooting for the Pacers especially for Halliburton who could have been drafted by the Bulls
Another star that we lost in the draft!

Midwest219 · Post #17 » by **Midwest219** » Mon Jun 16, 2025 2:26 am

CROBulls wrote:I am rooting against SGA and fake franchise in OKC stolen from Seattle.

Silver wanted a 4 team expansion, If i remember, correctly?? So, we'll get the SONICS back soon. Dallas will become LAS VEGAS MAVERICKS and then there's two teams left for another team back in Canada and apparently one in Mexico. Ideally, I think St Louis needs a team, be it NBA and NFL.

Midwest219 · Post #18 » by **Midwest219** » Mon Jun 16, 2025 2:52 am

Jcool0 wrote:How is anyone rooting against Alex Caruso, his 2nd NBA championship & hopefully a future HOF induction.

I LIKE AC. LOVED HIM, No Doubt. He probably lands somewhere in my top 20/25 Bull favorite all time. AC will be a HOFer. But.. But..
But This is the Mad MidWest. I want PACERS to WIN this Chip, Which would make us the 1st Championship loaded division in the NBA and the Midwest will be loaded, kind of along with the fact on how the NFC North is the best division in the NFL along with the AFC North.
Indy's window is now, because I don't want the Bulls being left out after this. Especially after Orlando basically throwing their future away to win sooner than later, Speaking of Orlando, I'll trade for PAOLO, if this recent MEM/ORL trade fails. Magic making that move should tell yall a lot of things about what they inside the NBA is thinking of the Finals right now, how INDY is 2-2 and is very possible that the Pacers take OKC souls.

And Besides, INDY deserves it, Nobody outside of us, really wants to recognizes how long that franchise has been GRINDING they butts off for 3 decades....while losing nearly half of their chances going to battle against their own divisional brothers for the most part.
Or maybe I'm stingy as hell when it comes to the NBA & the NFL.

SfBull · Post #19 » by **SfBull** » Tue Jun 17, 2025 11:01 am

kodo wrote:I like both teams, used to live in Seattle and the Thunder are basically the Sonics relocated. Pacers are easy to root for however.

It's also easier to root for OKC now because going 7 against an injured Denver and struggling to put away Indiana in the Finals will kill any more talk about them being the best team in NBA history that's been going around this season due to advanced stats saying they're the best. Both SRS and Net Rating says OKC is better than the 72 Bulls or the 73 Warriors.

No way.They have played in another, weaker,looser league.
There's no way they can be better than Bulls, Celtics or Lakers on their peak..They're just a great team now.No legends.

Post #20 » by **Ice Man** » Tue Jun 17, 2025 12:47 pm

Wait ... Alex Caruso in the Hall of Fame?

As for OKC not being an All Time great team, we shall see. If they win 2+ more titles they will be. If not, they will certainly be remembered, as with the mid Nineties Sonics or the recent Celtics/Nuggets teams, but they won't go down as one of the all-time greats.