2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (OKC leads 3-2)

[MoneyTalks41890]

Bumping this for newfound relevance. I wouldn't make an "idiot" thread but maybe an officiating grievances thread so that the basketball threads can actually stay about basketball. Yall do this with politics all the time (and rightfully so). These people whining are not idiots, they are sore losers who selectively resort to conspiracies every time there is an outcome they don't like.

I'm not even a Thunder fan and I found the excess of foul conspiracy posts to be quite annoying. So I get it. Thing is, I don't think anyone is going to use a separate thread to talk about that stuff during the game, and the mods can't keep up with moving an avalanche of posts to another thread in real time. So I don't know if it's doable in practical terms. But I'll think on possible solutions.

I'm here to make things less annoying for y'all, but in my opinion it actually more annoying to have multiple threads about the annoying thing rather than just keeping it contained to one place as much as possible. But maybe others prefer the opposite.

Anyhoo... great series hooray!

FWIW I was joking previously no one is going to post in a separate thread and the game threads are mostly fine. More substance than not.

[MoneyTalks41890]

Chet came out really aggressive initially and I think isn’t getting enough credit for what he was doing in iso situations.

[Jailblazers7]

For all the talk about Caruso & Dort being constant fouler, Nembhard does the same sh*t with physicality, hand checking, and sneaky grabs. But like Dort/Caruso, he’s always in a good, balanced position while doing and I respect that the refs are letting that kind of physicality go in the playoffs.

I’ll be interested to see how OKC comes out in game 5. Chet turned an ankle and J-Dub took a nasty fall on the hip/tailbone at the end of the game. Hopefully their not too banged up and we get a healthy games 5-7 from both teams.

[WestbrookGOATed]

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"Unwatchable basketball"

[og15]

Thunder are overrated.

Pacers are matching them defensively.

Defense in general is overrated.

Elite ball handlers, guys who have the basketball on a string cannot be stopped. In any era. They go wherever they want on the court. "Great defense" just makes them work a little harder to get there.

The better OFFENSE will win this series.

Haliburton would be a significantly better player if he was better going left.

You're actually arguing the opposite here. Yes, you need balance to win, both offense and defense.

You're saying that the Pacers are matching them defensively (which is what is allowing them to keep with them), and this actually is telling us that defense is NOT overrated. If the Pacers didn't up their level of defense as well as have the defensive gameplan, the Thunder would be containing their offense and then also scoring a lot more and would be in control of the series.



Indiana:
This series:110.3 Ortg
Previous three series: 118.1 Ortg
Regular season: 116.5 Ortg

OKC:
This series: 113.6 Ortg
Previous three series: 117.0 Ortg
Regular season: 120.3 Ortg

Defense has been rated very rightly rated. Indiana's defense has allowed them to keep up with OKC despite their offense not performing to previous levels.

OKC's defense has limited Indiana so that their decreased offensive output hasn't prevented them from winning games.

So it's BOTH defense and offense that will win the series, lol

[bbms]

For all the talk about Caruso & Dort being constant fouler, Nembhard does the same sh*t with physicality, hand checking, and sneaky grabs. But like Dort/Caruso, he’s always in a good, balanced position while doing and I respect that the refs are letting that kind of physicality go in the playoffs.

I’ll be interested to see how OKC comes out in game 5. Chet turned an ankle and J-Dub took a nasty fall on the hip/tailbone at the end of the game. Hopefully their not too banged up and we get a healthy games 5-7 from both teams.

and you'll never see any okc fan crying

[bbms]

the pacers are doing a great job all around if they win it it's because they deserve it

on zach lowe show, zach told he received a message from a league gm asking him about the last time a finals was as hard fought as this

this has been a war, outsiders and 3rd parties should have a blast because fans involved with either clubs should be in a roller coaster of emotions

[og15]

Thunder are overrated.

Pacers are matching them defensively.

Defense in general is overrated.

Elite ball handlers, guys who have the basketball on a string cannot be stopped. In any era. They go wherever they want on the court. "Great defense" just makes them work a little harder to get there.

The better OFFENSE will win this series.

Haliburton would be a significantly better player if he was better going left.

You're actually arguing the opposite here. Yes, you need balance to win, both offense and defense.

You're saying that the Pacers are matching them defensively (which is what is allowing them to keep with them), and this actually is telling us that defense is NOT overrated. If the Pacers didn't up their level of defense as well as have the defensive gameplan, the Thunder would be containing their offense and then also scoring a lot more and would be in control of the series.



Indiana:
This series:110.3 Ortg
Previous three series: 118.1 Ortg
Regular season: 116.5 Ortg

OKC:
This series: 113.6 Ortg
Previous three series: 117.0 Ortg
Regular season: 120.3 Ortg

Defense has been rated very rightly rated. Indiana's defense has allowed them to keep up with OKC despite their offense not performing to previous levels.

OKC's defense has limited Indiana so that their decreased offensive output hasn't prevented them from winning games.

So it's BOTH defense and offense that will win the series, lol

Just to add we would say offense will determine the series when neither team can contain each other. If Indiana had a 121 Ortg and OKC a 124 Ortg, that's when we're in a series where defense isn't making an impact and it's all about who can out offense the other.

When we're in a series where both teams offense are playing below regular season and rest of playoffs, but still pretty solid, it is the definition of NOT being an offensive battle and instead a battle of who can be the most complete team for the series.

Similarly, if we have a series where both teams are just shutting each other down, then that's one that is about who can defend the best. Of course every series has both offense and defense, but we're talking about if it is largely tilted in one direction. This series is is a showcase of both.

[jkvonny]

@MaliBrah
"Shai was supposed to be Shaun Livingston and became the best player in the NBA , I get why everyone else is salty

OKC arent supposed to be this good this early. They can be the youngest team to win in 55 years or so. I get why everyones salty about em

Me i'll just choose to enjoy it. Because this is the future of the league. Why be mad over the next 3 years when I can just enjoy watching Shai"

************

55 yrs ago would be the 1971 Milwaukee Bucks, they were pretty young.
1970 NY Knicks were a lil bit older.

But it was actually 48 yrs ago. 1977 Portland Trailblazers. They were the youngest team to win it all.

I tried to reply to you on yesterday's game thread, but it's locked now.

[___Rand___]

Have to admit that Pacers' come from behind wins have been absolutely thrilling to watch these playoffs. There's been farts and smart moves by both coaches. There's a reason OKC has been favoured every single game in this series - we all knew going in they are the more talented, more consistent team. NOBODY thought Pacers would have this series tied at 2-2 (despite the refs' best efforts).

As much as I have enjoyed Pacers' come from behind wins, if OKC wins this, it cements my boy SGA's legacy. So I'm ok with that. If Pacers overcome the odds and win it all, I'm ok with that too. Nembhard, Mathurin and Pascal are my boys too.

[jkvonny]

Next game is a toss up.
Could be an OKC blowout win or a close Pacers win.
At OKC

Very exciting. This is going 6 or 7 games.

2 teams I don't mind winning it all.

[Dadouv47]

For all the talk about Caruso & Dort being constant fouler, Nembhard does the same sh*t with physicality, hand checking, and sneaky grabs. But like Dort/Caruso, he’s always in a good, balanced position while doing and I respect that the refs are letting that kind of physicality go in the playoffs.

I’ll be interested to see how OKC comes out in game 5. Chet turned an ankle and J-Dub took a nasty fall on the hip/tailbone at the end of the game. Hopefully their not too banged up and we get a healthy games 5-7 from both teams.

Great post. Nembhard doing an amazing job against Shai and the position/physical game is similar to what Dort/Caruso are doing and he gets aways with fouls (not like Nesmith from what the post after you show). It's very difficult to be an elite defending guard in the NBA and that's the key difference between elite guys like Nembhard/Dort and the rest of the field.

[Castle Black]

I was talking about this yesterday during the game in the game thread. This series is basically the Denver series all over again so far, all the way down to the choke job in the 4th Quarter of Game 4 by Indy. Could easily be the same result as well with OKC winning comfortably in 7 games (which they will if Indy can somehow even push this to 7 games).

Personally I think OKC is going to start running those cross-actions with SGA a lot more like they did in the 4th Quarter last night to get Nembhard off of him. Think they found something there. Game 5 will be a blowout win for OKC imo.

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[3ddman23]

I said thunder in 6 original (like a lot of other people) and still see it going that way I think OKC wins the next 3 to close it out in 6. Indy loses a heart break at home in game 6.

[Doranku]

I've soured a lot on SGA this postseason. I've never seen a player so reliant on using their elbow/forearm/shoulder to dislodge their defender and create space. It's a cheap gimmick that shouldn't be consistently rewarded.

Honestly a very strange series. Chet and JDub's jump shots have completely abandoned them while Caruso and Dort are hitting everything they throw up. On the topic of Caruso and Dort, their defense has not impressed me nearly as much because of how much fouling they're allowed to get away with. Again, cheapens the product.

Chet dominated the glass and was a huge reason why they won game 4. 15 boards compared to a pathetic 2 from Indiana's starting center. A lot of these were contested rebounds in traffic too. A slight summer breeze is enough to make him wobble, but he's still less soft than Myles Turner somehow.

I know Mathurin had those boneheaded fouls at the end of the game, but why only 14 minutes after torching them in game 3? Do we really need to see 13 minutes of Ben Sheppard every game? The Pacers have lost those minutes in all 4 games.

Just now realizing OKC won a road finals game in 2025 with three made 3 pointers. Crazy.

Hopefully both teams can take care of business at home. Nothing like game 7 in the finals.

[Statlanta]

Chet dominated the glass and was a huge reason why they won game 4. 15 boards compared to a pathetic 2 from Indiana's starting center. A lot of these were contested rebounds in traffic too. A slight summer breeze is enough to make him wobble, but he's still less soft than Myles Turner somehow.

I'm proud of Holmgren. After being the lone C last season and then after 3 rounds of Edey, Jokic and Gobert he gets to son Myles Turner. Even on a bum ankle he's either the best or 2nd best defender in the series.

[cupcakesnake]

Indy's half court went back to being lifeless was the end of that. They were trying to play that 3 man hand off game the ENTIRE TIME at the end of the game and OKC had that defended well. They tried nothing else.

Pascal is Indy's best ISO player. Pascal was stuck to the corner in that set, got never involved in the last 3 minutes of the game. That's on Carlisle IMO.

Indy needs to integrate Pascal's mid range game into their half court sets and not do just a simple spread out ISO. Way too static and easy for help defense to come.

Indiana had no intention of going straight iso in the final 3 minutes. As the ballhandler, Haliburton got stuck in iso when primary actions failed. Siakam was guarded by J.Dub, which makes him the less ideal screening partner for Hali, because what do they really get by J.Dub switching onto Haliburton (if a Siakam screen can impede Dort). They wanted Haliburton attacking Shai or Chet, meaning Nembhard and Turner were most involved.

I agree though, Siakam spent way too many possessions standing in the corner.

[nbafan38]

Next game is a toss up.
Could be an OKC blowout win or a close Pacers win.
At OKC

Very exciting. This is going 6 or 7 games.

2 teams I don't mind winning it all.

I think okc won the chip last night but still won't be easy. I'd expect game 5 to be close with OKC pulling it out at home, Indiana to win game 6, and OKC to win game 7 at home comfortably.

[BigDan245]

I said it when it happened...The end of the 3rd quarter was botched by Indy...3 missed free throws and a couple of awful possessions. OKC was gifting them points and opportunities because they were missing as well and Indy blew it. The Jdub shot at the end of the quarter cemented an abysmal end of the 3rd for Indy.

[Bankai]

Gotta admit, this NBA Finals doesent have the "sexy names", but its a little special for this Finals to have 2 "underdog" teams playing.

Sure OKC is #1st Seed in the West and SGA was named MVP. But this whole season until now, they were underappreciated.