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

[SA37]

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

100%. Whichever team wins will have earned it.

If you don't like this series, you probably don't like basketball.

[Castle Black]

Only problem is Toppin is a sieve defensively. SGA and Jalen Williams will feast in the paint again.

Read on Twitter

[og15]

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.

Paul George did get the push off P nickname lol

A lot of historically good defenders are also a bit of hacks. Ron (Metta) was a bigger hack than both these guys. Bruce Bowen was downright dangerous, etc

[KP Duty]

"The Pacers are just better than we thought they were, right?" -Al Eschbach, OKC talk radio. This.

[Slimjimzv]

I picked the Thunder in 7 when this thing started, and I'm sticking with it. The Pacers are talented, confident, and well coached. I'm both loving and hating this series. I don't need the stress, but the games are great. This has also been good practice for me ignoring officiating complaints. It's too bad more people can't just enjoy the brilliance of these games.

[tamaraw08]

Read on Twitter

"Unwatchable basketball"

wait What? Mark D out-coached Carlisle?
HERESY!!!!!

[cocktailswith_2short]

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.

Paul George did get the push off P nickname lol

A lot of historically good defenders are also a bit of hacks. Ron (Metta) was a bigger hack than both these guys. Bruce Bowen was downright dangerous, etc

artest was the premier NBA defender for several years common man.

[og15]

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.

Paul George did get the push off P nickname lol

A lot of historically good defenders are also a bit of hacks. Ron (Metta) was a bigger hack than both these guys. Bruce Bowen was downright dangerous, etc

artest was the premier NBA defender for several years common man.

What's your point? Artest was not shy to be extra physical with you, that's the point. Poster is saying Dort and Caruso's defense hasn't impressed because of how much contact they get away with. I'm reminding them that many of the elite physical defenders we know of from the past who also pushed the limits of fouls and getting away with stuff.

Ask any player who played against Artest and they will agree, so I'm not particularly sure what you are taking exception to. Getting away with stuff doesn't make you not a great defender, but it does mean that some of the great defenders first of all know how to get away with more, and secondly get more leeway from refs compared to their level of physicality.

Ask some guys like Carmelo how many times Artest would be grabbing, pushing and holding on defense, no call, then he goes to push for position and gets an offensive foul call doing the same thing Ron was doing on defense.

Now, of course there are different types of posters, but with all the complaining about lack of physicality that people make (sometimes made up to be fair), it's funny how much complaining people also do about guys getting away with stuff. Like did we think all those physical series and defenders were like that without lots of people getting away with what could be deemed fouls and with extra physicality?

[wang000hk]

Only problem is Toppin is a sieve defensively. SGA and Jalen Williams will feast in the paint again.

Read on Twitter

It doesn't matter, Turner can't rebound and actually protect the paint

[MoneyTalks41890]

Shai is 33/5/4 with 4 stocks on 59% TS in the finals.

He’s showing up big.

[falcolombardi]

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.

Paul George did get the push off P nickname lol

A lot of historically good defenders are also a bit of hacks. Ron (Metta) was a bigger hack than both these guys. Bruce Bowen was downright dangerous, etc

artest was the premier NBA defender for several years common man.

Almost like caruso is one of the premier defenders of his era too

[Capn'O]

What's with these long layoffs?

[ciueli]

Looked this up because of the discussion about defence wins championships.

Since 2004-05 only one team that wasn't top 10 in defensive efficiency during the season has won the NBA Championship, Denver in 2023, they were 11th that season in defensive efficiency.

Since 2004-05 only two teams have won the title without being at least top 10 in offensive efficiency, the Golden State Warriors in 2022 (13th but were missing Curry, Klay, and Draymond for extended stretches that season), and the Detroit Pistons in 2023-04 (16th in offensive efficiency).

For the record, this year Indiana was 15th defensive efficiency, 7th offensive efficiency, while OKC was 1st defensive efficiency an 3rd offensive efficiency.

[jkvonny]

Looked this up because of the discussion about defence wins championships.

Since 2004-05 only one team that wasn't top 10 in defensive efficiency during the season has won the NBA Championship, Denver in 2023, they were 11th that season in defensive efficiency.

Since 2004-05 only two teams have won the title without being at least top 10 in offensive efficiency, the Golden State Warriors in 2022 (13th but were missing Curry, Klay, and Draymond for extended stretches that season), and the Detroit Pistons in 2023-04 (16th in offensive efficiency).

For the record, this year Indiana was 15th defensive efficiency, 7th offensive efficiency, while OKC was 1st defensive efficiency an 3rd offensive efficiency.

Prior to 2023 Denver was the early 2000s Lakers if I recall.
But, what was 2011 Mavs? Wasn't it borderline? I forget.

[ciueli]

Looked this up because of the discussion about defence wins championships.

Since 2004-05 only one team that wasn't top 10 in defensive efficiency during the season has won the NBA Championship, Denver in 2023, they were 11th that season in defensive efficiency.

Since 2004-05 only two teams have won the title without being at least top 10 in offensive efficiency, the Golden State Warriors in 2022 (13th but were missing Curry, Klay, and Draymond for extended stretches that season), and the Detroit Pistons in 2023-04 (16th in offensive efficiency).

For the record, this year Indiana was 15th defensive efficiency, 7th offensive efficiency, while OKC was 1st defensive efficiency an 3rd offensive efficiency.

Prior to 2023 Denver was the early 2000s Lakers if I recall.
But, what was 2011 Mavs? Wasn't it borderline? I forget.

Dallas was 9th in defensive efficiency in 2010-11. Don't know about the 2000 Lakers, the site I used only has numbers going back to 2004-05.

[Optimus_Steel]

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.

They were threatening to run away with the game and completely botched that end of 3rd. Give Caruso alot of credit too for keeping OKC close. If they dont win this title that end of 3rd will be the thing they linger on….was the moment too big for them?

[bucknut]

The end of this last game was reminiscent of Knicks game at end. It happened in Milwaukee series too. And it happened last year. I'm less inclined to think that's OKC as much as Indiana being poor with a lead and trying to run the clock out when they've been in two minute drill all game. With a roster that has no iso foul baiters or drivers

I'm of the opinion we saw both teams at full capacity in intensity in Indy and Indy was not at such the first two games.

We will see gritty road warrior Indy this next game. Feel more confident about them winning after this last game even in a loss. In a must win OKC spot it's unanimous Indy looked superior.

This is going to Indy in 6 but they need to shut the water off Williams drives and start forcing players to their weak hands. If Williams can't push you off and get downhill he has shown to be a poor jump shooter in these playoffs. Hali can't allow dort blow bys into the lane for easy buckets, and they cant allow hartenstein to get to his left or Wallace to get to the paint for his runners.

Rick knows they can't foul as much and have to crank up the boards.

If the Indy bench is standing on the tip you will know Indy is taking this road game. They are the better offensive team, the better roster, and more players with grit


This is not an upset at all. They have better players and better coach.

[audiosway]

The biggest problem right now in this series is that OKC HAS to win back to back. I don't know if they can. Rick Carlisle is too good at game to game and in game adjustments.

If OKC doesn't win game 5 I think it's over for them.

[rolling_91]

This is an NBA forum. If you’re going to blame the officiating for a loss then you need to give examples of when it happened and what happened. If you just give us a blanket statement about the referees costing a team a game without citing what and when in the game that it happened then most people are just going to conclude that you’re a crybaby who just came here to vent.

Or the mods could just create a crybaby thread and move all said posts to it. That would help in cleaning up the game threads.

[Patches Perry]

The biggest problem right now in this series is that OKC HAS to win back to back.

The biggest problem for Indiana is they have to win in OKC where they are 9-2 in the playoffs. 9 wins by an average of 25ppg (5 of those wins by 26 or greater), and two losses on miracle gamewinners.

That said, Indiana is the best team they'ved played, so it could happen. I expect a close game at the very least.

I will also say that the back to back task is also tough, but less tough now knowing they've already won 1 of the 2 needed. Flipping a coin on heads is difficult (25%) but the chance of it flipping heads on the 2nd flip after a 1st heads flip is 50%. If OKC loses game 5, and needs to beat Indiana 2 times in a row in games 6 and 7? Yeah they're cooked.

Game 5 is going to be intense.