NBA Finals: Oklahoma City Thunder vs Indiana Pacers

[Scoot McGroot]

Shams reporting that Haliburton will dress and give it a try tonight. No idea to what extent…

[Wizop]

Shams reporting that Haliburton will dress and give it a try tonight. No idea to what extent…

Scott Agness posted a video of today's practice on YouTube and there were no obvious problems. I still might bring him off the bench.

[AussiePacer]

I’d start him and make him play it aggressive for 6-8 minutes, then give him a decent break. See how the game ins unfolding and determine when and for how long he comes back.

I’m optimistic tonight.

OKC will be keen to rule a line through it (albeit I also see some upshot in them wanting to win at home in G7). We’ve got a fighting spirit and have kept surprising over the last 4 months.

Pacers by 7.

Turner, Siakim and Nesmith to carry the scoring load.

[Scoot McGroot]

Shams reporting that Haliburton will dress and give it a try tonight. No idea to what extent…

Scott Agness posted a video of today's practice on YouTube and there were no obvious problems. I still might bring him off the bench.

I’ve always heard that it’s better to get guys right into the game immediately, as they’ve often gone through hours of warmups and stretching, so taking a long sit to start the game can undo some of those benefits.

But also, I don’t know exactly what is wrong here or exactly how he feels. Could be best to sit. Or to start. Or to not even dress. No idea. Just trusting them all.

[boomershadow]

Just hoping for no further injuries. Win or lose at this point, I just want to see them go into the offseason ready to start work on next year. Pushing it to game 7 would be cool though

[Wizop]

Great half but no premature woofing. First to 100.

[Pacers Forever]

Great second quarter to go up 22 points at halftime.

12-2 turnover advantage Pacers
Pacers 8 steals to the Thunder zero
Rebounds even
Shooting percentage even
3 point percentage Pacers 38 Thunder 9

Only Pacer struggling is Myles

[rmontro]

Great half but no premature woofing. First to 100.

30 points to go as of this writing.
But "First to 100" didn't work in game four.

[GermanFan120]

Congrats to Chokelahoma Thunder for winning the NBA championship.

Yes, it is already over.

Be prepared us Pacers fans, the comeback is coming in 3 2 1.

Chokelahoma is the champion already.

[Wizop]

Great half but no premature woofing. First to 100.

30 points to go as of this writing.
But "First to 100" didn't work in game four.

Pretty sure OKC hit my number first in game 4. Not going to look it up though.

[Wizop]

Congrats to Chokelahoma Thunder for winning the NBA championship.

Yes, it is already over.

Be prepared us Pacers fans, the comeback is coming in 3 2 1.

Chokelahoma is the champion already.

Are you predicting OKC wins to jinx them or is betting against your predictions safer than betting against Barkley?

[GermanFan120]

Congrats to Chokelahoma Thunder for winning the NBA championship.

Yes, it is already over.

Be prepared us Pacers fans, the comeback is coming in 3 2 1.

Chokelahoma is the champion already.

Are you predicting OKC wins to jinx them or is betting against your predictions safer than betting against Barkley?

I can't tell you now.

[Pacers Forever]

I really feared after the way the Thunder played last game that they would close us out tonight. Pacers manned up and forced game 7. I’d like to think that the Pacers crushed their psyche and they couldn’t get going. I hope that the Thunder didn’t lose tonight to win the championship at home. We’ll see how the Pacers respond in game 7. I’d love to be wrong after I felt like they had lost their chance after game 4 and 5.

[Pacersike]

Our bench vets are crucial.

So, let's win a basketball game.

[basketballwacko2]

My favorite part of this game was James Johnson getting 2 mins and getting kicked out of the game!

[JMaster5K]

I really feared after the way the Thunder played last game that they would close us out tonight. Pacers manned up and forced game 7. I’d like to think that the Pacers crushed their psyche and they couldn’t get going. I hope that the Thunder didn’t lose tonight to win the championship at home. We’ll see how the Pacers respond in game 7. I’d love to be wrong after I felt like they had lost their chance after game 4 and 5.

This was a really interesting game,.... Haliburton played,... but he wasn't the primary ball handler. His assists came of outlets, transition, & secondary actions. He was reading the floor for the Pacers,... but Nembhard was starting the sets & getting the team in motion,... as a result, they played a slightly different style, with Drew & TJ getting into the paint (like they always do),.. but using that paint touch to take advantage of OKC's defensive over-reactions to get spot ups from 3,... which tonight were dropping. Basically, using the strength & best characteristics of the OKC defense, as a weapon against them.

As a result,... Tyrese got a couple of spot up 3's to get going,... then when he did get the ball, he was able to execute the pull ups & step backs to keep the defense honest, having to cover him. Again,... this coaching staff keeps me smh,.... brilliant.

The other result was all the shooters getting free for 3's on the backside of the penetration,... Great night for all of them. It does take Myles a bit out of the game,... because with the other players lifting behind the action,.... he had to stay closer to the rim to keep the rim pressure to keep the OKC defense from hedging out,... but man,.. he was working in the restricted area,... even if that doesn't show up in the box score. His block on Holmgren was epic.

Myles placement also meant that Pascal was going to be better placed & likely covered by 1 guy on rebounds,... 13 boards.

Was also impressed with Benn,... he only got 14 minutes,... and was asked to rebound & defend. For all his strengths as a scorer,... he really played well away from the offensive actions,... sprinting to the off corner to keep the defense extended,... sitting off-side at top of the arc,... again, to keep the defense extended away from the direction of the action. He was playing committed defense tonight,... He isn't Aaron,... but he did give the Pacers some effective minutes without letting the defense slip,... with all the action going away from him,... when TJ scored one in the lane to keep the momentum going,... he was pumping his arms while sprinting back on defense. Not a good statistical night,... but he wasn't going to have a good statistical night doing what he was asked to do, and showing a commitment to doing what it takes to win.

Nembhard's defense was outstanding,... his fast hands,.... he and TJ on the floor together, stunting both sides of the ball handler while they were bringing the ball up, or very high on the court, knowing they could recover into the defense, particularly when SGA had the ball,.... If Drew isn't in the conversation for all defense next season,.. I will be really surprised.

All in all,... a good game for the Pacers,... I thought OKC played well,... they definitely didn't just give this one away,... but how committed were they?... who knows. We do know that both teams will be all-in for the next one,... this next game is going to be one for the ages,.....

[AussiePacer]

I’d start him and make him play it aggressive for 6-8 minutes, then give him a decent break. See how the game ins unfolding and determine when and for how long he comes back.

I’m optimistic tonight.

OKC will be keen to rule a line through it (albeit I also see some upshot in them wanting to win at home in G7). We’ve got a fighting spirit and have kept surprising over the last 4 months.

Pacers by 7.

Turner, Siakim and Nesmith to carry the scoring load.

Happy to say I got just about everything wrong here. OTHER THAN US WINNING!!!!

Bring in G7. Anything can happen.

[rmontro]

Pretty sure OKC hit my number first in game 4. Not going to look it up though.

I just looked it up to be sure, the Pacers were ahead 100-97.

They sure played a perfect game in this one.

[Wizop]

Pretty sure OKC hit my number first in game 4. Not going to look it up though.

I just looked it up to be sure, the Pacers were ahead 100-97.

They sure played a perfect game in this one.

except the halftime score was 60-57 making the total 117 and my first to number 110 not 100. so my formula did work. the number isn't always 100.

[boomershadow]

Okay, I was wrong. I am glad Haliburton played lol