2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (Series tied 3-3, Game 7 Sunday!)

[Wizop]

Several of the times a team came back from down 3-2 were when the series were 2-3-2 and the last two games were home games for the winner. Thunder deserve to be favored but the pacers won't quit

[pingpongrac]

The votes made me laugh. The hate is real. I don't see this game being that close either, definitely see OKC winning by double digits.

I don't think it's hate. It's a game 7 and both teams have been pretty even, so at that point it's just who you like more. Judging by the cockiness about the voting on your/thunder fans end, maybe that's why some people are going for Indy

We won 68 games and had an all time great season but aren't getting the respect we deserve. It's not cockiness just annoying more than anything. This franchise and fanbase has done nothing to deserve the hate they're getting.

Cockiness isn't quite the right word, but I don't know how one can be so confident in an OKC blowout win after how this series has played out so far and when taking into consideration that Indiana has been rolling since early January then kicked it up another notch in the playoffs. Regular season success means nothing when it comes down to a game 7 of the Finals that has gone back and forth. The reality is this has been an incredibly even-matched series where both teams have played more than well enough to be a deserved Champion. The fact that so many people are voting for Indiana has more to do with how they've looked like a well-oiled machine on both ends that is getting contributions from everyone this entire playoff run in addition to having more overall experience.

[OldSchoolNoBull]

With regards to those pointing to the Nuggets series as a mirror series...I would argue there are a couple of big differences between that Game 7 and this Game 7.

One, the Nuggets limped into that game. Two of their top four guys were hurt(Gordon's hamstring, MPJ's shoulder), and they had very little depth. Hali's calf not withstanding(and no one seems to be talking about it anymore), the Pacers, knock on wood, appear to be entering the game whole, and with great depth.

Two, even with their injuries, the Nuggets were in that Game 7 in the first half. It was a close game until late in the second quarter when Caruso started guarding Jokic, a few turnovers were forced, and the Thunder went on a run. The Nuggets never got back in the game after that. The point here is that there was one obvious guy on the Nuggets that if the Thunder could limit him, the game would likely be won. I don't know that that's the case with the Pacers. In some respect, they may be a more difficult team to defend against because there's no obvious head of the snake to take the axe to. On the contrary, this time, it may be the Thunder who have an obvious head of the snake for the Pacers to attack.

Having said that, as someone who wants badly for the Pacers to win, I don't fool myself into thinking it will be easy. Both teams have good records where it counts tonight: Pacers are 7-4 on the road in these playoffs(two of those losses coming vs this Thunder team, by 16 and 11 respectively); but the Thunder are 10-2 at home, and both of those losses came on last-second game-winners. Further, the Thunder are yet to lose two games in a row in these playoffs.

So I believe the Pacers can win, but I am not expecting it to be easy. And if they don't win, I do not think it will be a blowout on the order of the Nuggets' Game 7 loss.

[jkvonny]

Several of the times a team came back from down 3-2 were when the series were 2-3-2 and the last two games were home games for the winner. Thunder deserve to be favored but the pacers won't quit

In your same scenario. The 2-2-1-1-1 format.
Last couple of teams to come back winning last 2 games. 2016 Cavs vs GSW
1978 Washington Wizards/Bullets vs Seattle SuperSonics (now OKC Thunder).
Both road teams in game 7 , Cavs and Washington
1969 Celtics did it as well vs Lakers, won Game 7 on road.
1962 Celtics too vs Lakers. Won Game 7 at home.

[Wizop]

The fact that so many people are voting for Indiana has more to do with how they've looked like a well-oiled machine on both ends that is getting contributions from everyone this entire playoff run in addition to having more overall experience.

And yet the betters think OKC will win which is why the pacers get points. Posts here are not from a representable sample.

[Mr. Perfect]

Found these numbers on Reddit for tonight's officiating crew. Looks even to me.


OKC record:

James Capers (3-1)

Josh Tiven (3-2)

Sean Wright (2-0)

Indiana Record

James Capers (4-0)

Josh Tiven (1-3)

Sean Wright (2-2)

[Doranku]

Do we know the officiating crew yet?

James Capers, Josh Tiven and Sean Wright

Scott "The Extender" Foster was given the night off as the series can't be extended anymore

[OldSchoolNoBull]

As for the "hate" towards OKC...I don't think it is hate. I mean, there are some who have a genuine issue with SGA's style of play, always looking for the foul, perceived flopping, friendly whistle, etc etc.

But I think more than that it's these two things:

1. The feeling that OKC somehow skipped a step. Last season, they jumped from play-in team to #1 seed, but the expectations for them going into the playoffs were not huge. They were just a team on the rise. This season, in terms of hype, they leap from "team on the rise" to historic unbeatable juggernaut and a potential future dynasty. Contrast that to last season's Celtics, whose title was the culmination of seven years of building, coming after a Finals loss and a handful of ECF losses. I think some us just feel like the OKC hype got too big too fast. And I say that as someone who was actively rooting for them in the 2024 playoffs.

2. Perhaps even more than that, the Pacers are just too good of a story for neutral fans not to be on board. All of those game-winners, winning two(potentially three) series without HCA, Hali winning the title just several months after his peers voted him the most overrated player in the league, the Rick Carlisle redemption arc(after being blamed for the Mavs' underperformance in his last years there and after Luka openly didn't want to play for him), the Pascal Siakam redemption arc(after the perception of him cooled in his last years in Toronto and after his contract with Pacers was seen by many as a bad one), Myles Turner winning a ring with the Pacers after his name being tossed around deadline and offseason headlines/rumors for years and years, the TJ McConnell of it all, etc.

[OldSchoolNoBull]

The fact that so many people are voting for Indiana has more to do with how they've looked like a well-oiled machine on both ends that is getting contributions from everyone this entire playoff run in addition to having more overall experience.

And yet the betters think OKC will win which is why the pacers get points. Posts here are not from a representable sample.

Yes, but I'm sure a lot of those betters thought this series would've been over a week ago.

[bisme37]

Read on Twitter

[Wizop]

The fact that so many people are voting for Indiana has more to do with how they've looked like a well-oiled machine on both ends that is getting contributions from everyone this entire playoff run in addition to having more overall experience.

And yet the betters think OKC will win which is why the pacers get points. Posts here are not from a representable sample.

Yes, but I'm sure a lot of those betters thought this series would've been over a week ago.

Betting lines predict sentiment not results.

[BigDan245]

I don't think the league wanted Foster to be the story of the game. It's the first game 7 in almost 10 years and I don't believe the league wanted a lot of the discussion to be able Scott Foster.

[TroubleS0me]

Read on Twitter

[jkvonny]

As for the "hate" towards OKC...I don't think it is hate. I mean, there are some who have a genuine issue with SGA's style of play, always looking for the foul, perceived flopping, friendly whistle, etc etc.

But I think more than that it's these two things:

1. The feeling that OKC somehow skipped a step. Last season, they jumped from play-in team to #1 seed, but the expectations for them going into the playoffs were not huge. They were just a team on the rise. This season, in terms of hype, they leap from "team on the rise" to historic unbeatable juggernaut and a potential future dynasty. Contrast that to last season's Celtics, whose title was the culmination of seven years of building, coming after a Finals loss and a handful of ECF losses. I think some us just feel like the OKC hype got too big too fast. And I say that as someone who was actively rooting for them in the 2024 playoffs.

2. Perhaps even more than that, the Pacers are just too good of a story for neutral fans not to be on board. All of those game-winners, winning two(potentially three) series without HCA, Hali winning the title just several months after his peers voted him the most overrated player in the league, the Rick Carlisle redemption arc(after being blamed for the Mavs' underperformance in his last years there and after Luka openly didn't want to play for him), the Pascal Siakam redemption arc(after the perception of him cooled in his last years in Toronto and after his contract with Pacers was seen by many as a bad one), Myles Turner winning a ring with the Pacers after his name being tossed around deadline and offseason headlines/rumors for years and years, the TJ McConnell of it all, etc.

Good post and truthful.

Also, I may add. The Pacers (young team as well) have been very underrated the last couple of seasons, tons of playoff experience , well coached, deep too, misunderstood (ppl forget that they were injured earlier in the season started slow), etc.

OKC window is huge, they'll be elite for years to come. 5 yrs or so.
Indiana window as well, but not as huge as OKC. Maybe around 3-5 more seasons or so. They are in the East.

But, a lot can change within a few years. With the teams and overall NBA landscape. Coaching changes, injuries, FO changes, major trades etc.

[Exp0sed]

awesome finals series. one of the best in recent memory. HCA and history heavily favor the Thunder in game 7 but it's one game, Indy has pulled a few miracles this season so it's not over till it's over

[bonita_the_frog]

1936534390173299152

Wow, the Pacers are WAY better than OKC at assists, transition offense, mid-range shooting and corner 3s!
Turnovers are the biggest advantage for OKC, so i guess if Indiana don't turn he ball over much in Game 7 they'll win

[Wizop]

I am so tired of the East is week. The top 6 teams in each conference had a winning record against the other conference. The West is deeper but there are good teams everywhere.

[jkvonny]

Read on Twitter

That was great!

Could've used more of the 1978 NBA FINALS highlights of the Washington Bullets/Wizards & Seattle SuperSonics, but was still pretty good and they showed Washington celebrating on court and in lockerroom.

[og15]

Read on Twitter

Awesome, Indiana has matched/beat OKC in almost every shooting area, turnovers is their biggest disadvantage through the 6 games

Hopefully we get a really fun game

[Soonercrazy84]

I'm in Downtown OKC right now and this place is already lit up.....

People everywhere enjoying adult beverages lol.

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