2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (Series tied 2-2)

[Nuntius]

Dort **** up here. The Pacers aren't a team that will allow you to punk them, especially on our own court.

[PushDaRock]

lol those Dumb and Dumber suits are awesome

[Chuck Everett]

Tried to tell y’all that the NBA wasn’t going to allow the Pacers to go up 3-1 without a fight. Scott Foster was sent in for a reason. OKC is on pace for 50 FT’s right now while mauling Indiana on the defensive end.

You've been saying because the Thunder are just so much better than Indiana. Don't try switching it up now.

[SA37]

Haliburton v Chet....jump shot.

[___Rand___]

JWill is playing lights out again.

[meekrab]

Can't believe the Pacers are using a full court press in the NBA finals and its sorta working.

[___Rand___]

Pascal is picking up OKC fouls.

[levon]

Thunder are playing super dumb

[Jta444]

Did Dallas have anyone that was a better player than LeBron James in 2011? Did they have anyone better than a Dwayne Wade outside of Dirk?

These are the exact same questions that apply to what you were just talking about with regards to OKC vs Miami. And guess what? Dallas still ended up winning that series.

The big problem here is that you're focusing on what's on paper with the top players and you're ignoring all other critical aspects.

2011 Miami Heat, on top of having absolutely no depth whatsoever, had almost no spacing. In their starting lineup, Mario Chalmers was the only three point threat they had. This was a key reason as to why LeBron struggled against the Dallas defense. So how do you think he'd do against one of the greatest defensive teams of all time, consisting of two all defensive members and one who also would've made it had it not been for injury and on top of that, two different elite rim protectors guarding the paint at all times?

Oh but it gets better.

Dwayne Wade lit up Dallas in that series, but it was partially by design. Dallas purposely devoted a lot of their attention towards LeBron and just did single coverage on Wade with either Stevenson or way past his prime Kidd. In this case, he's more than likely getting Dort, who is a nightmare defensive matchup for most guards. Wade is Wade, and he'll find a way to get baskets, but it's not going to be at the rate he did against Dallas.

And then Bosh is going up against Chet, who as I mentioned before would've made all defense had it not been for injuries (and would've been a DPOY candidate). That's another difficult defensive matchup right there.

Dallas proved something in this series, and that is if you're able to limit one or even possibly two of the big three, you have a path to victory. In this case, it was shutting down LeBron that proved to be the key to success.

And where is the additional offense going to come from with these three fighting for their lives to get baskets? OKC certainly has the personal to step up outside of their three best players. They had seven players average double digit scoring. Seven. Do you understand how insane that is?

But yeah sure, Miami has two of the three best players. According to you, that's supposed to make up for it, despite the clear matchup problems on top of the massive overall talent gap.

So yes, I'm going to be outright dismissive of the mere suggestion that the 2011 Heat would beat this Thunder team. It's an incredibly laughable thing to think. If you actually break it down and think about how things would play out, it's almost impossible to imagine a scenario where the Heat win in a seven game series.

Revisionist history. Dallas had JJ Barea and Terry single-coveraging Lebron that series. Wade was much better than Lebron at that point. Much more fearless slasher. Lebron just **** the bed that year. It’s not bad to admit that. He learned from his mistakes and came much better the next year. No need to revise history and come up with more excuses for Lebron. He became the 2nd greatest player of all time after that anyway, so he didn’t really lose. Dirk just taught him a lesson or two, all greats needed a beating. Jordan had the Pistons, Kobe had the Suns, and Lebron had Duncan and Dirk.

Your argument makes zero sense.

First off, Barea and Terry single covering LeBron... Do you not know what a zone defense is?

And in what way am I revising history? I said Dallas planned their entire defense around LeBron. This was confirmed by Mark Cuban himself. I said Miami lacked spacing, which is 100% true. It was a key reason as to why LeBron struggled.

And with all of that said, how is this me making excuses for him? That's a direct indictment on LeBron as a player. I'm outright stating that Dallas shut him down, which is true. Making excuses for him would be saying something like he choked, because that's at least giving him the benefit of the doubt in that he was capable of being that kind of player. At the time, he wasn't, not against a team with this kind of defense.

Some of you really don't think before making these posts.

Barea was defending Lebron that series. Zone defense or not if Lebron was a real basketball player at that point he should have shot over him time and again. But he wasn’t good back then. That’s why he needed a beating to make him work harder and develop a shot which he did come 2012.

Spacing? Michael Jordan had Pippen, Rodman/Grant, Longley, other scrubs who can’t shoot, yet he still won 6. So you’re admitting if Jordan had better spacing he would even win more, just like how Lebron won chamoionships when he got his spacing and shooters.

[SA37]

Can't believe the Pacers are using a full court press in the NBA finals and its sorta working.

Only on SGA, when it's Jalen Williams he is laying the ball in or getting to the line.

[Mk0]

Did dort just push hali?!

Nah just swiped him in the face when no one was looking. Just doing his Draymond thing.

[2weekswithpay]

OKC has struggled to score off TOs all series.

[boomershadow]

Tried to tell y’all that the NBA wasn’t going to allow the Pacers to go up 3-1. Scott Foster was sent in for a reason. OKC is on pace for 50 FT’s right now.

I don't get the complaints. OKC has taken almost every shot in the paint. The Pacers have taken almost exclusively jump shots.

That foul on Caruso super soft and called compared to halibirton getting pushed to the ground

[sikma42]

Jalen Williams is playing with a lot of confidence. Very talented but weird guy


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[og15]

Thunder are playing super dumb

Everything is a tough shot on offense right now and then the live dribble turnovers

[zshawn10]

Great take by pascal

[SportsGuru08]

Pascal asserting himself.

[___Rand___]

Caruso is playing well this game.

[LAvision]

This thunder offense is hilariously bad

[Mk0]

Holmgren isn't strong enough to go at Toppin in the paint. Just not enough mass.