The Official 2025 NBA Finals Thread: OKC Thunder vs Indiana Pacers

[bkcardcollector]

if indy wins one of the first two, i think it could get interesting, everyone loves an underdog

[2010GBPackers]

Originally Posted by al3xmac10

Carlisle has outwitted a brilliant coach (Spoelstra) with Lebron, Wade, Bosh before, in the most improbable Finals win in recent history...

Such a good point. If you're in your 20's, you have no idea how much of a juggernaut that Heat team was. Dallas upsetting them in the Finals after mocking Dirk and thinking they were going to breeze to 5 straight rings was an upset for the ages.

Originally Posted by boxbuster7

I've been telling people nobody outside of okc/indiana (plus nomad), and hardcore degenerate nba fans will care

You realize no one cares about the NBA writ large anymore, right? The average NBA regular season game is unwatchable, making casual fan interest zero come playoff time. You can't string along your [former] fans during the season and think they're going to show up and watch the Finals in record numbers.

Until the NBA changes the way the game is played (organically, or by rule changes), it's only going to get worse. The IND/NYC series was a blueprint. Sure, there were still tons of threes shot, but the mid-range game was in play, you had a villainous character in Hali trying to take down Gotham City, there was physicality, and tons of open-court fast breaks. A far cry from watching two guys sprint to the corner three positions, with pick-and-roll action at the top of the key, a drive to the basket, and a kick out for three. That's literally 60% of the game during the regular season, and it has to change or else the only fan left watching will be Adam Silver.

And by the way, the DEN/MIA Finals outdrew the BOS/DAL Finals from last year, so if you think the ratings will suck because it's two Midwestern teams with little star power, you're missing the bigger picture. The NBA's product sucks and it's been on a downward slide since the Cavs/Warriors Finals.

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by 2010GBPackers

You realize no one cares about the NBA writ large anymore, right? The average NBA regular season game is unwatchable, making casual fan interest zero come playoff time. You can't string along your [former] fans during the season and think they're going to show up and watch the Finals in record numbers.

Until the NBA changes the way the game is played (organically, or by rule changes), it's only going to get worse. The IND/NYC series was a blueprint. Sure, there were still tons of threes shot, but the mid-range game was in play, you had a villainous character in Hali trying to take down Gotham City, there was physicality, and tons of open-court fast breaks.

I watched every regular season Pacers game. I can say I was rarely disappointed and I am the first to turn off a bad game.

[4barrel]

https://youtu.be/jMlEO_zIYfw?si=VcgPZowODj924aX1

[Nomad]

Just came across this statement: "Pacers play ethical high athleticism basketball. And OKC plays ref ball." Anyone know both teams well enough to discuss?

[drobfan8]

Originally Posted by 4barrel

https://youtu.be/jMlEO_zIYfw?si=VcgPZowODj924aX1

You should make a thread for this

[drobfan8]

Originally Posted by 2010GBPackers

Such a good point. If you're in your 20's, you have no idea how much of a juggernaut that Heat team was. Dallas upsetting them in the Finals after mocking Dirk and thinking they were going to breeze to 5 straight rings was an upset for the ages.



You realize no one cares about the NBA writ large anymore, right? The average NBA regular season game is unwatchable, making casual fan interest zero come playoff time. You can't string along your [former] fans during the season and think they're going to show up and watch the Finals in record numbers.

Until the NBA changes the way the game is played (organically, or by rule changes), it's only going to get worse. The IND/NYC series was a blueprint. Sure, there were still tons of threes shot, but the mid-range game was in play, you had a villainous character in Hali trying to take down Gotham City, there was physicality, and tons of open-court fast breaks. A far cry from watching two guys sprint to the corner three positions, with pick-and-roll action at the top of the key, a drive to the basket, and a kick out for three. That's literally 60% of the game during the regular season, and it has to change or else the only fan left watching will be Adam Silver.

And by the way, the DEN/MIA Finals outdrew the BOS/DAL Finals from last year, so if you think the ratings will suck because it's two Midwestern teams with little star power, you're missing the bigger picture. The NBA's product sucks and it's been on a downward slide since the Cavs/Warriors Finals.

All of the finals ratings were pretty good for GS runs. Even vs TOR it heated up later in the series when people realised GS could lose.

LeBron's bubble series was woeful and woke.

The next season Pho vs Mil was pretty terrible also.

Since those 2 we've seen an uptick. But not as much as GS brought in.

Bos vs Dal wasn't very far off Mia vs Den.

Plus they tend to heat up after game 4 if it's a series. I don't really care if ratings are great or not, but if it's 2-2 it should generate some interest. Hopefully it'll be a great intensity.

[kipgen]

Originally Posted by Nomad

Just came across this statement: "Pacers play ethical high athleticism basketball. And OKC plays ref ball." Anyone know both teams well enough to discuss?

The statement behind OKC "playing ref ball" comes from them playing very physical defense combined with SGA being a master foul baiter/drawer

As for the Pacers they seem like they play pretty clean to me, if I had to guess they foul less than OKC except for maybe Nesmith

[Nomad]

You're saying the Pacers need three or four more Nesmiths to win.

[ninjacookies]

Mucho respecto@m'Lord, but he couldn't even throttle the revered turbomanlet Brunson (31ppg).

Shay Shay 34ppg EZ. What Indy better pray for is that they find a way to slow down JDub. If they do, then they have a punchers' chance to make this series semi-competitive.

On the flipside, Bald Mamba will probably be the best defender on the floor at all times. Made light work of Yoker and will probably make anyone of his choice on Indy look silly.



Avatar friendly wagers are always open to anyone feeling froggy.

[drobfan8]

I've always loved it when a coach puts a small guy on a big player.

But let's not kid ourselves. OKC doubled every time Jokic got below the free throw line and lived with the horrendous shooting from Denver.

[ninjacookies]

The problem is Indy doesn't have anyone nearly as skilled as Yoker. Thus, OKC can be as flexible and free as they want with their double teams or simply just staying disciplined in m2m/zone. KAT has always been a piss poor defender outside the paint, so he was BBQ chicken for Turner. Chet is one of the better perimeter defending bigs so he'll probably see a lot of him.

I actually suspect Hartensteins minutes will trend down just like they were against Minnesota due to matchups. A lot of run against the similar interior big Bryant. I can see Chet playing the 5 and Caruso the 4, or vice versa. Constant switchoffs on Turner and Siakam.


I don't think Hali will have the privilege of having up and down games if they really have any chance.

[4barrel]

Originally Posted by drobfan8

You should make a thread for this

I did. You should check it out. LoL

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

KAT has always been a piss poor defender outside the paint, so he was BBQ chicken for Turner. Chet is one of the better perimeter defending bigs so he'll probably see a lot of him.

Thing is Pacers can simply not play Myles if the situation is disadvantageous and they need to give him rest. They have done that in the past and all three interior bigs have stepped up.

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by Nomad

Thing is Pacers can simply not play Myles if the situation is disadvantageous and they need to give him rest. They have done that in the past and all three interior bigs have stepped up.

In which case OKC will counter with Hartenstein and PHOkic. One area where Indy does match up better than OKC's previous opponents is their bench.


McConnell rarely gets talked about but he needs to get his 8/4 nightly and Toppin his usual transition buckets. I don't know if Mathurin can be depended on for anything other than hard nosed NFL tackles.

Despite the nuggets postseason role player woes, they were a top 3 offense this year, so that opens a small crack for Indiana if they can maintain their shooting form. Alternatively, Indy has yet to face a historic caliber defense of this magnitude that can also put up points in heaps (4th ranked offense vs. 7th ranked Indy).


We'll see.

[Zedlaw]

Call me excited, seems like the bigs were taking over but now we have a series centered on the point guards. Can’t think of too many of those in the classical sense

[bkcardcollector]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

Mucho respecto@m'Lord, but he couldn't even throttle the revered turbomanlet Brunson (31ppg).

Shay Shay 34ppg EZ. What Indy better pray for is that they find a way to slow down JDub. If they do, then they have a punchers' chance to make this series semi-competitive.

On the flipside, Bald Mamba will probably be the best defender on the floor at all times. Made light work of Yoker and will probably make anyone of his choice on Indy look silly.



Avatar friendly wagers are always open to anyone feeling froggy.

Nesmith was a shell of himself after he sprained his ankle. There has been a week off but he took off 35 days for his other ankle earlier this year. I would bite but I think he will be at 80 percent which is huge for a guy depending on his freakish athletic ability and quickness on defense.

[Nomad]

It was probably actually 35 games, he was gone for like four months.

[bkcardcollector]

Originally Posted by Nomad

It was probably actually 35 games, he was gone for like four months.

you're right, daang, i think this one was pretty bad too. I can never watch those replays.

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by bkcardcollector

Nesmith was a shell of himself after he sprained his ankle. There has been a week off but he took off 35 days for his other ankle earlier this year. I would bite but I think he will be at 80 percent which is huge for a guy depending on his freakish athletic ability and quickness on defense.

K-dawg's ankle injury came midway through game 5.

By then, Non Viet Brunson had already compiled scoring totals of 43, 36, 23, and 31.


I'm glad we've already started lining the excuse caboose for their upcoming decimation, citing a season nagging ankle issue to their 3rd best scorer/primary defender that couldn't even bottle a midget. It's simply a natural coping mechanism. Nacho fault, breh.


Always and forever here for it.

[Nomad]

No, its more like the Apple underpromise and overperform strategem.

For many, the copium and denials begins so soon after the last upset. I see now that the hobby is rigged against a Nesmith piece ever exceeding the overlord-decided benchmark until all unobtanium is in ring seekers' hands. Ive seen this subterfuge before.

Shape-shifting ninja was out of his Z positionz before we could say "hamburger."

But heck, Dublet A just cracked the Ringer solid at 91. Another 46 spots to catch the spot Z just warming for him on the bench.

By the way, who K-dawg?

[ninjacookies]

I'm perplexed on how Denzel Vandross suddenly enters this quadratic equation, though I realize his longstanding status as the (literal) biggest urban sex symbol since Sisqo can intimidate the laymans. I will die on this Dru Hill.




In any event, always up for the friendly 1 month avatar swap. I'll even spot Indy +2 games cuz I'm nice like that.


At worst? You get to rep a max slider OF swooner with pending Diddy allegations that have no bearing on his future foodie freedoms.

At best? You've finally sourced the sole remaining Kneesmiff shiller in the Milky Way for a healthy period of 4 weeks. And I'd be honored to be a co-conspirator.


Don't bow out now, pare.

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

The upside with Haliburton right now is a hedge against OKC. All the SGA stuff has gone up from preseason, you can hedge some of it.

Long term? Reggie Miller lite if he stays in Indiana. More personal accolades, not as many team ones.

I don't think anyone who bought in on ShayShay previous to the start of the season would have any reason to hedge at this point, as his stuff was still extremely cheap compared to most notable 1a's. You really only stand to suffer a haircut if you fomo'd within the past month or two, which would have been dumb anyways since they've been the favorite for awhile.

In the minute chance Indy does pull off the massive upset, what kind of realistic expectation could be had for anyone on the Pacers short of maybe their dollar bin guys? We've seen this play with plenty of historical data to draw upon. Prices for all usually and inexplicably dips following a Finals win or loss. Money flows into futbol and baseball and doesn't start picking back up until Sep/Oct.

Buy the rumor, sell the news.

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

At best? You've finally sourced the sole remaining Kneesmiff shiller in the Milky Way for a healthy period of 4 weeks. And I'd be honored to be a co-conspirator.
Don't bow out now, pare.

I follow my gut. Now talking heads have specific points they have been engrained. But look who the visual editor looks to feature in like the first four clips of a video nominally about the Pacers and Thunder. You'll see where the memorable, recognizable highlights reside. 90 percent are stored in that amazing Game 1 at MSG that galvanized the live-streaming world. Guess what, you've just prepped 25,000 viewers who care enough to watch the MEDIA DAY LIVE: #NBAFinals presented by YouTube TV to appreciate good basketball, ala Nesmith.

I would say anyone purchasing any Nesmith /10 other than Chronicles at prices under $100 now is looking at a str8 300 percent profit in four weeks,* even if he bows out in four games as as a defeated Pacer and wounded warrior.

The thing is, by being true and honest with yourself, you have undying forgiveness from any woman, as long as you helped each other get to the next phase. So you know, I think there is a big difference between that smirk attracted the wrong kind of person and then having her hate you for all eternity.

Does that make any sense? You just inspired a new semi-annual thread. Let me go down to bass-ment and make it.

* If that doesn't happen, I guarantee 300% in fabric credit for any holding that helps complete the collection. Of course, a sustainability coin might not buy you every item on the McDonalds' menu. So I will throw in a limited edition Nesmith sketch card /100 on top.

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by Nomad

I follow my gut. Now talking heads have specific points they have been engrained. But look who the visual editor looks to feature in like the first four clips of a video nominally about the Pacers and Thunder. You'll see where the memorable, recognizable highlights reside. 90 percent are stored in that amazing Game 1 at MSG that galvanized the live-streaming world. Guess what, you've just prepped 25,000 viewers who care enough to watch the MEDIA DAY LIVE: #NBAFinals presented by YouTube TV to appreciate good basketball, ala Nesmith.

I would say anyone purchasing any Nesmith /10 other than Chronicles at prices under $100 now is looking at a str8 300 percent profit in four weeks, even if he bows out in four games as as a defeated Pacer and wounded warrior.

The thing is, by being true and honest with yourself, you have undying forgiveness from any woman, as long as you helped each other get to the next phase. So you know, I think there is a big difference between that smirk attracted the wrong kind of person and then having her hate you for all eternity.

Does that make any sense? You just inspired a new semi-annual thread. Let me go down to bass-ment and make it.

BOL kuya.


May the best Visayan win.