[NBA] The 2025 Finals
- Thread starter Mr. S£im Citrus
- Start date
Tizzy Flip
Starter
there’s no way anyone is taking Pacers roster over the Thunder. Pacers have great chemistry led by Hali, that’s what has elevated them this game over a team with much superior talent
iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
Kings level free throws haha
ShastaKingsFan
All-Star
Maybe now some will consider the Pacers a contender? You never know. Maybe they have to be in a Finals game 7 before that happens? 
coolhandluke
Starter
Convincing win from the Pacers after leading only for a total of 2 minutes in first two games.
Tizzy Flip
Starter
Nah man, they just luckyMaybe now some will consider the Pacers a contender? You never know. Maybe they have to be in a Finals game 7 before that happens?
coolhandluke
Starter
There's a reason why TJ is on the untouchable list every trade season.
Tizzy Flip
Starter
If Thunder don’t use their bench more, they could end up like the Knicks. They went 7 deep this game, and it showed in the 4th. That Hali missed 3 where he ended up getting his own rebound, SGA was just standing there watching. Never seen the dude look like that before
coolhandluke
Starter
Hold your horses. Let them win a championship first.Maybe now some will consider the Pacers a contender? You never know. Maybe they have to be in a Finals game 7 before that happens?
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
Yeah, I believe I mentioned the chemistry myself but you're underrating their depth. Haliburton, Nesmith, Toppin, Mathurin, and Turner were all lottery picks. That isn't even counting Jarace Walker who hasn't played. Pascal would be the 2nd best overall player on the Thunder. The Pacers don't have a talent like SGA but he sure looks like he's on an island sometimes. Part of this is definitely the parity of the league where there aren't superteams at the moment. Both these teams are getting waxed by some champions of the past. They're young though so we'd have to see how they develop.
Tizzy Flip
Starter
Yah, unless they win it all, it’s just a fluke and injury luck going their way!
Tizzy Flip
Starter
Thunder have depth too, they just don’t use it. Isaiah Joe gets 4 mins. That’s a travesty. Wiggins who scores 40 something on us gets 10 mins. That’s on coaching. Carlisle trusts his rotations and will sit Hali in key moments cuz he believes in the long game, sometimes to a fault
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
The issue is how can they spell SGA? He's the only player that even played over 40 in this one. The Thunder might be a little too stacked with role playing defenders and Williams is the type as a number 2 option that is heaven or hell. It's easy to see why he gets so much crap at times, lol.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
Wiggins was having a really rough game. Somebody has to step up though. Jalen Williams finally came around but it wasn't enough and some of his mistakes were just killers. The plus minus tells it the way it was for them. Holmgren, SGA, and Dort were the only ones that didn't look out of place for most of the game.
Tizzy Flip
Starter
I would say SGA had a worse game than J Dub. He was getting targeted on defense and had some really bad TOs
Joshyjosh31
Starter
Na he landed in two feet then dove to the ground and laid there baiting a review
QWERTYLICIOUS
Starter
Yeah, they definitely got that one wrong. A flagrant could've altered the outcome of the game.
Regardless, OKC shot themselves in the foot from the line. Indiana came through big time down the stretch to put the game away.
He came down extra hard on him......instead of just going for block to foul, which is what he should've done.
Joshyjosh31
Starter
Chet’s defensive is other worldly so it’s close with Siakam who is Indiana third best player? Jdub would be the pacers second best player easily with the defensive he plays
Joshyjosh31
Starter
He had zero chance of going for the block there was 2-3 minutes left give a hard foul and prevent an easy layup everything doesn’t have to be flagrant
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
He was literally taking on the entire defense though. They doubled, blitzed, trapped and when he was begging his teammates to step up it wasn't there. This is also his prove it moment too. The concerning thing is that at one point he refused to even run pick and roll because he knew the blitz was hitting him hard. There were possessions he stood off ball watching. It could have been fatigue but yeah unless someone appears to be be legit 2nd option at some point this could be what seals their fate.
QWERTYLICIOUS
Starter
Well, you certainly pointed out one criteria of a flagrant foul, and that was the fact that he had zero chance of going for the block.
The other part of the criteria that you have neglected, and the one the officials also neglected, was the fact that it was a clear as day windup.
And, you're right, everything doesn't have to be a flagrant. But when one is as obvious as the one in question, you better be calling it, regardless of the time left on the clock, and regardless of the type of game (i.e. finals/postseason/regular season/preseason).
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
I'm talking strictly offensively. Holmgren for sure is a unicorn. Mathurin is starting to bloom. That kid looks like a star in the making for sure. He's been the guy this whole series where in a crucial moment he's getting inside and wreaking havoc. In the playoffs in starters minutes he's putting up 20+ a night. With him the Pacers have a solid threesome with Haliburton and Siakam. I would fully expect most of the Thunders gameplan to be focused on Mathurin for the next game.
Nesmith is their most atheletic player, of course he could've tried for the block from behind and a hack if needed. He got away with it....he definitely wound up....he could've just grabbed him to prevent, but he hacked down with extra force aiming for his arms, no play for the ball.
ShastaKingsFan
All-Star
The same league and world where the Pistons beat the Lakers and won a championship in '04
