[NBA] The 2025 Finals

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. Indiana Pacers (4)
Game 1, June 5: Indiana at Oklahoma City (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 2, June 8: Indiana at Oklahoma City (8 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 3, June 11: Oklahoma City at Indiana (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 4, June 13: Oklahoma City at Indiana (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 5, June 16 (if necessary): Indiana at Oklahoma City (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 6, June 19 (if necessary): Oklahoma City at Indiana (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 7, June 22 (if necessary): Indiana at Oklahoma City (8 p.m. ET, ABC)


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Shout out to @SLAB, @Tizzy Flip and @whitechocolate for correctly answering the Eastern Conference Final poll question.

Shout out to @Capt. Factorial, @QWERTYLICIOUS, @LoungeLizard, @Sheldor and @Tizzy Flip for correctly answering the Western Conference Final poll question.

 

[SacTownKid]

This could be a pretty good series. The Thunder are a lot like the Cavs and the Pacers handled them pretty well. Thunder in 6.

 

[kingsboi]

if the officiating allows defense, this could make for an interesting series. Thunder in a sweep however

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Somebody on reddit said the loser of the Finals has to take back Paul George.

 

[iowamcnabb]

I guess I’ll root for the Pacers but I don’t see this being too close. Dort is going to be able to slow Hali, I don’t think Indiana has an answer for Shai and they certainly don’t have an answer for both Hali AND Dub. Having said that the Pacers have the ability to get hot from 3 so maybe they can win one or two with hot shooting and then figure out something else. The NBA postcasters dragging the Kings through the mud lately has soured me on the Pacers some so I’m not thrilled to root for them but I don’t want to see the Thunder win 5 straight championships either.

 

[SLAB]

I can’t imagine the Pacers win. But I didn’t think they’d handle the Cavs either. OKC seems to be on a different level though.

 

[QWERTYLICIOUS]

I guess I’ll root for the Pacers but I don’t see this being too close. Dort is going to be able to slow Hali, I don’t think Indiana has an answer for Shai and they certainly don’t have an answer for both Hali AND Dub. Having said that the Pacers have the ability to get hot from 3 so maybe they can win one or two with hot shooting and then figure out something else. The NBA postcasters dragging the Kings through the mud lately has soured me on the Pacers some so I’m not thrilled to root for them but I don’t want to see the Thunder win 5 straight championships either.

I mean, if Indiana doesn't have an answer for one of their own players, then yeah, this one will end in 4.

 

[iowamcnabb]

I mean, if Indiana doesn't have an answer for one of their own players, then yeah, this one will end in 4.

Shai and dub, you knew what I meant

 

[QWERTYLICIOUS]

Shai and dub, you knew what I meant

You're an Eagles fan. I'm not sure I know much, if anything at all...

 

[ESP47]

I can’t imagine the Pacers win. But I didn’t think they’d handle the Cavs either. OKC seems to be on a different level though.

Yeah I think the Denver series was the real finals but I'm curious to see how the over achieving Pacers do against them.

 

[SacTownKid]

I can’t imagine the Pacers win. But I didn’t think they’d handle the Cavs either. OKC seems to be on a different level though.

The most fascinating thing is going to be Haliburton against the crop of guard defenders the Thunder have. If Hali goes off against them we'll never hear the end of that one.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1929211300376428734

 

[kingdivac]

Nemhard and Nesmith - are either of these 2 going to rise up to play at a high clip consistently offensively - not sure - but will have to happen, considering the Thunder will probably throw timed double teams at Halliburton. Nembhard will probably foul out vs Alexander nightly which means hot-head Mathurin will get the backup defensive assignment (2nd set of 6 fouls). Don't like Alexander as the 2nd coming of James Harden foul magnet extroardinaire. I was happy to see the Nuggets and whiny Jokic vanquished, but the T-Wolves once again for the 2nd consecutive playoffs show they are pretenders from top to bottom. I didn't mind the Thunder until I start hearing dynasty chatter;, with Alexander that's no bueno with his signature offensive elbow push off of a defender that somehow constitutes a defensive foul to the charity stripe. As was correnctly assessed, the Pacers will get run off the floor if they lose the turnover margin by much. They're already handicapped on rebounding as exhibited vs the Knicks. Thunder in 6 I think, but hope the Pacers in 7 somehow.

 

[LoungeLizard]

OKC was 29-1 vs the Eastern Conference this year. Insanity. I may have been too generous in calling this in 6. Gentleman’s sweep it is.

 

[kingsboi]

I guess I’ll root for the Pacers but I don’t see this being too close. Dort is going to be able to slow Hali, I don’t think Indiana has an answer for Shai and they certainly don’t have an answer for both Hali AND Dub. Having said that the Pacers have the ability to get hot from 3 so maybe they can win one or two with hot shooting and then figure out something else. The NBA postcasters dragging the Kings through the mud lately has soured me on the Pacers some so I’m not thrilled to root for them but I don’t want to see the Thunder win 5 straight championships either.

the two teams that can stop this potential dynasty from happening are the Wolves and Nuggets, but this all depends on what moves they make this offseason to add help to their star players

 

[kingsboi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1929211300376428734

I wonder how fans felt when it was Bucks vs Suns or Heat vs Nuggets

 

[Mike]

I suspect OKC are going to win the finals in probably five games. However, I would prefer the Pacers to win a championship, but for that to happen I think it’s going to be a grind and victory in seven games. That said, we would never hear the end of it if Hali leads them to a championship!

 

[QWERTYLICIOUS]

I am going to predict the Thunder winning in 6, BUT I kind of expect this series to end in 4 or 5. I am just one of those who like to give the underdog a game or two in any postseason series. And, on top of that, the Pacers have shown me enough throughout their postseason run that makes me believe that they will not easily go down.

 

[Kingster]

I want the Pacers, but it's probably OKC in 5 or 6.

 

[Joshyjosh31]

Lu Dort is something else

 

[kingdivac]

9 turnovers in 1Q for the Pacers.....ouch

 

[SacTownKid]

Pacers kind of getting screwed on calls in this one, lol.

 

[kingdivac]

Nesmith just tooled Wallace

 

[kingdivac]

Pacers are playing right into the turnovers..

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

So far, so good.

 

[SacTownKid]

Haliburton is outmatched physically by the Thunder guards but he's got to stop retreating like that.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

In fairness to Myles Turner, he was probably just surprised that traveling was actually called in an NBA game.

 

[kingdivac]

Haliburton is outmatched physically by the Thunder guards but he's got to stop retreating like that.

He's had a bad game, and is getting beaten on defense.

 

[kingdivac]

Pacers can't string together stops and makes

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Haliburton is outmatched physically by the Thunder guards but he's got to stop retreating like that.

He's had a bad game, and is getting beaten on defense.

At least one of those things is going to continue to happen the rest of the series, too