[NBA] The 2025 Finals

Who Ya Got?

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Thunder with a chance to win it all in front of their fans. Which is the way all championship series (in any sport) should be. I just enjoy watching the home crowd be able to celebrate a championship with the team.

Pacers ain't gonna make it easy for them to win it, though, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them take that trophy with them to Indiana.

I'd be shocked if the series ends by way of a blowout in the final game. Game 7 is gonna be fun!
 
Doubtful the Pacers win on Sunday with Mathurin scoring 2 pts and Turner 3 points. They've gotta pick it up greatly offensively. The Thunder will not go 8-30 from 3 again with 6 or 7 of them in garbage time; the Thunder starters went 1-13 from 3.
 
QWERTYLICIOUS said:
Thunder with a chance to win it all in front of their fans. Which is the way all championship series (in any sport) should be. I just enjoy watching the home crowd be able to celebrate a championship with the team.

Pacers ain't gonna make it easy for them to win it, though, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them take that trophy with them to Indiana.

I'd be shocked if the series ends by way of a blowout in the final game. Game 7 is gonna be fun!
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They blew out the Nuggets and Wolves in home close-out games. The Pacers are playing better than both those teams though. Holmgren, Caruso, and Dort were very poor for the Thunder this game 6. I think the Thunder will be formidable in game 7 back on defense and forcing turnovers again at home in front of their crowd. They looked listless tonight. Pacers will need to shoot 3 pointers at a high % to balance that out. Halliburton can't have a tough game either. Hoping the Pacers show up offensively at least across much of their team....given a final game, it could be a foul-fest with multiple foul outs - especially with Alexander throwing his bones around.
 
kingdivac said:
Doubtful the Pacers win on Sunday with Mathurin scoring 2 pts and Turner 3 points. They've gotta pick it up greatly offensively. The Thunder will not go 8-30 from 3 again with 6 or 7 of them in garbage time; the Thunder starters went 1-13 from 3.
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If they went off and combined for 40 we’d be saying they won’t do it Sunday… they’re more do for a good game now
 
Thunder showed up and played like a team who thinks theyre good enough to let one go and win at home for the fans; flip the switch, so to speak. It’s a dangerous game to play. That being said, I think they cover the 9 points that Vegas has them favored. For entertainments sake, I hope it’s a close game, but OKC is a different animal at home, their crowd is Arco Arena level crazy and it took a miracle game 1 for the Pacers to steal that one. I’ll go 121-109 Thunder. SGA MVP.
 
LoungeLizard said:
Thunder showed up and played like a team who thinks theyre good enough to let one go and win at home for the fans; flip the switch, so to speak. It’s a dangerous game to play. That being said, I think they cover the 9 points that Vegas has them favored. For entertainments sake, I hope it’s a close game, but OKC is a different animal at home, their crowd is Arco Arena level crazy and it took a miracle game 1 for the Pacers to steal that one. I’ll go 121-109 Thunder. SGA MVP.
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Yup. The dangerous thing about this is injuries can happen and then boom - you've really screwed yourself with the whole "hey, at least we'll be in front of our fans" approach.
 
I didn't get the opportunity to watch last night's game, but this is such an interesting Finals. Injured or not, Haliburton hasn't been playing particularly well. He certainly hasn't been playing up to the media hyperbole around his talent level. And I really thought it would take Haliburton playing beyond his ability in order for the Pacers to take this series to seven games. Yet here we are, with the Thunder staring down a game 7 and an embarrassing Finals defeat while Hali isn't even firing on all cylinders. The Pacers are undoubtedly a good team, but I'm surprised to see the Thunder so flummoxed on both ends of the floor. It's perhaps not the ideal match-up for their defensive philosophy, but still, they just don't resemble the powerhouse they've been all season.

Having not watched the game, what was with the Thunder's turnover rate last night? Were they just careless and coughing up the ball? Or was Indiana playing some serious pressure defense?
 
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Joshyjosh31 said:
If they went off and combined for 40 we’d be saying they won’t do it Sunday… they’re more do for a good game now
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Padrino said:
I didn't get the opportunity to watch last night's game, but this is such an interesting Finals. Injured or not, Haliburton hasn't been playing particularly well. He certainly hasn't been playing up to the media hyperbole around his talent level. And I really thought it would take Haliburton playing beyond his ability in order for the Pacers to take this series to seven games. Yet here we are, with the Thunder staring down a game 7 and an embarrassing Finals defeat while Hali isn't even firing on all cylinders. The Pacers are undoubtedly a good team, but I'm surprised to see the Thunder so flummoxed on both ends of the floor. It's perhaps not the ideal match-up for their defensive philosophy, but still, they just don't resemble the powerhouse they've been all season.

Having not watched the game, what was with the Thunder's turnover rate last night? Were they just careless and coughing up the ball? Or was Indiana playing some serious pressure defense?
Click to expand...

DVR? Having watched the game, there was a clear notch below in defense for the Thunder that was present in game 5 especially with Dort and Caruso. I have a feeling there will be alot of foul outs on Sunday. Thunder were terrible from 3 but kept shooting anyway. The 2nd quarter, the Pacers separated - Halliburton hit a big 3 to start the separation to 6 if I remember. Thunder made a smallish run in the late 3rd but it fizzled out - only got back to 18 behind. Toppin, Nembhard, and McConnel all played very well on offense. Turner and Mathurin were poor. Alexander had 8 turnovers - Pacers had some very well timed double teams - timing of the double team on him is crucial. With the 3s not falling it was a long night for the Thunder. They layed off defensively and could not really cut into the lead. Honestly that could've been the Kings playing.
 
The one defensive adjustment I noticed from the Pacers is they were giving Chet the 3 and daring him to take it. For whatever reason, the whole series they’ve been playing up on him and letting him drive, and he’s pretty unstoppable close to the basket.

So packing the paint with Turner allowed for better paint defense and better close outs on the 3. And when Thunder is not shooting a high % of their 3s, that neutralizes their defense as they’re not great in transition. Their defense is probably the best in recent history coming off of made baskets and dead balls. So their shooting only helps their D which is no surprise when you see how many blowouts they’ve had this year.

Another key adjustment was not having Nembhard pick SGA up full court. SGA had less driving opportunities, and Nembhard had more energy on offense
 
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Tickets for game 7 "as low as $959"

I assume that to be 2nd deck (and an airline ticket). Wonder how many Pacer fans are that fanatical. A few at least.....
 
Tizzy Flip said:
The one defensive adjustment I noticed from the Pacers is they were giving Chet the 3 and daring him to take it. For whatever reason, the whole series they’ve been playing up on him and letting him drive, and he’s pretty unstoppable close to the basket.

So packing the paint with Turner allowed for better paint defense and better close outs on the 3. And when Thunder is not shooting a high % of their 3s, that neutralizes their defense as they’re not great in transition. Their defense is probably the best in recent history coming off of made baskets and dead balls. So their shooting only helps their D which is no surprise when you see how many blowouts they’ve had this year.

Another key adjustment was not having Nembhard pick SGA up full court. SGA had less driving opportunities, and Nembhard had more energy on offense
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Had Siakam on JDub more as well Nesmith can’t guard him they have to give him the crap more instead of letting him drive which fits with not picking him up in the backcourt
 
Padrino said:
I didn't get the opportunity to watch last night's game, but this is such an interesting Finals. Injured or not, Haliburton hasn't been playing particularly well. He certainly hasn't been playing up to the media hyperbole around his talent level. And I really thought it would take Haliburton playing beyond his ability in order for the Pacers to take this series to seven games. Yet here we are, with the Thunder staring down a game 7 and an embarrassing Finals defeat while Hali isn't even firing on all cylinders. The Pacers are undoubtedly a good team, but I'm surprised to see the Thunder so flummoxed on both ends of the floor. It's perhaps not the ideal match-up for their defensive philosophy, but still, they just don't resemble the powerhouse they've been all season.

Having not watched the game, what was with the Thunder's turnover rate last night? Were they just careless and coughing up the ball? Or was Indiana playing some serious pressure defense?
Click to expand...

After watching six games of this series, I have come to the conclusion that the Pacers winning Game 1 gave them the extra confidence that they can beat this team and that has carried over to game 7 where its down to one final game for the grand prize.
 
The Pacers will need defense and physicality to have a chance in the final. Nembhard has done a remarkable job on SGA. The MVP gets away with a lot of subtle push offs. The Pacers D has bothered him some of the time. Look out for Jaylen Williams, that guy can play.

In game 6 the Thunder were out hustled. They are pretty much a finesse team except for Hartenstein. They are bothered by swarming defense, and interrupting the passing lanes. The Pacers need a good shooting game to win. That is not so easy against the Thunder defense. They must run and move the ball. McConnell is the exception. HIs old style of ball handling works off the bench because it is so different from the style they play when he sits.

The Thunder are the best team in the League on paper. The Pacers deserve a lot of credit for getting in their way. Great coaching. Turner is setting records with blocks for the playoffs. Get Nesmith some shots. Defense, Run, Rebound. The Pacers have a chance.
 
ppine said:
The Pacers will need defense and physicality to have a chance in the final. Nembhard has done a remarkable job on SGA. The MVP gets away with a lot of subtle push offs. The Pacers D has bothered him some of the time. Look out for Jaylen Williams, that guy can play.

In game 6 the Thunder were out hustled. They are pretty much a finesse team except for Hartenstein. They are bothered by swarming defense, and interrupting the passing lanes. The Pacers need a good shooting game to win. That is not so easy against the Thunder defense. They must run and move the ball. McConnell is the exception. HIs old style of ball handling works off the bench because it is so different from the style they play when he sits.

The Thunder are the best team in the League on paper. The Pacers deserve a lot of credit for getting in their way. Great coaching. Turner is setting records with blocks for the playoffs. Get Nesmith some shots. Defense, Run, Rebound. The Pacers have a chance.
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Not just move the ball, but move off the ball - the Pacers get in trouble when they start watching Siakim and stagnate - and the Pacer guards need to crash and come back to the defensive boards consistently......at game 7 each team knows the other's routine - the adjustments have been made and tried. The Thunder will certainly be back to swarming and physical after a game 6 inexplicable hiatus. Pacers can't get too far behind early in the 1st half after the likely initial Thunder surge. Scott "the extender" Foster will be back it sounds like (which sucks) - see how that goes. Pacers getting blown out is a possibility with the Nuggets and Wolves examples, but I hope not. The reverse seems very unlikely. Interesting question, if the Pacers manage the win, who will be the series MVP? I'd pick Siakim I think.
 
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