[NBA] The 2025 Finals

[iowamcnabb]

Honestly, if Jarace Walker gets a chance to shine next season, Hali comes back after, and they keep it together then they might be primed to dominate after the next season. They'll still obviously be good regardless if they don't tank it. They even have Furphy who has upside. This team has shown how to build through the draft and with fit moves.

More moves than draft I’d say. Turner has been just ok, Walker is hurt and wasn’t playing and Benn has been more bad than good (with flashes of brilliance)

 

[Joshyjosh31]

I mean in Halis case, he was playing with fire with the calf strain. Devastating man, I can't imagine telling someone to sit out of the game 7 of the NBA finals, but thats probably the hard call the GM has to make and take the blow back on.

Ya the GM or team owner wasn’t stopping Hali from playing especially when he did it for a game and a half

 

[SacTownKid]

The thing is that none of their *high level* picks have panned out at all. They’ve had success on the margins with Nembhard and Sheppard as second rounders but Myles was picked by the old Larry Bird regime a full decade ago and Jarice and Benn have both failed to get any traction at all with Carlisle. The one place that the pacers have absolutely killed it is via the trade market, which might honestly be the first time that a teams ever had success purely trading for a core.

Walker and Mathurin will now get the chance. If they get as much burn as possible and live up to their potential, as devastating as this looks now, the team will be far better for it.

 

[Tetsujin]

I mean in Halis case, he was playing with fire with the calf strain. Devastating man, I can't imagine telling someone to sit out of the game 7 of the NBA finals, but thats probably the hard call the GM has to make and take the blow back on.

Yep. You’re investing 250 million dollars in a guy (although that extension technically hasn’t kicked in yet). I know the goal is championships but one game isn’t worth the next half decade of a potential failed return on investment.

 

[kingdivac]

Pacer

Any theories on the Achilles injuries? Could it be the shoes? Coincidence?

Very similar injury circumstance to Tatum, with foot sliding.

 

[Tetsujin]

Walker and Mathurin will now get the chance. If they get as much burn as possible and live up to their potential, as devastating as this looks now, the team will be far better for it.

That’s based on the assumption that both guys are good though. Mathurin has looked rough in this series and Jarice currently is buried behind Tony Bradley on the depth chart (which to be fair, is totally a Rick Carlisle “I’m going to start Dwight Powell for three seasons for some reason despite everyone knowing that he’s our worst player” move).

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

Nobody holds out their leader in a championship game 7. Everyone would take that risk

 

[chief bromden]

Any theories on the Achilles injuries? Could it be the shoes? Coincidence?

Probably just playing with an injury that leads to a more serious injury. Treatment+pain killers/injections loosens up the calf and allows movement where there should be limiting movement/range and rest. But I'm just laying on a chaise lounge with a beer in the sun while watching the game so what do I know? Lol

 

[SacTownKid]

More moves than draft I’d say. Turner has been just ok, Walker is hurt and wasn’t playing and Benn has been more bad than good (with flashes of brilliance)

This is up to the young guys to take advantage now though. They have the tools, now refinement and confidence awaits.

 

[The_Jamal]

Ya the GM or team owner wasn’t stopping Hali from playing especially when he did it for a game and a half

No, but maybe you pitch count him. Say he gets 24 minutes total and he'll be on the floor in crunch time.

Again, that's all hindsight though. Just sucks

 

[iowamcnabb]

This is up to the young guys to take advantage now though. They have the tools, now refinement and confidence awaits.

They also might be a sneaky Giannis team if he changes his mind. They control all their own picks and have a few young guys that at least have intrigue. He could stay East

 

[chief bromden]

If the Pacers win tonight, it was all worth it. Feel for Hali, but he accepted the risks. There is no guarantee he gets back to the Finals ever in his career if he sits out and rests.

 

[SacTownKid]

That’s based on the assumption that both guys are good though. Mathurin has looked rough in this series and Jarice currently is buried behind Tony Bradley on the depth chart (which to be fair, is totally a Rick Carlisle “I’m going to start Dwight Powell for three seasons for some reason despite everyone knowing that he’s our worst player” move).

They both have tools that tend to really land at the NBA level. Especially Mathurin. Now it kind of frees up Indy to just go for it and see what they've got next season. Then on the plus if they produce, they become trade assets too.

 

[The_Jamal]

Not sure what's happened to this OKC offense. Just looks so out of sorts and completely disjointed. No ball movement, just waiting for JDub or SGA to do something

 

[Tetsujin]

Still insane that the Thunder were able to get Caruso without giving up a single pick or a player they actually liked

 

[kingdivac]

NO REBOUNDING

 

[Joshyjosh31]

So hoe does the ref miss a clear carry on SGA and then call a hip check on the pacers

 

[The_Jamal]

Get TJM in stat. He's the engine that's been able to probe this OKC defense and certainly the only guy capable with Hali out

 

[kingdivac]

Williams is out of it on shooting

 

[Tetsujin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1936957413523165637

 

[The_Jamal]

So hoe does the ref miss a clear carry on SGA and then call a hip check on the pacers

Brother, if they called actual carries in the NBA, we'd never get a full possession of basketball

 

[Tetsujin]

Brother, if they called actually carries in the NBA, we'd never get a full possession of basketball

Every single highlight dunk would be overturned because the dunker picked up his foot too early.

 

[kingdivac]

The Hield comparison for Mathurin's dribbling is correct. Nesmith picked up his 3rd foul

 

[Tetsujin]

Chet freelancing too much on defense.

 

[Joshyjosh31]

Brother, if they called actual carries in the NBA, we'd never get a full possession of basketball

Did you see the play? That wasn’t an nba carry that was next level

 

[The_Jamal]

I'm no NBA coach, but hedging of Turner and leaving him wide open, seems bad

 

[kingdivac]

Good idea subbing out Nesmith to protect his fouls

 

[Tetsujin]

In which Rick Carlisle looks at the refs in disgust because his player failed to close out of a three point shooter.

 

[SacTownKid]

The Thunder turning it up again. They decided to take a game and a half off. C'mon Pacers, wake up!

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

Brother, if they called actual carries in the NBA, we'd never get a full possession of basketball

Players always adjust to what they can and can't get away with