NBA Season 2024-25

[Atzar]

Twice now that Toppin buried his former team with a late dagger.  Bet it feels good for him, lol.

[Goldstar88]

Hopefully Pacers/Thunder Final will be decent.

[scaryjerry]

Hopefully Pacers/Thunder Final will be decent.

Thunder sweep with an average margin of victory of 20

[Neurotic Guy]

Hopefully Pacers/Thunder Final will be decent.

Thunder sweep with an average margin of victory of 20

I don?t see Indy as in the same league as OKC.  Or the Knicks as that series is only presumed over but not actually over.  But winning 4 straight in the Finals isn?t easy and they may lose focus and drop one.

[Vermont Green]

IND has surprised me.  They are playing very well.  It burns me when I see NYK missing shots that they made every time vs BOS (or so it seemed).

As to IND vs OKC, I think IND has the approach that can give OKC trouble.  The way they push the ball up court, not allowing the defense to set, is exactly the way to counteract OKC's defense.  In any case, I think IND is better than MIN.  IND has some magic going on right now.  And Haliburton is 100% healthy.  They will need some magic to beat OKC in a series, but I think they are going to do better than people seem to initially think.

I did pick OKC in 5 but picked NYK in 7 so what do I know.

[Phantom255x]

I'd pick OKC in 6 but I definitely wouldn't rule Indiana out either

[Donoghus]

I'd pick OKC in 6 but I definitely wouldn't rule Indiana out either

I think OKC railroads IND in the Finals unless the league decides to play some games with the refereeing to keep it closer.

[Who]

I like how Indiana matches up with OKC.

Indy have the ball-handlers and shot makers to beat this OKC defense. One of the best equipped offenses to handle OKC's defense.

(1) They play 2 PGs on the floor a lot of time with Haliburton, Nembhard and McConnell.

(2) They have lots of shooting and play a 5 out offense. So they can punish scrambling trapping defenses well.

(3) They are a low turnover team due to Haliburton

(4) They have multiple wings who are comfortable putting the ball on the floor and driving. They are comfortable hitting midrange shots and of taking it all the way to the rim. Very few teams have as many players as Indy does that are comfortable doing this. These are the types of players you need to beat this OKC defense. Not just spot up shooters but guys who can attack. Nesmith, Siakam, Mathurin, Toppin. All their PGs. They can all attack open spaces against a scramblin defense. They can all hit pull up midrange jump-shots. They can all take it all the way to the basket and finish.

This Indy offense has the variety to cause OKC's defense huge problems in this series. This will be the toughest matchup for their defense thus far.

OKC does much better against heliocentric offenses & spot up shooters. But multiple scorers, guys who score in the midrange as well as from outside, guys who can attack the rim, all over the court all the time ... that is not something they deal with regularly. If ever.

[Who]

I like how Indiana matches up with OKC.

Indy have the ball-handlers and shot makers to beat this OKC defense. One of the best equipped offenses to handle OKC's defense.

(1) They play 2 PGs on the floor a lot of time with Haliburton, Nembhard and McConnell.

(2) They have lots of shooting and play a 5 out offense. So they can punish scrambling trapping defenses well.

(3) They are a low turnover team due to Haliburton

(4) They have multiple wings who are comfortable putting the ball on the floor and driving. They are comfortable hitting midrange shots and of taking it all the way to the rim. Very few teams have as many players as Indy does that are comfortable doing this. These are the types of players you need to beat this OKC defense. Not just spot up shooters but guys who can attack. Nesmith, Siakam, Mathurin, Toppin. All their PGs. They can all attack open spaces against a scramblin defense. They can all hit pull up midrange jump-shots. They can all take it all the way to the basket and finish.

This Indy offense has the variety to cause OKC's defense huge problems in this series. This will be the toughest matchup for their defense thus far.

OKC does much better against heliocentric offenses & spot up shooters. But multiple scorers, guys who score in the midrange as well as from outside, guys who can attack the rim, all over the court all the time ... that is not something they deal with regularly. If ever.

[Endless Paradise]

I like how Indiana matches up with OKC.

Indy have the ball-handlers and shot makers to beat this OKC defense. One of the best equipped offenses to handle OKC's defense.

(1) They play 2 PGs on the floor a lot of time with Haliburton, Nembhard and McConnell.

(2) They have lots of shooting and play a 5 out offense. So they can punish scrambling trapping defenses well.

(3) They are a low turnover team due to Haliburton

(4) They have multiple wings who are comfortable putting the ball on the floor and driving. They are comfortable hitting midrange shots and of taking it all the way to the rim. Very few teams have as many players as Indy does that are comfortable doing this. These are the types of players you need to beat this OKC defense. Not just spot up shooters but guys who can attack. Nesmith, Siakam, Mathurin, Toppin. All their PGs. They can all attack open spaces against a scramblin defense. They can all hit pull up midrange jump-shots. They can all take it all the way to the basket and finish.

This Indy offense has the variety to cause OKC's defense huge problems in this series. This will be the toughest matchup for their defense thus far.

OKC does much better against heliocentric offenses & spot up shooters. But multiple scorers, guys who score in the midrange as well as from outside, guys who can attack the rim, all over the court all the time ... that is not something they deal with regularly. If ever.

OKC?s defensive scheme walls off the paint. Depending on who they?re going against, they?ll either force the star player to beat them (Jokic) or force their role players to beat them (Ant). It?ll be interesting to see, assuming both teams win their respective series, but I think the gap between OKC and Indy on defense (OKC >>> Indy) far supersedes the gap on offense (Indy > OKC) and that should tilt things in the Thunder?s favor.

That said, OKC will give up open corner threes by design, so it?s up to the Pacers to keep capitalizing on that.

[Phantom255x]

I'd pick OKC in 6 but I definitely wouldn't rule Indiana out either

I think OKC railroads IND in the Finals unless the league decides to play some games with the refereeing to keep it closer.

OKC will blow out IND a few games, yes. But I think Indiana's pace and style of play can give OKC fits in a few other games. Make their defense a bit hesitant and confused. I predict OKC goes up 3-1, IND steals road Game 5, and then OKC steals road Game 6 to win it all. I'd be surprised if there's a sweep.

[Endless Paradise]

I will say that the faster pace is actually a benefit for OKC - they wanna get out and run and force turnovers by blitzing ball handlers and playing gaps, making the opposition team hesitant to take too long to make decisions. Denver made a 7 game series by slowing the pace down.

[Phantom255x]

Yeah OKC may run away with this tonight lol

[Who]

23-7 OKC start

Minny only 7pts Q1 with 2min to play? Yuck.

9pts. Finished the quarter with 9pts. Down 17pts already.

[Who]

The number of times where Minny have been on the verge of turning the ball is frightening. The referees have been kind to them for not calling for lifting their pivot foot on several passes.