NBA Season 2024-25

[Moranis]

I guess time will tell, but writing off the Pacers seems foolish. I mean they have 5 playoff series wins in the last 2 seasons. No team has more than that (Celtics also have 5).  They had the best record in the East in 2025.  Remember they were 10-15 at the start of December 13 and were 16-18 on New Years.  34-14 in 2025 and won their first 2 series in 5 games (taking out the best player in the east and then the best team) and 6 with Knicks.

I think IND is better than people think.  But I feel that OKC is every bit as good as people think.  I don't know if IND will have an answer for SGA, no other team has so far.  But I feel that IND has the scheme and the personnel to go against the OKC defense.

So based on all that, my prediction is OKC in 6 or 7 good games.  I am curious to see how Carlisle schemes to take out SGA.  I would probably double him and make others beat you, but IND would not be the first to try that scheme.  I think IND can score on OKC though, the question is if they can slow down OKC/SGA enough.  Probably not.

I don't think anyone can slow down SGA. At least not by much. Teams / Indiana may have more success focusing their defensive attention on his co-stars J-Dub and Chet. Those guys are easier to slow down than SGA. Isolate SGA by slowing down his supporting cast.

Yep. I think SGA has a mega series stat wise, but I do think the Pacers can stop the others. And while the Thunder are an excellent defense, I do think the Pacers pose some very unique challenges for them. 

The series comes down to Haliburton.  If he can distribute and not turn it over (and get like 15 ppg), I feel really good about the Pacers chances of winning.  They don't need Tyrese to be a mega scorer, just play his game and the rest will follow.

[Goldstar88]

I guess time will tell, but writing off the Pacers seems foolish. I mean they have 5 playoff series wins in the last 2 seasons. No team has more than that (Celtics also have 5).  They had the best record in the East in 2025.  Remember they were 10-15 at the start of December 13 and were 16-18 on New Years.  34-14 in 2025 and won their first 2 series in 5 games (taking out the best player in the east and then the best team) and 6 with Knicks.

I think IND is better than people think.  But I feel that OKC is every bit as good as people think.  I don't know if IND will have an answer for SGA, no other team has so far.  But I feel that IND has the scheme and the personnel to go against the OKC defense.

So based on all that, my prediction is OKC in 6 or 7 good games.  I am curious to see how Carlisle schemes to take out SGA.  I would probably double him and make others beat you, but IND would not be the first to try that scheme.  I think IND can score on OKC though, the question is if they can slow down OKC/SGA enough.  Probably not.

I don't think anyone can slow down SGA. At least not by much. Teams / Indiana may have more success focusing their defensive attention on his co-stars J-Dub and Chet. Those guys are easier to slow down than SGA. Isolate SGA by slowing down his supporting cast.

Yep. I think SGA has a mega series stat wise, but I do think the Pacers can stop the others. And while the Thunder are an excellent defense, I do think the Pacers pose some very unique challenges for them. 

The series comes down to Haliburton.  If he can distribute and not turn it over (and get like 15 ppg), I feel really good about the Pacers chances of winning.  They don't need Tyrese to be a mega scorer, just play his game and the rest will follow.

Haliburton is Indiana?s 2nd leading scorer(19ppg) behind Siakam. Then you have Turner at 15ppg and Nesmith at 14ppg. I think Tyrese is going to have to elevate his scoring for the Pacers to have a chance in this series.

[scaryjerry]

Pacers in 5 or 6.

Jeez - really? Why do you think that?

I think the Pacers are a very unique challenge for the Thunder. They can't key on Haliburton like they could with Edwards. He is just such a brilliant ball handler and passer and is often at his best distributing and not scoring. I know they did well on him in the regular season, but I think Tyrese has found his groove.  I also think Chet is almost a detriment in the series.  I expect Turner to actually play pretty well.  Now SGA is a problem for the Pacers, he is going to have big numbers, but I think the Pacers will do enough on the others to win.

Congrats to the pacers for a great and unexpected run to the finals, but the Cinderella story ends here.
Unless the young thunder completely choke this is thunder in an easy 4 maybe 5

I guess time will tell, but writing off the Pacers seems foolish. I mean they have 5 playoff series wins in the last 2 seasons. No team has more than that (Celtics also have 5).  They had the best record in the East in 2025.  Remember they were 10-15 at the start of Decemeber 13 and were 16-18 on New Years.  34-14 in 2025 and won their first 2 series in 5 games (taking out the best olayer in the east and then the best team) and 6 with Knicks.

Pacers have indeed impressed me and congrats to them for all the things you listed.
The thunder won 68 games with an unstoppable MVP and have the best defense and just scorched through the western playoffs.
It would be a miracle or the biggest choke I?ve ever seen if the pacers pulled this off

[Donoghus]

OKC is currently -700 to win the series. .275  for -1.5 games. Over 5.5 games is +115.

[Moranis]

OKC is currently -700 to win the series. .275  for -1.5 games. Over 5.5 games is +115.

money to be made on Indiana

[Who]

ESPN's NBA headline / front story = Paul George trade is about to deliver an NBA title.

PG13 traded from Indiana.
PG13 traded from OKC.

One of these two teams is going to net a title from trading away Paul George.

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

ESPN's NBA headline / front story = Paul George trade is about to deliver an NBA title.

PG13 traded from Indiana.
PG13 traded from OKC.

One of these two teams is going to net a title from trading away Paul George.

SB Nation also have a similar feature article. I reckon the Indy connection is a stretch.

[slamtheking]

ESPN's NBA headline / front story = Paul George trade is about to deliver an NBA title.

PG13 traded from Indiana.
PG13 traded from OKC.

One of these two teams is going to net a title from trading away Paul George.

should be a bit humbling for PG.  teams improved by moving him along.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

ESPN's NBA headline / front story = Paul George trade is about to deliver an NBA title.

PG13 traded from Indiana.
PG13 traded from OKC.

One of these two teams is going to net a title from trading away Paul George.

SB Nation also have a similar feature article. I reckon the Indy connection is a stretch.

Not really. Pacers got Sabonis for George, who they then traded for Haliburton.

Clippers-Sixers finals confirmed in a few years.

[Vermont Green]

ESPN's NBA headline / front story = Paul George trade is about to deliver an NBA title.

PG13 traded from Indiana.
PG13 traded from OKC.

One of these two teams is going to net a title from trading away Paul George.

I had to go back and refresh my memory.  The Paul George connection really is serendipitous.

For those who also don't remember the details, IND drafted PG but then traded him to OKC for Sabonis and Oladipo.  Oladipo was traded for Caris LeVert and a second-round pick, but they ended up trading Sabonis to SAC in the Haliburton trade.

With OKC, it was even more direct.  PG was traded for SGA plus picks, one of which was used for Jalen Williams.

[Donoghus]

I read an even more insane story the other day establishing the 2004 Knicks contract extension of Kurt Thomas as the flashpoint that led to the chain of events which led to this OKC Finals appearance.

2004 - Knicks sign Kurt Thomas to 3 year $22.5 extension
 
2005-  Knicks trade Thomas & Dijon Thompson to the Suns for Quentin Richardson & Nate Robinson.

2007-  Suns trade Thomas to the SuperSonics along with 2008 1st round pick, 2009 2nd round pick, & 2010 first round pick.

2008 - Now the Thunder, OKC drafts Serge Ibaka with that 1st round pick ('10 1st round pick was used on Quincy Pondexter)

2016 - Ibaka traded to Orlando for Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis, & Ersan Ilysova.

2017 - Oladipo & Sabonis traded to Indiana for Paul George

2019 - Paul George traded to Clippers getting for a package including SGA and 1st round pick that was used to select Jalen Williams.

[slightly biased bias fan]

Multiple Knicks players have been unhappy with the presence of assistant coach Rick Brunson, per Sam Amico.
 

Per Hoops Wire sources, multiple Knicks players have been unhappy with the presence of assistant coach Rick Brunson, the father of star guard Jalen Brunson. What that issue is, exactly, has not been determined, though sources suggested that Rick has had too big a say in things.

[Who]

Multiple Knicks players have been unhappy with the presence of assistant coach Rick Brunson, per Sam Amico.
 

Per Hoops Wire sources, multiple Knicks players have been unhappy with the presence of assistant coach Rick Brunson, the father of star guard Jalen Brunson. What that issue is, exactly, has not been determined, though sources suggested that Rick has had too big a say in things.

I thought Rick Brunson was supposed to be one of the ones who was unhappy with Thibs. That he didn't think he was using his son right or making the right adjustments in games. That was the rumour mill reports I came across during the playoffs anyway.

[Moranis]

Multiple Knicks players have been unhappy with the presence of assistant coach Rick Brunson, per Sam Amico.
 

Per Hoops Wire sources, multiple Knicks players have been unhappy with the presence of assistant coach Rick Brunson, the father of star guard Jalen Brunson. What that issue is, exactly, has not been determined, though sources suggested that Rick has had too big a say in things.

I thought Rick Brunson was supposed to be one of the ones who was unhappy with Thibs. That he didn't think he was using his son right or making the right adjustments in games. That was the rumour mill reports I came across during the playoffs anyway.

could be true and that could have been what rubbed other players the wrong. Felt like he was using his position to undermine Thibs and benefit his son.

[Who]

NBA Finals Net Rating Rankings & Differences
 
2025: Thunder, 1st / Pacers, 12th (11 spot difference)
2024: Celtics, 1st / Mavericks, 14th (13 spots)
2023: Nuggets, 6th / Heat, 21st (15 spots)
2022: Warriors, 5th / Celtics, 2nd (3 spots)
2021: Bucks, 4th / Suns, 3rd (1 spot)
2020: Lakers, 5th / Heat, 7th (2 spots)
2019: Raptors, 3rd / Warriors, 2nd (1 spot)
2018: Warriors, 3rd / Cavaliers, 14th (11 spots)
2017: Warriors, 1st / Cavaliers, 7th (6 spots)
2016: Cavaliers, 4th / Warriors, 2nd (2 spots)
2015: Warriors, 1st / Cavaliers, 5th (4 spots)
2014: Spurs, 1st / Heat, 4th (3 spots)
2013: Heat, 2nd / Spurs, 4th (2 spots)
2012: Heat, 4th / Thunder, 3rd (1 spot)
2011: Mavericks, 8th / Heat, 1st (7 spots)
2010: Lakers, 7th / Celtics, 9th (2 spots)
2009: Lakers, 3rd / Magic, 4th (1 spot)
2008: Celtics, 1st / Lakers, 3rd (2 spots)
2007: Spurs, 1st / Cavaliers, 7th (6 spots)
2006: Heat, 6th / Mavericks, 3rd (3 spots)
2005: Spurs, 1st / Pistons, 6th (5 spots)
2004: Pistons, 2nd / Lakers, 7th (5 spots)
2003: Spurs, 3rd / Nets, 4th (1 spot)
2002: Lakers, 2nd / Nets, 5th (3 spots)
2001: Lakers, 8th / Sixers, 5th (3 spots)
2000: Lakers, 1st / Pacers, 6th (5 spots)
1999: Spurs, 1st / Knicks, 14th (13 spots)
1998: Bulls, 3rd / Jazz, 4th (1 spot)
1997: Bulls, 1st / Jazz, 2nd (1 spot)
1996: Bulls, 1st / Sonics, 2nd (1 spot)
1995: Rockets, 11th / Magic, 3rd (8 spots)
1994: Rockets, 6th / Knicks, 2nd (4 spots)
1993: Bulls, 2nd / Suns, 4th (2 spots)
1992: Bulls, 1st / Blazers, 2nd (1 spot)
1991: Bulls, 1st / Lakers, 3rd (2 spots)
1990: Pistons, 3rd / Blazers, 4th (1 spot)
1989: Pistons, 4th / Lakers, 3rd (1 spot)
1988: Lakers, 2nd / Pistons, 3rd (1 spot)

Interesting list. Only 5 times in the last 35+yrs has there been a Finals matchup where the teams were 10+ places apart in net rating. 3 of 5 have been in the last 3 years.

1999 = Spurs demolished NYK
2018 = GSW destroyed GSW
2023 = DEN made mince meat out of Miami
2024 = BOS were leagues ahead of Dallas
2025 = OKC vs IND = ?? ??

So not only were they far apart in regular season, but they all led to domination in the Finals by the superior net rating team. Bad omen for Indiana.