NBA Season 2024-25

[Vermont Green]

Oh, and I do agree that 4 firsts seems excessive, but even Mitchell got that I think.  Giannis is an MVP caliber player, and likely will continue to be for 5 more years or so.  I am not sure you can overpay for that type of player.

[Who]

The MIL team with Lillard and Middleton both healthy was a pretty good team.

I like Ingram with Giannis.  And Giannis is at his best when he has a big center next to him (Poeltl).  I think that is a pretty good start to a team.  Quickley and the rest may leave them a good player away from a true title contender, but the team would a decent start.

(1) Ingram with Giannis

Is this not the same type of partnership that Ingram had with Zion in New Orleans? A bully ball PF who likes to drive and can't shoot well. That New Orleans team always underachieved. Ingram & Zion never hit high heights together.

On the positive side, Giannis is a much better defender & rebounder than Zion. So he will combine better with Ingram in those areas. Not sure about offensively though. Pelicans never had impressive offenses despite having 2 stars and quality supporting casts around them.

(2) Agreed on the defensive side of the ball. I worry about Poeltl's inability to shoot on the offensive side. Spacing will be a lot harder for Giannis without a Brook Lopez type stretch five to open up the paint for him. Bobby Portis served the same function in a smaller body off the bench for MIL.

I think you gotta get that stretch five for Giannis. That if you trade for him, you gotta think about trying to find a way to acquire one for him. Kinda like the LA Lakers are trying to acquire an athletic rim runner who can do alley oops for Luka. They just need this characteristic alongside them to unlock their individual offense.

[Donoghus]

Interesting stuff here.

https://awfulannouncing.com/nba/thunder-pacers-smallest-market-finals-matchup.html

In fact, based on the average DMA market size of the two teams involved, it?s the smallest market NBA Finals in the league?s modern history. Dating back to 1982 ?the first year after CBS stopped airing the NBA?s championship round on tape delay ? the 11 smallest market NBA Finals are as follows (DMA market rankings of each team in parentheses):

2025: Oklahoma City Thunder (47) vs. Indiana Pacers (25): 36 average DMA market rank
2012: Oklahoma City Thunder (47) vs. Miami Heat (18): 32.5 average DMA market rank
2007: San Antonio Spurs (31) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (19): 28 average DMA market rank
2021: Phoenix Suns (12) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (38): 25 average DMA market rank
2013-2014: San Antonio Spurs (31) vs. Miami Heat (18): 24.5 average DMA market rank
2005: San Antonio Spurs (31) vs. Detroit Pistons (14): 22.5 average DMA market rank
2003: San Antonio Spurs (31) vs. New Jersey Nets (1): 16 average DMA market rank
1999: San Antonio Spurs (31) vs. New York Knicks (1): 16 average DMA market rank
1997-1998: Utah Jazz (28) vs. Chicago Bulls (3): 15.5 average DMA market rank
While applying 2025 DMA ranks to Finals that date back to 1982 isn?t necessarily ideal, the list remains representative nonetheless. It?s not as if applying San Antonio?s 2003 DMA rank or Salt Lake City?s market size in 1997 would sway this list in any meaningful way, especially considering the opponents they faced.

To that end, it?s also worth noting how many Finals dating back to 1982 have had its average market size ranking anchored by at least one of its participants. Of those 43 Finals, 36 have included at least one top-10 U.S. market; one of the perks of having had multiple dynasties based in Los Angeles, Chicago and the Bay Area.

Simply put, it?s rare for an NBA Finals to not include at least one team from a top-10 market, and until now, there?s never been one with neither team based in a top-20 market. Even the Rochester Royals (No. 79 DMA currently) played the New York Knicks in 1951.

[Vermont Green]

(1) Ingram with Giannis

Is this not the same type of partnership that Ingram had with Zion in New Orleans?

Yes, I guess, except Giannis is way better than Zion ever was.

I do agree with the idea of a stretch big being ideal.  Lopez started to hit 3s and that was good for Giannis and MIL overall.  But that is kind of universally true these days.  I don't think lack of a consistent 3 hurts Giannis as he is so good at everything else.  But sure, it is always better to have as many shooters on the floor as possible.  Giannis still manages to score 30 pretty much every season. 

[Endless Paradise]

Indiana?s advantages are shooting and coaching experience. Offense in general, they?re comparable (OKC actually outranked them in the regular season), defense goes to OKC, depth is a wash, pace goes to OKC (quicker pace in both the regular season and playoffs). The Pacers winning this series will depend on those two factors.

[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

[Moranis]

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.

[Donoghus]

New Magic jerseys were unveiled.  I'll give than an "Eh".  I appreciate them going back to their roots a bit but the blue/black one is awful.

[Roy H.]

New Magic jerseys were unveiled.  I'll give than an "Eh".  I appreciate them going back to their roots a bit but the blue/black one is awful.

Yeah, the middle one is awful.  I do like the throwback charm, though.  Now they just need to get Shaq and Penny to suit up.

[Larry for 3]

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.

Not a good matchup for IND and the odds agree, so that?s why they are massive underdogs. Then again the Knicks were massive underdogs against the Celtics so I suppose you never know.

[Redz]

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.

Not a good matchup for IND and the odds agree, so that?s why they are massive underdogs. Then again the Knicks were massive underdogs against the Celtics so I suppose you never know.

Indy was a slight dog against NY and a massive dog against Cleveland too.  But yeh... OKC has been the best team in the league all year.  They are susceptible to the occasional brain fart game, but their ability to just smother teams and run them off the floor is right up there with any in league history.

[Phantom255x]

My Magic fan friends HATE the new design and logo lol

[Who]

There is a pick with players posing in the new jerseys



It doesn't look good to me. I liked the Dwight era jerseys more. Or the T-Mac era jerseys.

There is something childish / cartoonish about those 90s Magic jerseys. Shaq pulled it off. So did Penny. Not sure many other players could.

[Vermont Green]

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.

[Who]

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.