NBA Season 2024-25

[Moranis]

I mean the Pacers were up 103-99 with 3 minutes left in game 4.  They got outscored 12-1 in the final 2:58 of the game.  Their final possessions were - shot blocked, turnover, missed 3, missed long 2, missed 3, 2 missed FT, 1 of 2 from line, missed desperation 3. 

Complete and utter choke job. Cost them the series.

[Endless Paradise]

Even if they won Game 4, there?s really no genuine rationalization for assuming they?d just close it out on the road in 5. If Indiana is to win, it has always been destined to be a long series with a win in 6 or 7. 5 implies that they?re a perfect counter to some OKC flaw or that OKC was suffering from a catastrophic injury.

[Vermont Green]

Pacers in 5 or 6.

Even if you thought Indiana would win the series, Pacers in 5 was always an aggressively ridiculous and silly take, lol

if they dont choke away game 4, they easily could have closed it out last night especially if Haliburton doesn't reinjure his leg.

They lost the series when they couldn't close out game 4.

You have to be careful with the selective "what ifs".  OKC led game one all the way and they choked away a game they should have won.  I feel the series so far has proven out that IND is better than most people thought, but not as good as you thought.  Or OKC is better than you thought, or some combination.  No shame in that.

And the series isn't over.  We may well get a game 7.  I don't know what is wrong with Haliburton though.  There won't be a game 7 if he scores 4 points again.  Williams likely will not score 40 again either.

[tonydelk]

Pacers in 5 or 6.

Even if you thought Indiana would win the series, Pacers in 5 was always an aggressively ridiculous and silly take, lol

if they dont choke away game 4, they easily could have closed it out last night especially if Haliburton doesn't reinjure his leg.

They lost the series when they couldn't close out game 4.

You have to be careful with the selective "what ifs".  OKC led game one all the way and they choked away a game they should have won.  I feel the series so far has proven out that IND is better than most people thought, but not as good as you thought.  Or OKC is better than you thought, or some combination.  No shame in that.

And the series isn't over.  We may well get a game 7.  I don't know what is wrong with Haliburton though.  There won't be a game 7 if he scores 4 points again.  Williams likely will not score 40 again either.

Haliburton has a calf injury.  He said if he can walk he wants to play.  That comment seems like it may force him to miss game 6. 

[SparzWizard]

Playoff/Pandemic P (Paul George) giving NBA Finals criticism to Haliburton saying he has to be consistent or he cannot win a championship. Can't be great one game and bricking the next game.

Funny coming from Paul George of all people tho

[Birdman]

Wouldn?t be surprised to see OKC VS Indy in Finals again next season

[Moranis]

Even if they won Game 4, there?s really no genuine rationalization for assuming they?d just close it out on the road in 5. If Indiana is to win, it has always been destined to be a long series with a win in 6 or 7. 5 implies that they?re a perfect counter to some OKC flaw or that OKC was suffering from a catastrophic injury.

the series was going like I thought it was going to go, Indy steals game 1, OKC evens in game 2, and then Indy wins games 3 and 4.  Wasn't sure if they'd close it out in OKC, which is why I said 5 or 6.   Then the wheels fell off in the 4th quarter of game 4 and the best closing team in 2025 suddenly forgot how to play basketball at home to basically lose the championship.  After that game, I expected OKC to win game 5 and ultimately the series, but if Indy had hung on, the series very well might be over right now.

[Goldstar88]

Wouldn?t be surprised to see OKC VS Indy in Finals again next season

So much of the playoffs comes down to health, so it?s almost impossible to predict. Will be interesting to see who goes where in the offseason as well.

[Phantom255x]

Uh oh, Haliburton getting an MRI. Likely has a calf strain, MRI to determine severity

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Interesting - the Pacers traded picks today to get their pick back next year.

Made me wonder why, and got me thinking about the package they could put together for Giannis.

Nembhard, Walker, Mathurin, Toppin, plus the warchest of picks - does that come close?

Next year they have Siakim-Giannis-Turner-Hali-Nesmith with McConnell-Sheppard-Bradley off the bench.

[Moranis]

Interesting - the Pacers traded picks today to get their pick back next year.

Made me wonder why, and got me thinking about the package they could put together for Giannis.

Nembhard, Walker, Mathurin, Toppin, plus the warchest of picks - does that come close?

Next year they have Siakim-Giannis-Turner-Hali-Nesmith with McConnell-Sheppard-Bradley off the bench.

Seems like it may have been as much about clearing the 3.2 million salary slot, which now gives them close to 20 million below the luxury tax line (so they can use full MLE without becoming a taxpayer and still fill out the roster with minimum contracts).