The Official 2025 NBA Finals Thread: OKC Thunder vs Indiana Pacers

[Chryghst]

Originally Posted by Akphillips86

This is true. More specifically leading up to the start of next season in the hype phase. Luka prices are going to be nuts all over again.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I learned this lesson so many times, most recently with Shai. I’d sell at the end of what I considered his best season to find the price doubled between May and October even with no games played. Made it impossible to replace whatever I sold.

[boxbuster7]

maybe the hype cycle is finally over?

sure seems that way to me

[Nomad]

That would be extremely bad timing.

FWIW:

The last five Game 7s:
— 2016, Cleveland 93, Golden State 89
— 2013, Miami 95, San Antonio 88
— 2010, Los Angeles Lakers 83, Boston 79
— 2005, San Antonio 81, Detroit 74
— 1994, Houston 90, New York 84

Interesting that no Bulls series ever went 7 games.

also of note: "The previous four series saw a 65% increase in viewers for Game 7 vs. the average of the first six contests."

[Chryghst]

Originally Posted by Nomad

That would be extremely bad timing.

FWIW:

The last five Game 7s:
— 2016, Cleveland 93, Golden State 89
— 2013, Miami 95, San Antonio 88
— 2010, Los Angeles Lakers 83, Boston 79
— 2005, San Antonio 81, Detroit 74
— 1994, Houston 90, New York 84

Interesting that no Bulls series ever went 7 games.

also of note: "The previous four series saw a 65% increase in viewers for Game 7 vs. the average of the first six contests."

See this, Ninja? Do you want to send me that Team Fortress 2 inventory now? 0/10 on breaking 100 points

[Asian62150]

Originally Posted by Nomad

That would be extremely bad timing.

FWIW:

The last five Game 7s:
— 2016, Cleveland 93, Golden State 89
— 2013, Miami 95, San Antonio 88
— 2010, Los Angeles Lakers 83, Boston 79
— 2005, San Antonio 81, Detroit 74
— 1994, Houston 90, New York 84

Interesting that no Bulls series ever went 7 games.

also of note: "The previous four series saw a 65% increase in viewers for Game 7 vs. the average of the first six contests."

Bulls had a few G7s during their run but all came before the Finals (1990 ECF, 1992 vs. Knicks, 1998 ECF).

Also, Bill Russell never lost a G7 (10-0).

[OKC Thunder fan]

I rewatched the 4th quarter of the 2016 NBA Finals where Lebron/Cavs came from behind 3-1 and won in game 7 against the "invincible" 73 win GSW team

In my head I thought this was some kind of "great" game but when I went back and saw it again it was really kind of boring.

Basically you have Lebron and Curry just trading boring mediocre iso shots over and over again. Neither Lebron nor Curry had a great shooting night.

Kyrie Irving hit a massive 3 with 30 seconds left and that was basically the game decider.

When the Pacers win on Sunday, I hope it's the same way they have won the entire series. No heroes, just a bunch of guys with 10-20 points that go 10 deep.

Maybe a painful loss like this will force SGA and JW to finally realize that basketball is a TEAM SPORT and passing is NOT OPTIONAL.

Anyway here is my list of the top players from the finals, not respective of position, just the guys I would pick first.

OKC has 2 of the top 3 but Pacers have 8 of the top 10. Very fitting.

1. SGA
2. Siakam
3. Jalen Williams
4. Nembhard
5. Haliburton
6. TJ McConnell
7. Nesmith
8. Myles Turner
9. Obi Toppin
10. Benedict Mathurn
11. Caruso
12. Lu Dort
13. Chet Holmgren
14. Hartenstein
15. Cason Wallace

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by Chryghst

See this, Ninja? Do you want to send me that Team Fortress 2 inventory now? 0/10 on breaking 100 points

One moneyball era g7 =/= verified trend.


O/U currently set at 215.5. Which means implied final score of

okc 111
cers 104


Like I said, 110's been their magic number all year. And if you think they win, they have to reach that number 95 times out of 100. Vegas ain't dum.



Side note: 1 point line movement last night. Obviously money's leaning Indy hard right now given the spread and yesterday's trouncing. Recency bias is a helluva public drug. OKC's lead all but like 4 minutes at home this series.


That said, I have no clue how this plays out. Inshallah then mashallah; not necessarily in that order.

[Chryghst]

Originally Posted by OKC Thunder fan

I rewatched the 4th quarter of the 2016 NBA Finals where Lebron/Cavs came from behind 3-1 and won in game 7 against the "invincible" 73 win GSW team

In my head I thought this was some kind of "great" game but when I went back and saw it again it was really kind of boring.

Basically you have Lebron and Curry just trading boring mediocre iso shots over and over again. Neither Lebron nor Curry had a great shooting night.

Kyrie Irving hit a massive 3 with 30 seconds left and that was basically the game decider.

When the Pacers win on Sunday, I hope it's the same way they have won the entire series. No heroes, just a bunch of guys with 10-20 points that go 10 deep.

Maybe a painful loss like this will force SGA and JW to finally realize that basketball is a TEAM SPORT and passing is NOT OPTIONAL.

Anyway here is my list of the top players from the finals, not respective of position, just the guys I would pick first.

OKC has 2 of the top 3 but Pacers have 8 of the top 10. Very fitting.

1. SGA
2. Siakam
3. Jalen Williams
4. Nembhard
5. Haliburton
6. TJ McConnell
7. Nesmith
8. Myles Turner
9. Obi Toppin
10. Benedict Mathurn
11. Caruso
12. Lu Dort
13. Chet Holmgren
14. Hartenstein
15. Cason Wallace

These are the players you’re picking for game 7 specifically? Otherwise there’s really no justification for Nembhard over Haliburton, or Mathurin above basically anyone. Mathurin has had 1 good game and been the worst player on the court the other 5.

[Sticks33]

Originally Posted by OKC Thunder fan

I rewatched the 4th quarter of the 2016 NBA Finals where Lebron/Cavs came from behind 3-1 and won in game 7 against the "invincible" 73 win GSW team

In my head I thought this was some kind of "great" game but when I went back and saw it again it was really kind of boring.

Basically you have Lebron and Curry just trading boring mediocre iso shots over and over again. Neither Lebron nor Curry had a great shooting night.

Kyrie Irving hit a massive 3 with 30 seconds left and that was basically the game decider.

When the Pacers win on Sunday, I hope it's the same way they have won the entire series. No heroes, just a bunch of guys with 10-20 points that go 10 deep.

Maybe a painful loss like this will force SGA and JW to finally realize that basketball is a TEAM SPORT and passing is NOT OPTIONAL.

Anyway here is my list of the top players from the finals, not respective of position, just the guys I would pick first.

OKC has 2 of the top 3 but Pacers have 8 of the top 10. Very fitting.

1. SGA
2. Siakam
3. Jalen Williams
4. Nembhard
5. Haliburton
6. TJ McConnell
7. Nesmith
8. Myles Turner
9. Obi Toppin
10. Benedict Mathurn
11. Caruso
12. Lu Dort
13. Chet Holmgren
14. Hartenstein
15. Cason Wallace

Dort is way too low on this list. He’d be at 6. He’s been a beast on D

Toppin goes above Nesmith.

[yiguiri2002]

Imagine being a fan of a team, they make the Finals and you still think only 2 of their players can crack the rotation of the other team.

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

Imagine being a fan of a team, they make the Finals and you still think only 2 of their players can crack the rotation of the other team.

I'm a man of my palabra.


You start shopping out my new avi yet? Was due for a change anyways.

My body is reluctantly ready.

[Chryghst]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

One moneyball era g7 =/= verified trend.


O/U currently set at 215.5. Which means implied final score of

okc 111
cers 104


Like I said, 110's been their magic number all year. And if you think they win, they have to reach that number 95 times out of 100. Vegas ain't dum.



Side note: 1 point line movement last night. Obviously money's leaning Indy hard right now given the spread and yesterday's trouncing. Recency bias is a helluva public drug. OKC's lead all but like 4 minutes at home this series.


That said, I have no clue how this plays out. Inshallah then mashallah; not necessarily in that order.

Yeah but Oklahoma Nomad told me Pacers win 90 times out of 100, so they ain’t getting to 110 fo sho. Easiest under I’ve ever seen.

[Nomad]

Toppin does not go above Nesmith. No defense, no way. In terms of actual importance to a win, Aaron is neck and neck with Nembhard. Who I believe give way only to Haliburton and TJ, on some nights. Siakam as well. Ok Myles. Man, this team is so beautifully constructed, every single player embraces his role.

Now you understand why I have been hyped about basketball these years.

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by Chryghst

Easiest under I’ve ever seen.

Scared money don't lose money.



OKC Nomad's simply the chaotic neutral Indy Perk.



Nature's balancing act.

[Nomad]

He's no rain man predicting Pacers' dominance three years strong. Fo' sho

Guess he is a kind of OKC version of Nomad.

[ninjacookies]

Indy Nomad > all geographical cloned variants.

This has been established.

I'd hit the cash out button on that Pot of Greed though. Odds favor it getting no better than it is now going forward.

YMMV.

[OKC Thunder fan]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

Imagine being a fan of a team, they make the Finals and you still think only 2 of their players can crack the rotation of the other team.

All I do is watch the games and I'm telling you right now, out of the top 10 players the 8 best/most consistent players are Pacers and that's just the facts.

[Chryghst]

Originally Posted by OKC Thunder fan

All I do is watch the games and I'm telling you right now, out of the top 10 players the 8 best/most consistent players are Pacers and that's just the facts.

I think people fairly take umbrage to an account made in June 2025 purporting to be a Thunder fan which has nearly exclusively hated on all of their players and chances to win a single game in June 2025. That said, it is fairly shocking what little consistent offensive production OKC has got out of anyone outside of Shai/Jdub.

Presti’s post-season media availabilities are always very insightful. Last year he expressed surprise at how OKC’s defense held up in the playoffs while the offense sputtered; he anticipated the opposite. I do wonder, especially if they lose (don’t think they will), if he’ll openly question his decision to double down on defense in free agency w/ Caruso and Hartenstein. It’s almost like he planned FA so far in advance but didn’t adjust for what he saw last playoffs besides demoting Giddey. It’ll probably be moot if they win on Sunday though.

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

Indy Nomad > all geographical cloned variants.

This has been established.

I'd hit the cash out button on that Pot of Greed though. Odds favor it getting no better than it is now going forward.

YMMV.

Man, do you know I was seriously considering a $1000 wager on the Pacers at the beginning of the season? To win it all? But I would have had to travel to Nevada to do it and my vehicle is too old. Don't fly (unless intl') don't ask. I am glad I didn't do it.

If I had purchased my lottery ticket, wouldn't be working my -ss off to finish that novel and gritting it out until October, when as they say supply-demand is reassessed and the hype cycle begins anew. (Unless America's team and having a game 7 completely obliterated the hype cycle in a positive direction).

Had I placed that bet, sure I would be in Cancun learning to kitesurf or what have you. But instead I invested in a player who barely doubled in price for around half his quality cards.

Where does greed factor into this? Where do odds?

I have what I have. Got to be at least one other serious Nesmith collector on this earth by now.

Just as TJ and Myles deserve a couple.

Anyway, back at it.

[Nomad]

wrong thread

[yiguiri2002]

Originally Posted by OKC Thunder fan

All I do is watch the games and I'm telling you right now, out of the top 10 players the 8 best/most consistent players are Pacers and that's just the facts.

No, it's not. No one believes this. Not Rick Carlisle, none of the Pacers players, not even Nomad (OK maybe Nomad).

[yiguiri2002]

Originally Posted by Chryghst

I think people fairly take umbrage to an account made in June 2025 purporting to be a Thunder fan which has nearly exclusively hated on all of their players and chances to win a single game in June 2025. That said, it is fairly shocking what little consistent offensive production OKC has got out of anyone outside of Shai/Jdub.

Presti’s post-season media availabilities are always very insightful. Last year he expressed surprise at how OKC’s defense held up in the playoffs while the offense sputtered; he anticipated the opposite. I do wonder, especially if they lose (don’t think they will), if he’ll openly question his decision to double down on defense in free agency w/ Caruso and Hartenstein. It’s almost like he planned FA so far in advance but didn’t adjust for what he saw last playoffs besides demoting Giddey. It’ll probably be moot if they win on Sunday though.

I don't think anyone accounted for the drop in offense from the regular season from J-Dub and Chet. Had they produced 90% of their regular season offense, the season would have been over last week.

[MavsRChamps]

I'd say I don't expect a low scoring game just because previous game 7's were ... it's a different NBA. Pace is super high. Also I think even 5 years ago many elite teams would run their starters into the ground and play a 6/7 man rotation late in series - This led to guys being exhausted, slow offense, missed shots, etc. There's been a change the past couple years particularly this playoffs where teams realize - Wait, why not keep a 9 man rotation so starters aren't gassed by the 4th? I expect a higher scoring game mainly due to pace.

[Chryghst]

Originally Posted by MavsRChamps

I'd say I don't expect a low scoring game just because previous game 7's were ... it's a different NBA. Pace is super high. Also I think even 5 years ago many elite teams would run their starters into the ground and play a 6/7 man rotation late in series - This led to guys being exhausted, slow offense, missed shots, etc. There's been a change the past couple years particularly this playoffs where teams realize - Wait, why not keep a 9 man rotation so starters aren't gassed by the 4th? I expect a higher scoring game mainly due to pace.

Hear ya but pace has dropped in game 7 relative to the first 6 games in every finals.

In 2016, the winning score was following: 104, 110, 120, 108, 112, 115, 93. So running average was 111.5, G7 plummeted to 93.

In 2013: 92, 103, 113, 109, 114, 103, 95. Running average was 105.67, G7 plumbed to 95. That’s a drop of -18 and -11.

Pace and scoring are higher in 2025 like you said. So far in 2025: 111, 123, 116, 111, 120, 108. Running average is 114.83. Bit higher than 2016, but not a ton. If we anticipate a 10 point drop like the last two, winning score will be 104 and I’ll win myself a new Team Fortress inventory off Ninja.

[Chryghst]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

I don't think anyone accounted for the drop in offense from the regular season from J-Dub and Chet. Had they produced 90% of their regular season offense, the season would have been over last week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBeKvAVfXTc

Really good listen if you have the time.