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2025 NBA Finals: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers

Discussion in 'NBA Dish' started by J.R., May 31, 2025.

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Thunder vs. Pacers

Poll closed Jun 6, 2025.

  1. Thunder in 4

    5 vote(s)
    8.1%

  2. Thunder in 5

    16 vote(s)
    25.8%

  3. Thunder in 6

    13 vote(s)
    21.0%

  4. Thunder in 7

    3 vote(s)
    4.8%

  5. Pacers in 7

    8 vote(s)
    12.9%

  6. Pacers in 6

    14 vote(s)
    22.6%

  7. Pacers in 5

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  8. Pacers in 4

    3 vote(s)
    4.8%
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  1. daywalker02

    daywalker02 Member

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    Shet, thought as Chet's monster sister.

     
    #801 daywalker02, Jun 20, 2025 at 11:07 AM
    RB713 likes this.
  2. daywalker02

    daywalker02 Member

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    It's a Guards' game now.

     
    #802 daywalker02, Jun 20, 2025 at 11:09 AM
  3. daywalker02

    daywalker02 Member

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    Lmao vice versa, if Chet played like a 2nd seed on both ends, this series is over with.

     
    #803 daywalker02, Jun 20, 2025 at 11:38 AM
  4. daywalker02

    daywalker02 Member

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    #804 daywalker02, Jun 20, 2025 at 11:48 AM
  5. Easy

    Easy Boban Only Fan
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    The Pacers will still likely lose in G7. But the way they've able to play high level defense is one of the main reasons why they are still alive. They can't maintain that level every game, or even every quarter. No team can do that. But they have played enough good defense to get wins over superior teams.

    This is somewhat surprising because they are not known to be a good defensive team. They ranked 16th in the regular season. I guess one might argue that regular season defense is not that important other than giving you higher seed. But everybody plays tough defense in the playoffs.
     
    #805 Easy, Jun 20, 2025 at 12:04 PM
  6. Rocket River

    Rocket River Member

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    and
    One of them was being locked up by one of the Greatest Defensive Centers in History

    Rocket River
     
    #806 Rocket River, Jun 20, 2025 at 12:21 PM
    A_3PO likes this.
  7. Rocket River

    Rocket River Member

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    PLACE YOUR BETS:
    Over Under of Shai getting 13+ FreeThrows
    Over Under of 2 Pacer starters in Early Foul Trouble
    Over Under of 2 Pacer starters Fouling Out
    Over Under of Dort/Caruso ending the game with 4 fouls or less

    Rocket River
     
    #807 Rocket River, Jun 20, 2025 at 12:23 PM
  8. cheke64

    cheke64 Member

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    Yeah but did you have your own TV show like Lavar Ball?
     
    #808 cheke64, Jun 20, 2025 at 12:45 PM
  9. cheke64

    cheke64 Member

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    Shai is 20-0 when he scores 13 FT.
     
    #809 cheke64, Jun 20, 2025 at 12:46 PM
  10. pacertom

    pacertom Member

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    While missing both of their two best wing defenders, Nesmith and Nembhard, for a full third of the season.

    In part they were simply able to put their best defenders on the floor more often. But yes, they have improved a great deal, and not just individually, as they are exceptionally well-coached. A lot of the credit goes to her:

    [​IMG]
     
    #810 pacertom, Jun 20, 2025 at 2:09 PM
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  11. pacertom

    pacertom Member

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    Predictions going out the door...

    Bucks in 6
    Bucks in 7
    Pacers in 5

    Cavs in 4
    Cavs in 5
    Cavs in 6
    Cavs in 7
    Pacers in 5

    Knicks in 5
    Knicks in 6
    Knicks in 7
    Pacers in 6

    Thunder in 4
    Thunder in 5
    Thunder in 6
    Thunder in 7 <------ we are here
    ??
     
    #811 pacertom, Jun 20, 2025 at 2:12 PM
  12. solid

    solid Member

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    Kind of, sort of "feels" rigged. May not be. Likely isn't. But, could the Thunder play any worse in game six? Did they just lay down, lose on purpose? For TV revenue? Like I say, the seven-game scenario feels phony. Just sayin. Now, if the Pacers win game seven, I will retract my question.
     
    #812 solid, Jun 20, 2025 at 2:13 PM
  13. Easy

    Easy Boban Only Fan
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    Both Turner and Chet are disappointing in this series. Indy looks better with Toppin than with Turner at center.
     
    #813 Easy, Jun 20, 2025 at 2:25 PM
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  14. Rocket River

    Rocket River Member

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    Toppin has impressed me
    Coming out of NY I thought he was just . . i dunno . . .meh

    Rocket River
     
    #814 Rocket River, Jun 20, 2025 at 2:27 PM
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  15. pacertom

    pacertom Member

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    If a finals game 7 is the be all and end all to get high ratings and to maximize revenue, and if the NBA will do everything it can to get to a 7-game series, including staging a fix,

    Then you'd think that it might happen more than 5 times over the past 35 years:

    Rockets '94
    Spurs '05
    Lakers '10
    Heat '13
    Cavs '16

    There were proportionately many more finals game 7's in the 50s, 60s, and 70s when TV revenue was puny.

    https://www.nba.com/news/all-time-nba-finals-game-7s
     
    #815 pacertom, Jun 20, 2025 at 2:58 PM
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  16. pacertom

    pacertom Member

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    He was merely a dunker who shot 30% from 3, couldn't defend, couldn't rebound, no handles, and a poor passer

    Now he's a threat from 2, handles and passes the ball, gets boards, and guards well enough. Less well than Siakam, but not a liability.

    Dude's put in a TON of work, it seems
     
    #816 pacertom, Jun 20, 2025 at 3:02 PM
    Rocket River, Hakeemtheking and Easy like this.
  17. MystikArkitect

    MystikArkitect Member
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    This lady doing more for women than Doris Burke and Malika combined.
     
    #817 MystikArkitect, Jun 20, 2025 at 3:34 PM
  18. RB713

    RB713 Member

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    Who does Adam Silver want to win?
     
    #818 RB713, Jun 20, 2025 at 4:17 PM
  19. Rocket River

    Rocket River Member

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    Ok . .. so I was not the only one that was less than impressed with his NY tenure

    Rocket River
     
    #819 Rocket River, Jun 20, 2025 at 4:53 PM
  20. danoman

    danoman Member

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    Place your bets. Do you guys believe Durant can run with these young bucks for the next 3-4 years? Or should we keep the picks?
     
    #820 danoman, Jun 20, 2025 at 5:05 PM
    solid likes this.
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