I'm not a conspiracy theorist BUT...

[TheMan]

Can someone explain just 2 plays in the final minutes of last night's game?

OKC up 102 to 98 with 4:43 left in the game, Holmgren misses what you can not convince me should have been a dunk, absolutely no resistance, one more dribble and it's an unchallenged dunk yet he shanks a bunny of a layup ROFL (min 0:45 of video)...

The the most egregious part of the video though, 52 seconds remaining , OKC up 110 to 107 and Nemhard chucks a low IQ 3pter (7:49 video) with no Pacer within offensive rebounding position, in fact SGA clearly has Siakam who is out of rebounding position in the bottom left corner, well within his sights...yet Siakam "beats him" to the offensive rebound stick back that puts them one point back and has them in position for Haliburton's game winning shot. If all SGA does is puts his body in between Siakam and the ball, like the most basic defensive rebound position all of us have learned if you played organized ball, there's no way Pascal nor any other Indy player is even remotely close to grabbing that offensive rebound...ROFL

OKC lost by a point, if Holmgren finishes that unchallenged dunk instead of shanking a bunny or especially if SGA boxes out Siakam, OKC hangs on for the win and nobody cares...

Suddenly peeps are interested in a Finals where Indy might have a chance...ok.

Or...I might be way off...either way the tequila I had tonight will wear off tomorrow with some tasty menudo :lol

What say you?


https://youtu.be/FfvJ5PdKbL8?si=JrigfEoxwKm7C3AE

[Meticode]

Humans are imperfect. Shit happens.

[TheMan]

Humans are imperfect. Shit happens.

Yes I know...but even talentless hacks like me on the basketball court knew how to body an opponent to get him out of offensive rebound position...really? Lol

Siakam was the the Indy player even remotely close to having a chance at grabbing the rebound...come on bruh

[Meticode]

Adam Silver definitely made that Haliburton game winner go in with his mental prowess.

[warriorfan]

Yes I know...but even talentless hacks like me on the basketball court knew how to body an opponent to get him out of offensive rebound position...really? Lol

Siakam was the the Indy player even remotely close to having a chance at grabbing the rebound...come on bruh

It’s crunch time of the NBA Finals. The biggest stage possible. The pressure ramps up to insane levels and it forces weird things to happen. That’s a large reason why it’s so exciting.


Pressure changes things.

[Reggie43]

The aforementioned pressure plus these guys playing a ton of minutes has a lot to do with it. Hard to keep the same type of energy throughout the game.

[Im Still Ballin]

The amount of games and playoff series in NBA history determined by small things like boxing out or not boxing out is huge.

Reggie43 is right, the psychological influence on the game is real and supported by the data.

Teams trailing often experience a boost in energy, focus, and strategic adjustments, leading to improved offensive and defensive play. Teams with a lead may become complacent, less aggressive, and make mistakes that allow the opposing team to claw back into the game. The larger the lead, the greater the perceived pressure on the leading team to maintain it, potentially leading to anxiety and errors.


In basketball, the "rubber band effect" refers to the tendency for a game to close up, especially when a team has a large lead. It's a psychological and strategic phenomenon where the team trailing experiences a surge, potentially closing the scoring gap, while the team with the lead might become overly cautious. This effect is analogous to a stretched rubber band, which snaps back with more force when released.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GqbaxN3WwAA1dPq?format=jpg&name=4096x4096

[TheMan]

Aight fellas, I must admit I got a bit drunk last night haha, don't really subscribe to conspiracy theories, at least not in the sports world because of the whole actually having to make the shot like Haliburton's haha :lol

As you were...:lol

[tpols]

I mean what's the conspiracy? A guy being out of position boxing out and another missing a shot? Do you think OKC was throwing the game on purpose? Why would they do that...

They just got out hustled and also choked at the end. Adams apple up so high in they throat from the anxiety that they could barely breathe.

[TheMan]

It’s crunch time of the NBA Finals. The biggest stage possible. The pressure ramps up to insane levels and it forces weird things to happen. That’s a large reason why it’s so exciting.


Pressure changes things.

True

[TheMan]

I mean what's the conspiracy? A guy being out of position boxing out and another missing a shot? Do you think OKC was throwing the game on purpose? Why would they do that...

They just got out hustled and also choked at the end. Adams apple up so high in they throat from the anxiety that they could barely breathe.

Yeah, I was drunk when I wrote that right after the game...I've changed my mind since, lol.

Could be a banger of a Finals :cheers:

[coin24]

Mix of massive pressure, biggest stage of these guys careers, Okc choking and Indy being insanely battle tested and no strangers to big deficit comebacks..
The clutch 3s these guys routinely hit is insane

[Wally450]

ImKobe said it in the game thread. The lane violation on Dort was crucial. They don't call that, assuming everything else goes as it should, Haliburton's shot only forces OT.

[Meticode]

ImKobe said it in the game thread. The lane violation on Dort was crucial. They don't call that, assuming everything else goes as it should, Haliburton's shot only forces OT.

Makes up for the non-call on Dort's block that should've been called a foul because he jumped forward going straight up. It all balances out.

[Lakers Legend#32]

It's bad for business if little bumf#ck OKC wins the title.