Thunder vs. Pacers NBA Finals Game Thread

[AlternativeAcc.]

I dunno if I would call him a dumb coach because obviously he has done a good job coaching this group and getting them playing winning basketball.

But his 4th quarter decisions when things get tight and the game is on the line are definitely his weakness, as we have seen this playoffs. Particularly this game and the whole "foul when up 3" against Denver fiasco.

Thibs sure as hell wouldn't have made this error, you gotta play your guys in the 4th, it's all in or nothing in June.

Yeah, it isn't me just saying this in hindsight. I was calling for him to put SGA in while they still have momentum and not give Indy any life. Low and behold a couple possessions later and it's anyone's game by the time he comes back in.

OKC missing every 3 in the 4th doesn't help. This is exactly why I thought this series would be so hard for them. Pacers can get incredibly hot from 3 at any time.

[AlternativeAcc.]

Last time I checked, it's a best of 7, this isn't the SuperBowl, one game for all the chips, champ.

I picked OKC in 7. Pacers winning game 1 dramatically raises their chances of winning this series though.

I was just really confused at the odds and people acting like this is a layup for OKC. Then again I have the highest sports IQ of anyone on the planet so what is obvious to me isn't obvious to the average guys on here. I have to remind myself of that

[Meticode]

OKC sweep

OKC sweep. Indiana are going to found out the hard way what it's like to come up against a great defensive unit and 10 deep roster. They're going to be suffocated into submission.

i'd be surprised if pacers make it competitive, let alone win a game

[SouBeachTalents]

I picked OKC in 7. Pacers winning game 1 dramatically raises their chances of winning this series though.

I was just really confused at the odds and people acting like this is a layup for OKC. Then again I have the highest sports IQ of anyone on the planet so what is obvious to me isn't obvious to the average guys on here. I have to remind myself of that

It was honestly looking like a mismatch through 3.5 quarters, but this Pacer team is the most resilient/clutch team I've seen since the 2011 Mavs, they just do not give in no matter how the games going or how much they trail by.

Logic dictates this changes the momentum of the series, but I feel like there's been pretty big variance from Game 1's like this. The '95 Magic never recovered from the Nick Anderson game and ended up getting swept, while the '01 Lakers dusted off their epic OT defeat and rolled off 4 straight wins. I'll be very curious to see how OKC recovers from this.

[TheMan]

I picked OKC in 7. Pacers winning game 1 dramatically raises their chances of winning this series though.

I was just really confused at the odds and people acting like this is a layup for OKC. Then again I have the highest sports IQ of anyone on the planet so what is obvious to me isn't obvious to the average guys on here. I have to remind myself of that

You know I like effing with you

It's all good bro

[Chick Stern]

lol

That was a GREAT finish!

[1987_Lakers]

Once Turner hit that bank 3 you could see the anxiety setting in for OKC fans & players. That shot in my opinion changed the entire momentum.

[TheMan]

It was honestly looking like a mismatch through 3.5 quarters, but this Pacer team is the most resilient/clutch team I've seen since the 2011 Mavs, they just do not give in no matter how the games going or how much they trail by.

Logic dictates this changes the momentum of the series, but I feel like there's been pretty big variance from Game 1's like this. The '95 Magic never recovered from the Nick Anderson game and ended up getting swept, while the '01 Lakers dusted off their epic OT defeat and rolled off 4 straight wins. I'll be very curious to see how OKC recovers from this.

My biggest worry is that we have to remind ourselves that OKC is the youngest team in the NBA. Maybe this is a bitter lesson they'll learn when Indy wins the chip and they'll go on to win 3 of the next 5 years...maybe this crushes their soul and they'll fold and never recover...maybe this toughens them up and they win these Finals...who knows.

We finna find out

[TheMan]

Once Turner hit that bank 3 you could see the anxiety setting in for OKC fans & players. That shot in my opinion changed the entire momentum.

I agree, when that shot went in, I was like, OK Indy might just pull this one out

If I were a diehard OKC fan, that would have given me a heart attack, ngl lol

[ImKobe]

Once Turner hit that bank 3 you could see the anxiety setting in for OKC fans & players. That shot in my opinion changed the entire momentum.

There was a couple of those. The Nembhard step-back on SGA is more unlikely. The Nesmith corner 3 when Pacers had nothing going offensively. The lane violation call when OKC would've had the rebound off the Siakam miss was huge as well.

Nembhard is crazy man. How does a 29% RS 3PT shooter turn into prime Steph in the Playoffs? 48.3% from 3 through the first 3 rounds which is identical to what he shot in last year's Playoffs as well, and he's a below-average 3PT shooter for his RS career. 1 - 5 in this game before that huge make.

[RRR3]

There was a couple of those. The Nembhard step-back on SGA is more unlikely. The Nesmith corner 3 when Pacers had nothing going offensively. The lane violation call when OKC would've had the rebound off the Siakam miss was huge as well.

Nembhard is crazy man. How does a 29% RS 3PT shooter turn into prime Steph in the Playoffs? 48.3% from 3 through the first 3 rounds which is identical to what he shot in last year's Playoffs as well, and he's a below-average 3PT shooter for his RS career. 1 - 5 in this game before that huge make.

He's not a great shooter usually but he was 35% and 35.7% his first two years so maybe that 29% is an aberration, I think a Pacers fan said he might have been playing through injury earlier which messed up his shot. Obviously if that's true he's fine now.

[RRR3]

Pacers winning would rival 2019 Raptors for the most happy I've been for a non-Heat or LeBron title. This team rules.

[coin24]

You could see it coming in the 4th, pacers kept getting it close, which as we’ve seen all playoffs they only need a sniff and they’re closing it out clutch af..

Complacent shitshow from Chokc.. either they come out and it’s a giant blowout in game 2, or they’re mentally fu*ked now..

[Lakers Legend#32]

The Curse of the Sonics.

[Meticode]

Once Turner hit that bank 3 you could see the anxiety setting in for OKC fans & players. That shot in my opinion changed the entire momentum.

I felt it more from the Nembhard three on SGA that cut it to three. He cooked on him and swished it in his grill and the crowd literally groaned and went silent. Dude has been playing tough the whole playoffs.

https://streamable.com/xc3skt