Thunder vs. Pacers NBA Finals Game Thread

[Full Court]

Is OKC gonna fend off a Game 7 on Sunday?

Yep. OKC in 8.

[Naero]

Well then, this series turned out to be much more memorable than expected. These Pacers—the biggest Finals underdog since the '04 Pistons—forced the first Game 7 on the biggest stage in nearly a decade, with three of the first-four games (including a historical fourth-quarter rally by Indiana) being competitive down the stretch.

Still far from the most marketable matchup—I make no mistake about that—but the series's development itself has been much more hyping than the (gentleman's) sweep most of you predicted. Let's cap it off with a Hardwood Classics-esque Game 7.

[L.Kizzle]

Well then, this series turned out to be much more memorable than expected. These Pacers—the biggest Finals underdog since the '04 Pistons—forced the first Game 7 on the biggest stage in nearly a decade, with three of the first-four games (including a historical fourth-quarter rally by Indiana) being competitive down the stretch.

Still far from the most marketable matchup—I make no mistake about that—but the series's development itself has been much more hyping than the (gentleman's) sweep most of you predicted. Let's cap it off with a Hardwood Classics-esque Game 7.

A Halliburton buzzer beater would cap off the Finals run.

[TheMan]

A Halliburton buzzer beater would cap off the Finals run.

If he does that, he seriously sold his soul to the devil for a chip.

[tontoz]

It is really amazing that Indy is one game away from a title.

[ImKobe]

Well then, this series turned out to be much more memorable than expected. These Pacers—the biggest Finals underdog since the '04 Pistons—forced the first Game 7 on the biggest stage in nearly a decade, with three of the first-four games (including a historical fourth-quarter rally by Indiana) being competitive down the stretch.

Still far from the most marketable matchup—I make no mistake about that—but the series's development itself has been much more hyping than the (gentleman's) sweep most of you predicted. Let's cap it off with a Hardwood Classics-esque Game 7.

There's definitely some parallels to the '04 Pistons here with these Pacers as neither team has a superstar leading the way. 4 guys scoring 10+ ppg for OKC while Indiana has 8. All 5 of Pistons' starters averaged 10+ a game in that '04 series while the Lakers only had Shaq & Kobe with no one else being able to make any shots to provide consistent offense. Difference here obviously is that the Pacers don't have an ATG defense and they have a weakness on the court that the Thunder can attack.

[brownmamba00]

Its been a while a pass first PG lead his team to a finals. I got Pacers in 7.

Siakam fmvp

[tpols]

Out of nowhere this shit has me hyped as ****.

I mean of course its a game 7, but I love the stories around it and the ensuing narratives.

Indy of course set the tone to making this a competitive and watchable series right away with their game 1.


Go Pacers, finish the job!

The Pacers have basically gotten blown out every time they step on OKC home court. They have almost no chance in this Game 7. They'd have to shoot 60+% from 3 to offset the ref disadvantage alone.

[Meticode]

The Pacers have basically gotten blown out every time they step on OKC home court.

I guess winning one out of three games is basically losing every time?

[tpols]

I guess winning one out of three games is basically every time?

They took their first lead in the game they won with .3 seconds left in the 4th quarter. Good luck banking on that. Indiana will need to be flame thrower from 3 but in a high pressure road game against a great defense... theyre about to get smoked.

[tontoz]

The Pacers have basically gotten blown out every time they step on OKC home court. They have almost no chance in this Game 7. They'd have to shoot 60+% from 3 to offset the ref disadvantage alone.

Indy won game one in OKC. Game 5 was a 4 pt game with 9:30 left.

[tpols]

Indy won game one in OKC. Game 5 was a 4 pt game with 9:30 left.

They were getting blown out in Game 1 before having a statistically miraculous finish. Banking on that can be tough. OKC has totally handled the Pacers at home. Thats not a wierd take. Thats what has happened. Their time of possesion with a lead is probably like 95% .

[tontoz]

They were getting blown out in Game 1 before having a statistically miraculous finish. Banking on that can be tough. OKC has totally handled the Pacers at home. Thats not a wierd take. Thats what has happened. Their time of possesion with a lead is probably like 95% .

If you lose that doesn't count as a blowout win

Game 5 was actually a 2 point game with 8:15 left. Not even remotely a blowout.

[Duderonomy]

First game 7 since 2016. Pacers might not have a championship caliber talent but they are the most gritty in recent memory.

[Meticode]

They were getting blown out in Game 1 before having a statistically miraculous finish. Banking on that can be tough. OKC has totally handled the Pacers at home. Thats not a wierd take. Thats what has happened. Their time of possesion with a lead is probably like 95% .

Using the terms "handled" and "blowout" is a little much to me. The Thunder have played well at home no doubt though, minus their collapse in Game 1. Game 5 was close until mid-way through the 4th quarter. It's not like Game 6 where the Pacers demolished them going up by 20-30 by the 2nd and 3rd quarters.