2025 NBA Finals: (1) Oklahoma City vs. (4) Indiana

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  • Slick Pinkham
    Member
    • Jan 2004
    • 10789

    #46
    Originally posted by Pacergeek
    Pacers will sweep OKC. We are long overdue for a series sweep.


    The poster "pacertom" since this forum began (and before!). I changed my name here to "Slick Pinkham" in honor of the imaginary player That Bobby "Slick" Leonard picked late in the 1971 ABA draft (true story!).

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    • BornReady
      Member
      • Nov 2009
      • 3585

      #47
      Originally posted by 712Jefferson
      We're bigger underdogs in the eyes of pundits than even I expected. Bill Simmons, one of the biggest Pacer advocates in the national media all postseason, picked OKC in 5 in his podcast episode today and said he really was leaning toward picking them to sweep.
      I like being counted out - it seems to give our team extra motivation, and puts little pressure on us.
      Peck is basically omniscient when it comes to understanding how the minds of Herb Simon and Kevin Pritchard work. I was a fool to ever question him and now feel deep shame for not understanding that this team believes in continuity above talent.

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      • Cubs231721
        Member
        • Aug 2006
        • 4302

        #48
        One thing that continues to be true in this series, the Pacers starters need to outscore the OKC starters when they are on the floor together.

        Minutes for Pacers in playoffs
        32% all starters: +80
        68% all other lineups: -14

        Minutes for Thunder in playoffs
        22.5% all starters: +5
        77.5% all other lineups: +168

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        • D-BONE
          Peace Dog
          • Feb 2006
          • 15830

          #49
          High pace, protecting the ball, and shot making are keys offensively for us. That’s the same against any opponent. We do the Pacer thing.

          Challenge is if/when they force us to play half court, there’s no individual weak links to exploit as with NY. So getting out in transition becomes even more paramount.

          Our D has improved immensely and that also has to stay at a high level. We need all that plus RC pushing more successful buttons coaching wise and hopefully some playoff inexperience moments from them too.
          I'd rather die standing up than live on my knees.

          -Emiliano Zapata

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          • 712Jefferson
            Member
            • Dec 2009
            • 6201

            #50
            Excellent Caitlin Cooper breakdown with Zach Lowe on his episode today (ignore Perk's ugly mug on the thumbnail.. Caitlin starts at about the 29:00 mark):

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            • Ozwalt72
              Member
              • Jun 2009
              • 2207

              #51
              The Thunder have good perimeter defenders - one is probably great - but wow the national media has latched on hard to that nip.

              Listening to podcasts you'd think they were suiting up a perimeter rotation of GP, Bowen, Pippen and Sidney Moncrief.
              "man, PG has been really good."

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              • croz24
                Member
                • Jun 2005
                • 5628

                #52
                Any strong minded, experienced Finals squad of the past would take full advantage of this Thunder team, who defeated a one dimensional Wolves and team in chaos Nuggets squad to get here. There is nothing on this Thunder squad that would scare such a team... however, the Pacers are not said team outside of Pascal.

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                • SaintLouisan
                  Member
                  • Jan 2018
                  • 4267

                  #53
                  Originally posted by croz24
                  Any strong minded, experienced Finals squad of the past would take full advantage of this Thunder team, who defeated a one dimensional Wolves and team in chaos Nuggets squad to get here. There is nothing on this Thunder squad that would scare such a team... however, the Pacers are not said team outside of Pascal.
                  I actually do think that the one area where we have an advantage is mettle. If we can just come out and punch them in the mouth, I could see them sort of retreating inside themselves. They were clearly shook against the Nuggets.

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                  • pacers_heath
                    Member
                    • Nov 2009
                    • 5114

                    #54
                    Originally posted by vnzla81
                    Funny thing in all of this is Pacers are like a worse version of OKC in almost every position, only one they don’t have an answer for is Siakam.

                    Hali < SGA

                    Nemhard < Lou

                    Nesmith < Williams

                    Siakam > Frankenstein

                    Softner < Chet

                    even their bench is similar.
                    It doesn't matter though, people made this same argument for Cleveland and New York. The players don't face off against each other individually and we sum the total at the end to decide the winner. We play a basketball game.
                    Lifelong pacers fan

                    Comment

                    • pacers_heath
                      Member
                      • Nov 2009
                      • 5114

                      #55
                      I get that were underdogs but I read that the pacers have a 4.8% chance of winning the title now on basketball reference. That's seems insanely insulting.
                      Lifelong pacers fan

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                      • Sollozzo
                        Member
                        • Jan 2004
                        • 27572

                        #56
                        Thunder are great, but I don’t think they’re near as intimidating as the apex Shaq that we had to face (to this day, no one else has three-peated…Shaq is bizarrely underrated on some all time lists….still the best peak of anyone since Jordan).

                        If the Thunder roll us, I’ll be the first to give them props. I can’t deny the obvious impressive statistical and W-L dominance that they’ve had all season, but I think they can be had.

                        Gotta win one of the first two in OKC. Don’t want to be in a position where we have to win four out of five to win the series. If anyone could do it, it’s this Pacer team….but I just don’t see OKC losing four out of five if they get up 2-0.

                        I think Pacers stun the NBA media tonight and win Game 1.

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                        • 712Jefferson
                          Member
                          • Dec 2009
                          • 6201

                          #57
                          Think there's a decent chance we could get rolled tonight, honestly. I actually think game 2 is our better opportunity, after Rick makes some helpful adjustments. Would love to be wrong though.

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                          • Ozwalt72
                            Member
                            • Jun 2009
                            • 2207

                            #58
                            Originally posted by 712Jefferson
                            Think there's a decent chance we could get rolled tonight, honestly. I actually think game 2 is our better opportunity, after Rick makes some helpful adjustments. Would love to be wrong though.
                            I think our best chance out of the 2 is game 1. The last week, OKC's been hearing nothing but how easy its going to be in the finals for them. They're young. If they're going to **** the bed, I think it happens tonight.
                            "man, PG has been really good."

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                            • 712Jefferson
                              Member
                              • Dec 2009
                              • 6201

                              #59
                              Still want to know which one of you this is..

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                              • LongTimePacerFan
                                Member
                                • Feb 2011
                                • 1726

                                #60
                                Win the turnover battle.

                                Don't get killed on the boards.

                                Win a championship.

                                It's that simple.

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