The Oklahoma City Thunder are hosting the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals. It seems like yesterday the Boston Celtics were hosting the New York Knicks on opening night. Then there were two. The Thunder defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games to win the Western Conference Finals. In comparison, the Indiana Pacers beat the Knicks in six games to win the Eastern Conference Finals. This series should be filled with fireworks! Let’s jump straight into the NBA Finals!
Thunder’s Thunderous Dominance
The Thunder have been the most dominant team in the NBA this past season. MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led OKC to the best record in the league, 68-14. He would also lead the NBA in scoring, averaging 32.7 points per game. This team was so dominant they set an NBA record on point differential, 12.87. As for SGA’s co-stars, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren had great seasons in their young careers. Williams averaged 21.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 5.1 apg, and 1.6, while Holmgren averaged 15 ppg, eight rpg, and 2.2 bpg (3rd in the NBA).
What makes this team so dangerous is their depth. OKC has used a legit 9-man rotation all season and has continued to do so in these playoffs. We usually see teams shorten their rotation come post-season play, not OKC. They have a plethora of lineups they can throw at teams and defenders to neutralize the opposing team’s best player.
This post-season run has been similar to their regular season. They blasted the Memphis Grizzlies and swept them in the first round. In the second round against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, this young Thunder team faced adversity. It took a seven-game war to knock off the Nuggets. Then, in the Western Conference Finals, they dismantled the Minnesota Timberwolves and Anthony Edwards in five games.
Pacers’ Pace-ful Play
The Indiana Pacers have been a sneaky team all season long. They snuck under the radar while teams like the Celtics, Cavaliers, and Knicks. Then, two months into the Playoffs, the Pacers are the team that’s representing the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals.
Led by the dynamic duo of Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, they were electric in their second season together. They led the Pacers to a 50-32 record this season. Haliburton finished the season averaging 18.6 ppg and 9.2 apg (3rd in the NBA), while Siakam averaged 20.2 ppg and 6.9 rpg. Like the Thunder, Indiana is a deep team. They play a lot of different lineups that have given other teams trouble. They also play at a pace many teams are uncomfortable playing.
Their post-season run has been as exciting as it was last season, when they made it to the Eastern Conference Finals, eventually losing to the Boston Celtics. This season, in the first round, they defeated Giannis Antentokumpo and the Milwaukee Bucks in five games. Then, in the second round against the number one seed, the 64-win Cleveland Cavaliers in five games. In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Indiana Pacers took on the New York Knicks. Despite the series going six games, the Pacers were in firm control and cruised to a comfortable series win.
X-Factors For the Finals
The two x-factors for the two teams facing off in the Finals are Myles Turner for the Pacers and Holmgren for the Thunder. With OKC being the youngest team ever to make the NBA Finals, Holmgren’s size and ability to stretch the floor in the half-court will be vital for the Thunder. As for Turner, he has the size and shot-blocking ability to defend the rim, but how will he look against Isiah Hartenstein and the length of the Thunder? Like Holmgren, his ability to shoot the ball from a distance will force OKC’s defense to play in space, potentially causing some issues in the half-court
Final Thoughts
This will be a fun NBA Finals for as long as it goes. I expect the Thunder to handle business and defeat the Indiana Pacers in five games. This series should be fast-paced, high-flying, and an energy that we haven’t seen in a long time. Both teams are looking to capture their first NBA Title in their franchise’s history! With the NBA Finals upon us, who do you think will take home the crown as the NBA champions?
