The 2025 NBA Finals Thread

[BooksOrangePlanet]

kat with 14 rebounds and the knicks center had 9 - nobody on the pacers had more than 6 but everybody had 4 5 or 6 - they don't rebound they teambound - and that's the future in this new tough and run league

 

[Mainstreet]

kat with 14 rebounds and the knicks center had 9 - nobody on the pacers had more than 6 but everybody had 4 5 or 6 - they don't rebound they teambound - and that's the future in this new tough and run league

It didn't help the Knicks didn't have much of a bench.

 

[ProdigalSun]

It didn't help the Knicks didn't have much of a bench.

When your bench has guys like Cam Payne and Landry Shamet on it you are in big trouble

 

[ajcardfan]

It didn't help the Knicks didn't have much of a bench.

And they were just sloppier with the ball and pretty bad in transition defense. Indy played smarter and more disciplined basketball.

That said, OKC is not going to have much of a problem with the Pacers IMO. I predict OKC in 5, maybe even a sweep.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I think this is going to be a fun series.

 

[Cheesebeef]

And they were just sloppier with the ball and pretty bad in transition defense. Indy played smarter and more disciplined basketball.

That said, OKC is not going to have much of a problem with the Pacers IMO. I predict OKC in 5, maybe even a sweep.

I see the same. Hoping it goes 6, but will be pretty surprised if it goes longer than 5.

 

[Hoop Head]

Two point guards the Suns could have traded for or drafted will be in the Finals, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tyrese Haliburton.

Brunson was a 2nd round pick. We could have had him also. I was high on him as a Tyus Jones type PG entering the league but never saw him at this level.

 

[Mainstreet]

Brunson was a 2nd round pick. We could have had him also. I was high on him as a Tyus Jones type PG entering the league but never saw him at this level.

The Suns passing over Fox and Halliburton in the draft and a rumored trade opportunity for Shai will hurt for a long time.

 

[Hoop Head]

The Suns passing over Fox and Halliburton in the draft and a rumored trade opportunity for Shai will hurt for a long time.

We took Elie Okobo at 31 while JeVon Carter went #32 to Memphis and Brunson #33. Brunson should have been the pick. We clearly needed a PG and tried to grab one. Unlike Haliburton though there wasn't much talk about Brunson as the pick. There were all sorts of talk around somehow getting another lottery pick since we had #16 and #31 to deal, plus another pick we got from the Goran deal, I can't recall who it belonged to. Since we had #1 overall there wasn't a ton of attention paid to the second round. IIRC we were all enamored with Trae, SGA, and even Sexton. The talent from that 2018 draft was off the charts. Brunson was a talent who everyone passed on at least once though, we passed multiple times since we had three picks before he was selected.

 

[Raindog]

We took Elie Okobo at 31 while JeVon Carter went #32 to Memphis and Brunson #33. Brunson should have been the pick. We clearly needed a PG and tried to grab one. Unlike Haliburton though there wasn't much talk about Brunson as the pick. There were all sorts of talk around somehow getting another lottery pick since we had #16 and #31 to deal, plus another pick we got from the Goran deal, I can't recall who it belonged to. Since we had #1 overall there wasn't a ton of attention paid to the second round. IIRC we were all enamored with Trae, SGA, and even Sexton. The talent from that 2018 draft was off the charts. Brunson was a talent who everyone passed on at least once though, we passed multiple times since we had three picks before he was selected.

There weren't enough YouTube videos of Brunson for James Jones' predraft scouting.

 

[Hoop Head]

There weren't enough YouTube videos of Brunson for James Jones' predraft scouting.

I didn't mind Okobo as a prospect but looking back he seemed like the pick of someone who was trying to say "See I scout Euro leagues and know we need PG help!". Behind him was Brunson, Carter, Shake Milton, DeAnthony Melton, Devonte Graham, and combo guards like Bruce Brown and Gary Trent Jr.

That 2018 draft was absolutely stacked, btw. How we had 3 picks and no one taken at the top of the first, middle, or 2nd round picks we had speaks to how bad he bungled things. It's not exactly like he moved one of them for a better package either.

Anyone who hasn't, look over the 2018 draft and see how many All-Star, starters, and rotation guys are around 8 years later. This was the deepest and most plentiful draft I can recall of in my lifetime.

2018 NBA Draft | Basketball-Reference.com

Checkout the summary for NBA 2018 Draft with Round by Round selections and more on Basketball-Reference.com

www.basketball-reference.com

 

[carrrnuttt]

The Suns passing over Fox and Halliburton in the draft and a rumored trade opportunity for Shai will hurt for a long time.

Imagine if you were a Kings fan right now. Or last year's Finals with Luka, for that matter.

 

[boisesuns]

The Suns passing over Fox and Halliburton in the draft and a rumored trade opportunity for Shai will hurt for a long time.

Don’t worry, we’ll do it again to lessen the blow of those two

 

[carrrnuttt]

Don’t worry, we’ll do it again to lessen the blow of those two

The Phoenix SCWs. The Should'a...

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

pacers in 7

 

[swagron]

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[Adrian]

2025 NBA Finals: It's Pacers-Thunder! Here are three things to know about the unexpected matchup

Why Indiana vs. Oklahoma City could be a fun and feisty series.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[Finito]

I’m really excited about this match up. They are kinda clones of eachother. Both play super fast and up and down. I think these are the two best PG in the NBA. Chet vs Siakam is going to be fascinating to watch.

Pacers have been underdogs in every series despite having the second best record since Jan. They kind of have a destiny vibe this year

 

[Adrian]

NBA Finals guide: When the games are, how to watch, what the odds are

The NBA season will end with a new champion. The Indiana Pacers sent the NBA Finals to the ultimate game, beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 108-91 on Thursday night to tie the title series at 3-3. The all-or-nothing deciding game of the series is Sunday night in Oklahoma City.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Should be an entertaining series but I think OKC is just too good.

 

[Adrian]

I got OKC in 5. I would like to see the pacers win it all but my head says no.

 

[Adrian]

Rick Carlisle gives Jarace Walker injury update. Will we see him in NBA Finals vs. Thunder?

Jarace Walker will miss a least the first two games of the NBA Finals with a sprained right ankle, Rick Carlisle said in a radio interview Monday.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[Hoop Head]

Not a fan of the firm start date for the finals. I don't mind an extra day off or two for teams headed in but setting a date without leeway causes too much wait time. Ideally the finals would start today or tomorrow and not Thursday.

 

[Superbone]

Not a fan of the firm start date for the finals. I don't mind an extra day off or two for teams headed in but setting a date without leeway causes too much wait time. Ideally the finals would start today or tomorrow and not Thursday.

I'm fine with it as it gives teams time to prepare and nurse any injuries for the best basketball possible.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm fine with it as it gives teams time to prepare and nurse any injuries for the best basketball possible.

Nah, we need to get the Durant trade done, hire a new head coach and then there is the draft.

Suns fans have priorities.