Yes. It might not be as dramatic of a Cinderella champ as college basketball’s 83 NC State or 85 Villanova stories (the NBA playoff format makes that nearly impossible), but it would be about the closest to it that we’ve seen.
Official: NBA Finals Thread
- Thread starter DraftCat
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They were in the conference finals last year and have been the hottest team in basketball for months now.
This is a good team and has been for a while.
This is a good team and has been for a while.
Y'all are making the Pacers sound like a 16 seed in their first year of D1. This team really shouldn't have surprised anyone.
Agreed, that’s why I qualified my post with “closest” to it. I don’t think you’re ever gonna see a really dramatic Cinderella champ in in the NBA like you sometimes do in other sports, simply because the seven-game series format makes it SO hard for underdogs to advance.
But I’d say this would be about as close as you’re gonna get. Seems like the 2011 Mavs and 04 Pistons are the two teams most mentioned as underdog champs. But even they were both higher seeds with a better record than this Pacer crew.
They are hyping up Haliburton now lol. One dude even said he’s more clutch than Reggie Miller. I can only handle them about 15 minutes when I wake up so it’s the only show I watched.
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The Mavs over that Heat team was an insane upset. Everyone on that team was an old veteran.
Screamed it all game, OKC was settling for wayyyy too many jump shots. Instead of getting down hill attacking, Williams and others simply would take the "easy" shot and launch 15-18 foot jumpers. SGA was the ONLY OKC who tried to attack. Up 10-12 points then would revert back to settling and Indy would make a run. Oh, and Chet is one of the MOST overrated players in the NBA. he is NOT a star. Soft as Charmin. Missed the whole rim on at least 2 layups. 6 points, that should be a crime with his size.
BUT, having said all that, game 1 might have did OKC a favor. They know now they have to stay locked in for 48 minutes.
BUT, having said all that, game 1 might have did OKC a favor. They know now they have to stay locked in for 48 minutes.
They are good, but they haven't been THE hottest team in basketball for months. I love watching them play, but let's not get silly.
February 7-5
March 11-6
April 6-1
2.5 months before the playoffs started total record - 24-12
NBA best records since the All Star break :
OKC 24-4
Boston 22-5
Golden State 20-7
Cleveland 20-8
Minnesota 18-8
Indy 20-9
OKC 24-4
Boston 22-5
Golden State 20-7
Cleveland 20-8
Minnesota 18-8
Indy 20-9
Well after witnessing last night's miraculous win (again) the Pacers are certainly a breath of fresh air to deliver the kind of hang tough, stay close till the end and then get the win ... somehow.... kinda game that makes this worth watching.
Maybe the regular season and allstar NBA is not worth watching, but these playoffs have sure been fun.
Especially if you don't really have a dog in the fight, like me.
But I'm thinking more and more that indy is the team of destiny here....
Semperficat may be the wisest amongst us all !
Game 2 is must see, for sure !
Maybe the regular season and allstar NBA is not worth watching, but these playoffs have sure been fun.
Especially if you don't really have a dog in the fight, like me.
But I'm thinking more and more that indy is the team of destiny here....
Semperficat may be the wisest amongst us all !
Game 2 is must see, for sure !
Nope. Just a biased homer, mostly regurgitating stuff I hear on the radio from guys who know this team. But, thanks!
I know the story is the Pacers playing 48 mins and OKC missing shots down the stretch but the difference in the game was coaching. Substitutions, sitting the wrong players for too long, and bad lineups in crunch time killed OKC. Carlisle did a great job managing his team and making key substitutions at the right times.
Who was the coach?? Seems like he might be a pretty damn good coach.
Ha!
I didn’t see it. I went to bed with OKC up 8 or 9.
I was surprised this morning to see that Indiana won.
But I’m not surprised they stole one.
I thought they might. Doesn’t change my mind. Indiana won’t win this series.
Ain't gonna lie, I was considering it. But I figured it's the Finals, tomorrow was a Friday, and this team just does these kinds things.
Probably different for the rest of you guys, but listening to the pre-game and in-game was like listening to a Duke/Flagg/Zion game for me. Non stop slurp fest.
Work was calling me in the morning.... they don't pay me enough as a Mod to quit my day job
Hmm I don’t know lol. Maybe the dude who’s tearing it up in the playoffs as we speak!
That's a travesty and/or oversight on the board's part...the proper folks will be notified, rest assured.Work was calling me in the morning.... they don't pay me enough as a Mod to quit my day job
Chat is dead tonight.... wondering with an 20 point lead if I can go to bed early again on this one LOL
Nope! Pacers finally playing a great quarter. They need to get stops though.
Yup , they can’t get any stops. They play lights out at home though. They definitely need to win both to have a chance.
Honest question: Why is the boomer generation so butt hurt about the NBA loosening up the travel calls? If I have to hear another 60 year old be like "how many steps did he take?!".. im gonna lose it.
Of all the things to care about.. allowing some more freedom of movement in the NBA is absolutely not a problem in any way. It makes the game better and I honest to God cannot understand why it matters if Haliburton takes 2.8 steps instead of 2, once every 3 games.
Of all the things to care about.. allowing some more freedom of movement in the NBA is absolutely not a problem in any way. It makes the game better and I honest to God cannot understand why it matters if Haliburton takes 2.8 steps instead of 2, once every 3 games.
SGA averaging:
36 points, 5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 3.5 steals per game on 49/40/90 shooting splits
Truly special stuff for the former Cat
Can’t wait for game 3 as it’s the first game of the series with a single digit point spread. Should be electric in Indy.
36 points, 5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 3.5 steals per game on 49/40/90 shooting splits
Truly special stuff for the former Cat
Can’t wait for game 3 as it’s the first game of the series with a single digit point spread. Should be electric in Indy.
I'm not a huge fan of the NBA but I definitely didn't have SGA on my BINGO card being as good as he's been in the NBA!
I detest the loosening of the travel across all levels of basketball. It's like the traditionalists in baseball: How can you reasonably compare past and present performances and players if the rules are allowed to be changed from generation to generation? What irks me even more than the extra step(s) is the way players are allowed to casually dribble while palming the ball w/ each bounce.
Having said that, let me add: You damn kids stay off my lawn!
So, if you want to watch guys taking 3+ steps without dribbling....is it really basketball....or something else?
- Guys, (Luke in particular) palm the ball and take 3+ steps while defender is at the mercy of is he going to shoot or keep his dribble
- Gather step
It's turning into more like Arena Bowl football vs NFL with so many offensive advantages. Is it football, sure it is....but it isn't much like NFL....so am I really a Boomer for not being interested in watching a game of so much iso ball, pick and roll for 48 minutes? Player movement is non existent for over half of NBA teams....guys just space out, never cut, no screens...but iso ball with relaxed traveling calls....It's just not all that entertaining for some.
Game 3 gonna determine this series. Not a bold proclamation I know but if OKC can win that they feel back n control to me. If they lose, one Indiana win n game 4 away from disaster.
I want SGA and the Thunder to dominate for years to come. It can't hurt having a former UK guy absolutely crushing it in the pros.
What's amazing is that we've got some contrarian UK fans who rag on SGA's game all the time as if all they do is watch Tik Tok compilations of him drawing fouls and buy into the silly narrative that his game is predicated on flopping.
Some of these contrarian accounts all look like they're written by the same smug poster.
It's kind of funny, actually. We've got a former UK guy winning 68 games in the regular season, winning MVP, and presently competing for the highest achievement in the sport, and all some of our fans can do is find ways to nitpick his game.