We've got the best finals and the first game 7 since 2016! Pacers are something else. They are 1 game away from one of the toughest championships of all time. Now that would be a story. _________________ Overall chart Fake overall chart
We've got the best finals and the first game 7 since 2016! Pacers are something else. They are 1 game away from one of the toughest championships of all time. Now that would be a story.
Yes, hopefully its a great, tense game and not just an OKC blow out because they decide to show up and level up on the defense. Thunder should win game 7 of course, to avoid what would possibly be the biggest upset in NBA finals history. I feel like they pretty much mailed it for game 6 and weren't all that inspired to win because (just a hunch) they want to capture their first championship on their home floor in front of their own fans. Although understandable from an emotional perspective, it is potentially concerning from a "will to dominate" standpoint. In the end, this team could become a dynasty and that game might not end up mattering all that much, but if they lose this finals it could just as easily be their own unraveling -- knowing they could've clamped down with more effort and defensive intensity and gone for the jugular but took their foot off the gas and overestimated their confidence against a dangerous, opportunistic Pacers team that doesn't quit. Don't mean to completely ignore the Pacers, who played great and also took the game, and took advantage, but I just also feel it was sort of handed to them just as much by OKC.
Again the Thunder should win as they are and should be huge favorites in this series. The talent gap and in depth between the teams is bigger than almost any Finals I can think of. The difference is the Pacers are playing to their potential, the Thunder are playing down to the Pacers a bit (only turning it on when they "need" to).
All the pressure is on OKC to win the series and that could be an opening for the Pacers (the nerves of the young OKC team) for stealing game 7 especially if things aren't going well early and the team starts to play nervous and the Pacers can sense this. OKC better be careful and not let this fall apart after their game 6 performance and they're rather sub-par (for them) performance in this series, and at other times in these playoffs. _________________ Best Classical Best Films Best Paintings
Been away on vacation for a while, what did I miss?
Nearly all of the NBA Finals. Where I was, the games were played in the wee hours of the morning, and I couldn't find them on TV even if I was awake (I had better things to do on vacation anyway). I predicted OKC in 6, but mentioned I could see Indiana taking it to 7. Them scrappy underdogs have done it. Win or lose tomorrow, it's been a magical run and the Pacers and their fans should be proud. I don't think they're going to win because the Thunder are simply better. The Thunder showed us how good they are when it came to closeout games on their home court. They won their clinching games at home in the last two rounds by 30+ points. I think the Thunder have this. Will they win by 30 points? Will it be tight game, with the Thunder prevailing in the end? Or does Indiana have one more upset in them, and get a fairy-tale ending? Whatever the outcome, I hope it's an exciting game, cause for once I'll actually get to see it (I wish I was still on vacation, and didn't have to work Monday, but getting to see Game 7 is a small silver lining).
First off, congrats to the Thunder. This was their year. 68-14, only a few teams have ever won more. And one of the best average point differentials in NBA history. The 2025 Thunder can already be considered one the best teams ever assembled. Almost certainly the best since the 2017 Warriors (who added KD after already having a championship squad, whereas this Thunder team was built from scratch). There's no doubt they had an amazing run and earned this title.
Although the win last night was overshadowed by the tragic injury of Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton. Crazy to think that on championship night, the main talking point would be the injury early in the game, and not the final result. There's always going to be the "what if" question. If he hadn't gotten hurt, could the Pacers have pulled the stunner? After all, the Pacers stunned everyone with their playoff run full of late-game comebacks and upsets over teams with much better records. We'll never know if they would have won Game 7 last night if Haliburton didn't go down, but I'd say they could have. The Pacers are a well-coached, well-organized team who fought valiantly after the injury. It was a close game when he went down with 5 min left in the 1st, and it was still a 4-point game with 3 min left in the 3rd. That's over half the game they kept it close without their best player. But that ensuing 20-2 run by OKC took the sails out of the wind. There was no one last miracle after that. OKC was sharper, fresher, and just better by that point, while Indiana looked tired and out-of-sync. Shame.
Lastly, I think the NBA season is too long. Haliburton joins the list including Tatum, Lillard, and Irving with torn Achilles tendons this season. And you know what they mostly have in common? Yes, the shoes, apparently, as someone pointed out on Twitter. But 3 out of 4 happened during the playoffs. It's a long season of wear-and-tear. By the playoffs, the players are banged up, exhausted, and their joints can only take so much. This happened to KD and Klay Thompson a few years ago in the NBA Finals. Kawhi Leonard and Joel Embiid also come to mind as players who recently suffered bad injuries during the playoffs. It's an un-ignorable pattern. We the fans want to see the teams and the players at their peak when it comes time for the playoffs and deciding the championship. Too often are the playoffs marred by this crap. I think 8-9 months is clearly too long of a season, and the NBA should seriously consider shortening it, so we don't have to see our stars in agony as they get carried off the court during the most important games of the year.
Lastly, I think the NBA season is too long. Haliburton joins the list including Tatum, Lillard, and Irving with torn Achilles tendons this season. And you know what they mostly have in common? Yes, the shoes, apparently, as someone pointed out on Twitter. But 3 out of 4 happened during the playoffs. It's a long season of wear-and-tear. By the playoffs, the players are banged up, exhausted, and their joints can only take so much. This happened to KD and Klay Thompson a few years ago in the NBA Finals. Kawhi Leonard and Joel Embiid also come to mind as players who recently suffered bad injuries during the playoffs. It's an un-ignorable pattern. We the fans want to see the teams and the players at their peak when it comes time for the playoffs and deciding the championship. Too often are the playoffs marred by this crap. I think 8-9 months is clearly too long of a season, and the NBA should seriously consider shortening it, so we don't have to see our stars in agony as they get carried off the court during the most important games of the year.
Actually...my take is kid of the opposite. Kind of. The NBA has been trotting out 82 game regular seasons since 1967 (when the Celtics won the title in 19 games). Yes, there's wear and tear on the teams and individual players. That's part of it. Like the NHL (also 82 games) and MLB (162 games), the NBA is a grind. Teams have to go through seasons knowing that their players are going to have injuries, and knowing that they are going to be worn out towards the end. It's part of the game, and today, with the salaries these guys are pulling, I have no problem watching them work hard for their money.
The difference, as I see it, is the postseason. In 1984-85 (40 years ago), 23 teams played 82 games each. 12 teams made the playoffs, which even 40 years ago was too many...6 of those teams were at .500 or had losing records, and 3 finished just one spot above last place in their divisions. The playoffs were 4 rounds, with a maximun of 27 games for the teams that made the finals. The postseason ran for 53 days.
This year, 30 teams played 82 games each. 20 of the 30 teams made it to the postseason, which is simply a ridiculous number. 5 of those teams had losing records, and one team (the Bulls) actually finished last in their division...by 5 games. After the play in tournament, the playoffs were THEN 4 rounds, with a maximum of 28 games for the teams that made the finals...30 if either of those teams had come from the play in games. The postseason ran for 67 days. Two weeks longer than in 83-84.
The NBA playoffs are hopelessly too long, and the travel involved for the teams is beyond what it should be. The current format for all playoff rounds is 2-2-1-1-1, meaning that a 7 game series involves six travel days (including getting there for game 1) plus another if the series winner has to then go on the road for their next series. For the Pacers this year, what does that mean? That's 15 travel days to play 23 postseason games. That's tough. It would have been even tougher had the team from the West been from Los Angeles or Portland...or if the Thunder were still based in Seattle...
Lastly...MLB ran a shortened 60 game schedule in 2020 because of Covid. It was most definitely not the same, and it was definitely not a better product. _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
^^Very valid points. The playoffs are needlessly, excruciatingly long. I'll also add that the game is much higher-scoring and faster-paced than the 80s. Players are running, jumping, and hitting the floor now more than ever. I feel the combination of many factors contributes to the recent rise in awful injuries in the sport. If NBA doesn't reduce the length of the season, then teams will have to adjust. Slow the place down, utilize their benches more. I think reason they don't is because they want to win. The high-scoring, fast-paced teams are the ones who succeed, and their opponents feel forced to match their style. Maybe the sport is reaching the limit of that style, exemplified by so many star players, whose bodies couldn't take it anymore, will miss all of next season due to injury. My idea of shortening the NBA season wasn't meant to be compared to MLB's 2020 season. That was about a 65% reduction in games. For the NBA, maybe cutting from 82 to 72 could help. About 2 weeks. And yeah, shortening the playoffs too. It's the NBA though. They're a business first and foremost.
^^Very valid points. The playoffs are needlessly, excruciatingly long. I'll also add that the game is much higher-scoring and faster-paced than the 80s. Players are running, jumping, and hitting the floor now more than ever. I feel the combination of many factors contributes to the recent rise in awful injuries in the sport. If NBA doesn't reduce the length of the season, then teams will have to adjust. Slow the place down, utilize their benches more. I think reason they don't is because they want to win. The high-scoring, fast-paced teams are the ones who succeed, and their opponents feel forced to match their style. Maybe the sport is reaching the limit of that style, exemplified by so many star players, whose bodies couldn't take it anymore, will miss all of next season due to injury. My idea of shortening the NBA season wasn't meant to be compared to MLB's 2020 season. That was about a 65% reduction in games. For the NBA, maybe cutting from 82 to 72 could help. About 2 weeks. And yeah, shortening the playoffs too. It's the NBA though. They're a business first and foremost.
Yeah, the increase in playoff teams and games is all about revenue. I do wish the overall game would slow down. The players are more athletic, but it's sloppy compared to what it once was. Some defense would be nice. I also think that the NBA in particular has reached a point where there's not enough quality talent (not superstars...but enough pro level players to complete rosters). My opinion is that the NBA needs more fixes than any of the other major sports...and it's by a lot. But I know I'm not in the majority in that thought. _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
It's been proven this season that the teams with the strongest benches are the ones that succeed. There are more star-level players than ever, and the quality of role players is through the roof as well. With the new CBA, teams will have to adjust and stop treating every great player they have as a max guy, or they'll have to look for young, rookie contract talent to fill out the bench. Strong benches reduce the wear and tear of your star players, and they help you win. I'm just guessing, but I think we'll see this kind of mentality shift league-wide soon.
That being said, I strongly support fewer regular-season games and more (or at least not less) playoffs. Way more entertaining, better money for the league, better product overall. Shortening the season would also help ease the injury crisis.
Also, Romanelli, we've just watched one of the best defenses of all time win the championship. How much more defense can you ask for? 2004 Pistons, 60s Celtics? Otherwise, you're right, there are a lot of fixes needed in the NBA. And a lot of people (including me, somewhat) agree.
Pace is a personal preference. I know many people who prefer this faster pace of today, and I know a lot of people who'd like a slower, superstar-dominated league, something like the modernized 00s basketball. But yes, more possessions equals more turnovers, so the game seems too fast at times. _________________ Overall chart Fake overall chart
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2004 Pistons, 60s Celtics? Otherwise, you're right, there are a lot of fixes needed in the NBA. And a lot of people (including me, somewhat) agree.
