Thunder vs Pacers: Who You Got?

Here we go! It’s the season of the year when we celebrate and crown the year’s NBA champs. And for the 7th straight year, we are crowning a new champ, after the defending champs, the Boston Celtics, were bushwhacked by the gritty title aspirants New York Knicks in the 2nd round of the playoffs. The emergence of a new champ, the fact that both protagonists this year have not won a single NBA title ever, plus the fact that the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers come from relatively small markets make for a refreshing case for the league. There is parity in the NBA, and it augurs well for the continued development of the NBA.

The OKC Thunder and the Indiana Pacers took 2 different, yet equally interesting routes to the Finals. The Thunder took the Western Conference by storm, finishing the regular season with a comfy 68-14 slate, making them the top seeds in the west. The Pacers took a more bumpy route, sputtering in the early going before making a brilliant run in the second half of the season to finish fourth in the East, with a modest 50-32 slate.

The Thunder then steamrollered past the 8th seed Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs 4-0, but barely nosed out the former champs and 4th seed Denver Nuggets 4-3 in round 2. They then regained their lethal form to outclass the 6th seed Minnesota Timberwolves 4-1 enroute to center stage. They were only challenged once, by the Nikola Jokic-led Nuggets, who had enough veteran court savvy to match the Thunder’s pure talent. That close call against the Nuggets has seemingly roused the Thunder from their complacency, and that sense of urgency was again evident in the way they crushed the Wolves for the Western Conference title.

The 4th seed Pacers, on the other hand, featured 3 epic Houdini acts, in beating the 5th seed Milwaukee Bucks 4-1 in the first round; in upsetting the top seed Cleveland Cavaliers 4-1 in the 2nd round; and in disposing the 3rd seed New York Knicks 4-2 for the Eastern Conference title. In all 3 playoff series, the Pacers stole a seemingly lost game where they trailed by 7 or more points with less than a minute left. The 3 miracle comeback wins have clothed the Pacers with an aura of invincibility. This self-confidence will be important as they tangle with their biggest challenge yet.

The Thunder are overwhelming favorites to take the crown home. They have the league MVP and top scorer in Shai Gilgeous Alexander; they have have the better win-loss record; they have the deeper bench; they have the league’s top defense courtesy of its taller, beefier and younger crew. Simply put, the Thunder have the better talents in their squad. Backing up SGA will be Jalen Williams, who made the all-NBA team and was selected to the all-Defensive team along with Lou Dort. They also have towering bigs Chet Holmgren and Isiah Hartenstein.

The Pacers, on the other hand, will bank on their miracle man, Tyrese Haliburton, as well as their other all-star Paskal Siakam. The Pacers are known for their dazzling speed, a weapon they have displayed to the hilt in the playoffs. The Pacers will need to outpace the Thunder, if they are to have a fighting chance against this juggernaut. What goes for this team is that their confidence has been boosted overwhelmingly by their 3 miracle comebacks. Also, despite their relative disadvantage in raw talent, they are covering this up with better teamwork. They also have a savvy veteran coach in Rick Carlisle, who has been through, and has won the NBA title, both as a player and as a coach. Coach Rick has inculcated in them a patience and trust in each other, and have elevated their court IQ to a much higher plane.

This battle for all the marbles features different interesting match-ups as well. Both teams are led by their point guards: SGA and Tyrese. SGA has just been hailed as the year’s MVP. He is a scorer first, but is not a slouch in the assist department as well. Tyrese is an old school point. He can score, but is more invested in passing the ball and getting his teammates to score.

Both teams have a second all-star; with the Thunder’s Williams and the Pacers’ Siakam. Both can be dangerous if left slightly uncovered. But the Thunder will have a twin tower combination in Isiah Hartentstein and transplanted power forward Chet Holmgren. They will be a taller combo compared to Miles Turner and Siakam.

The Pacers will rely heavily on their speed. But the Thunder have been known to match up well with their speed. The Thunder wiill rely on their defense first and foremost. And from there, they will generate their speed.

Expect Tyrese Haliburton to be hounded alternately by Thunder’s astounding defenders led by Dort and Alex Caruso. The first order of business for Thunder coach Mark Daigneault will be to deny the Pacers’ quick offensive transition. If the Pacers’ transition offense is checked, they will create picks to free up their perimeter shooters for quick treys.

On the other hand, expect the Pacers defense to try to shackle SGA’s scoring. The Pacers have a more difficult job, as the Thunder offense does not rely on speed alone. Minus the transition, the Thunder has SGA’s mid-range firepower as well as that of his supporting crew.

This should be a helluva series. It will be the Pacers’ speed versus the Thunder’s all-around talent. It will be the veteran coaching of Rick Carlisle vs the new-kid smarts of Mark Daigneault. It will be the disciplined old school approach from the Pacers against the youthful exuberance and pace of the Thunder. It should be a wild, wily series. Who you got?

My head says it’s gonna be the Thunder. But my heart will cheer for the Pacers.

Cover photo courtesy of Pro Football Network. Other photos courtesy of SB Nation, USA Today, Clutch Points, Draft KingNetwork, Sports Illustrated.