- May 23, 2012
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Hello all, and welcome to an exciting Finals match up between LeBron and Steph... oh I'm sorry, I guess ESPN's subliminal messaging finally brainwashed me. It's actually a match up between checks notes ... Indy and OKC? Huh, OK then.
As part of my thorough research before writing this preview, I attempted to source some pictures of real, live Pacers and Thunder players. Apparently they're near-mythical species like the Yeti, so here's some generic pictures of lovely Indiana and scenic Oklahoma instead.
VS
Now if that doesn't whet your appetite, nothing will.
Anyway, peternorth insisted that I should write a preview for this series, LeBron or no LeBron, so here we are. He would have done it himself, but apparently setting Los Angeles on fire in revenge for Taylor Swift not winning any music awards this year was a higher priority, so I'm afraid you're stuck with me. I hereby dedicate the thread title to our esteemed moderator and overlord, in his enforced absence. Both these teams have loud home courts, play fast, and employ rosters deeper than any thought put into this preview.
Let's crack on with it then, starting with a section I like to call...
STYLE POINTS
Run Forrest, run - it's no secret that both these teams enjoy a gallop. They play at a near identical pace, among the league's quickest, but beyond that it's in transition where they really shine. The Pacers are possibly the most lethal team in the NBA in transition execution, completely unafraid to throw the ball ahead. The Thunder meanwhile generate more fast break opportunities than anyone, as their swarming, league-breaking defence forces opponents into an unheard-of volume of turnovers. So while Indy can't neglect their own running game, they're going to have to be ultra-careful that they don't inadvertently set OKC's own in motion by throwing too many reckless passes. The Pacers are going to have to plot their offensive plans for the series extremely carefully...
Pascal's Wager - Indy's flow offence has gained a lot of admirers, and rightfully so. Any team that makes a whole that is more than the sum of their parts deserves to be lauded. However any team that relies on passing and ball movement to generate points - Indy assisted on 67% of their made field goals this season, compared to the Thunder's 60% - is going to be nervous facing OKC. Both teams rank highly for EFG% and low for turnover numbers, but in the playoffs it's the teams that pass more that are more susceptible to turnovers, and that's Indy. So, what to do? For my money, the Pacers need to run as much through Pascal Siakam as they can, even if that risks subordinating Haliburton to a passive role. It's Siakam - as proven during the New York series - who is the Pacers' one consistent self-created bucket getter. It's also Siakam to looms as OKC's trickiest match-up dilemma...
Hartenstein und Holmgren - sie sind grosse, und sehr gut, ja?
Biggie Smalls - Mark Daigneault will have one question above all that will be addressed for this series, and that is this: do the Thunder stay big, or go small? The Minnesota series was more suited to the bruising, paint-crashing style that OKC envisioned when they signed Isaiah Hartenstein in the off-season. But even then, despite starting the twin talls, Hartenstein only actually played 19 minutes a game in that series, possibly owing to the fact that Rudy Gobert got played off the floor as well. Against the Pacers it's a whole different story through - they're not exactly small, but they're the ultimate five-out, new-NBA style team with bigs that are often far away from the paint. So if you're Daigneault, do you trust Chet Holmgren to stay out of foul trouble and guard Siakam? Or do you break up a frontcourt that not only has been effective, but also sounds like a German accountancy firm in the Holmgren & Hartenstein pairing, in order to dial the small-ball, ball-hawking craziness up to 11?...
The Williams Effect - If the Thunder DO decide to go small, then who should they plug into the starting line-up? There's no obvious candidate. Alex Caruso is the first name to mind, but OKC seem to prefer his creating chaos off the bench. Cason Wallace actually started 43 games during the season, but he's 6'4, and the Thunder risk going TOO small in that case, besides which he seems to have good synergy with Caruso. Likewise Aaron Wiggins and Isiah Joe started a further 42 games between them, but they're similarly a tad on the small size and perhaps better suited to bench energy roles. That leaves Williams then - no, not Jalen, but the other one, Jaylin. Or Keinrich. Neither projects to play big minutes, but they do have the requisite size and defensive nous to play spot minutes for the primary purpose of matching up with Siakam. OKC may just stick with what has gotten them this far, but Daigneault hasn't been afraid in the past to mix up his rotations, so don't be shocked by some surprise lineups.
Moderately Interesting Trivia For Padding Out Previews
Did You Know That this is the first time that two non-taxpaying teams have ever contested the Finals together? In fact the Pacers rank only 18th for total payroll, while the Thunder incredibly rank 25th. Fiscal responsibility has never been sexier, apparently.
Did You Know That, including the Sonics days, these two teams have been to the Conference Finals and beyond 17 times between them in the last 33 years, without winning a single championship? As a Collingwood and Tottenham supporter, I empathise. As a New Orleans Pelicans fan, I have no strong opinion.
Did You Know That this Finals series features FOUR Canadians - SGA, Dort, Nembhard and Mathurin? What a great day for Canada, and therefore the world. No confirmation yet as to whether they've apologised for their overrepresentation.
Did You Know That Indianapolis is the 25th biggest media market in the NBA, whilst OKC ranks as the 47th largest? That sound you can hear is Adam Silver grinding what's left of his teeth.
Did You Know That these Finals, which wags are already dubbing 'The Paul George Cup', is actually a direct result of the Paul George trade these two teams executed eight years ago? This is similar to the Anthony Davis trade a few years back, except this time both teams prospered.
Success follows Playoff P, usually at a safe distance.
What to Watch For
- Shai wearing his sunglasses at night. Hey, so did Corey Hart, and Bret Hart for that matter, so maybe it's a Canadian thing.
- What Myles Turner has dubbed 'the power of friendship' to become a new blueprint for roster building in the league. Mo Williams and LeBron James are already taking notes.
- Tyrese's Dad. I mean technically he's supportive, but he's an utter peanut... which I guess makes him a supportive peanut. The odds you could have gotten on Haliburton's dad upstaging LaVar Ball in the tragic 'Dads living vicariously through their sons' stakes would have been high.
- OKC's bench to bat deeper. Both teams are celebrated for their depth, but while Indy certainly has options that can contribute, their collective effectiveness is much less pronounced over the season than OKC's. The Thunder's bench are a formidable unit in themselves, whereas Indy's group fill a more traditional role of buying rest for their starting group, who do the real damage. Accordingly, OKC in 5 for me.
Series starts Friday folks. Game 2 is Monday, Game 3 Thursday week, Game 4 on Sat 14th and Game 5 on Tues 17th. Games 6 & 7 if needed fall on June 20 and 23. Bit of patience needed, but enjoy your Finals.
As part of my thorough research before writing this preview, I attempted to source some pictures of real, live Pacers and Thunder players. Apparently they're near-mythical species like the Yeti, so here's some generic pictures of lovely Indiana and scenic Oklahoma instead.
Now if that doesn't whet your appetite, nothing will.
Anyway, peternorth insisted that I should write a preview for this series, LeBron or no LeBron, so here we are. He would have done it himself, but apparently setting Los Angeles on fire in revenge for Taylor Swift not winning any music awards this year was a higher priority, so I'm afraid you're stuck with me. I hereby dedicate the thread title to our esteemed moderator and overlord, in his enforced absence. Both these teams have loud home courts, play fast, and employ rosters deeper than any thought put into this preview.
Let's crack on with it then, starting with a section I like to call...
STYLE POINTS
Run Forrest, run - it's no secret that both these teams enjoy a gallop. They play at a near identical pace, among the league's quickest, but beyond that it's in transition where they really shine. The Pacers are possibly the most lethal team in the NBA in transition execution, completely unafraid to throw the ball ahead. The Thunder meanwhile generate more fast break opportunities than anyone, as their swarming, league-breaking defence forces opponents into an unheard-of volume of turnovers. So while Indy can't neglect their own running game, they're going to have to be ultra-careful that they don't inadvertently set OKC's own in motion by throwing too many reckless passes. The Pacers are going to have to plot their offensive plans for the series extremely carefully...
Pascal's Wager - Indy's flow offence has gained a lot of admirers, and rightfully so. Any team that makes a whole that is more than the sum of their parts deserves to be lauded. However any team that relies on passing and ball movement to generate points - Indy assisted on 67% of their made field goals this season, compared to the Thunder's 60% - is going to be nervous facing OKC. Both teams rank highly for EFG% and low for turnover numbers, but in the playoffs it's the teams that pass more that are more susceptible to turnovers, and that's Indy. So, what to do? For my money, the Pacers need to run as much through Pascal Siakam as they can, even if that risks subordinating Haliburton to a passive role. It's Siakam - as proven during the New York series - who is the Pacers' one consistent self-created bucket getter. It's also Siakam to looms as OKC's trickiest match-up dilemma...
Hartenstein und Holmgren - sie sind grosse, und sehr gut, ja?
Biggie Smalls - Mark Daigneault will have one question above all that will be addressed for this series, and that is this: do the Thunder stay big, or go small? The Minnesota series was more suited to the bruising, paint-crashing style that OKC envisioned when they signed Isaiah Hartenstein in the off-season. But even then, despite starting the twin talls, Hartenstein only actually played 19 minutes a game in that series, possibly owing to the fact that Rudy Gobert got played off the floor as well. Against the Pacers it's a whole different story through - they're not exactly small, but they're the ultimate five-out, new-NBA style team with bigs that are often far away from the paint. So if you're Daigneault, do you trust Chet Holmgren to stay out of foul trouble and guard Siakam? Or do you break up a frontcourt that not only has been effective, but also sounds like a German accountancy firm in the Holmgren & Hartenstein pairing, in order to dial the small-ball, ball-hawking craziness up to 11?...
The Williams Effect - If the Thunder DO decide to go small, then who should they plug into the starting line-up? There's no obvious candidate. Alex Caruso is the first name to mind, but OKC seem to prefer his creating chaos off the bench. Cason Wallace actually started 43 games during the season, but he's 6'4, and the Thunder risk going TOO small in that case, besides which he seems to have good synergy with Caruso. Likewise Aaron Wiggins and Isiah Joe started a further 42 games between them, but they're similarly a tad on the small size and perhaps better suited to bench energy roles. That leaves Williams then - no, not Jalen, but the other one, Jaylin. Or Keinrich. Neither projects to play big minutes, but they do have the requisite size and defensive nous to play spot minutes for the primary purpose of matching up with Siakam. OKC may just stick with what has gotten them this far, but Daigneault hasn't been afraid in the past to mix up his rotations, so don't be shocked by some surprise lineups.
Moderately Interesting Trivia For Padding Out Previews
Did You Know That this is the first time that two non-taxpaying teams have ever contested the Finals together? In fact the Pacers rank only 18th for total payroll, while the Thunder incredibly rank 25th. Fiscal responsibility has never been sexier, apparently.
Did You Know That, including the Sonics days, these two teams have been to the Conference Finals and beyond 17 times between them in the last 33 years, without winning a single championship? As a Collingwood and Tottenham supporter, I empathise. As a New Orleans Pelicans fan, I have no strong opinion.
Did You Know That this Finals series features FOUR Canadians - SGA, Dort, Nembhard and Mathurin? What a great day for Canada, and therefore the world. No confirmation yet as to whether they've apologised for their overrepresentation.
Did You Know That Indianapolis is the 25th biggest media market in the NBA, whilst OKC ranks as the 47th largest? That sound you can hear is Adam Silver grinding what's left of his teeth.
Did You Know That these Finals, which wags are already dubbing 'The Paul George Cup', is actually a direct result of the Paul George trade these two teams executed eight years ago? This is similar to the Anthony Davis trade a few years back, except this time both teams prospered.
Success follows Playoff P, usually at a safe distance.
What to Watch For
- Shai wearing his sunglasses at night. Hey, so did Corey Hart, and Bret Hart for that matter, so maybe it's a Canadian thing.
- What Myles Turner has dubbed 'the power of friendship' to become a new blueprint for roster building in the league. Mo Williams and LeBron James are already taking notes.
- Tyrese's Dad. I mean technically he's supportive, but he's an utter peanut... which I guess makes him a supportive peanut. The odds you could have gotten on Haliburton's dad upstaging LaVar Ball in the tragic 'Dads living vicariously through their sons' stakes would have been high.
- OKC's bench to bat deeper. Both teams are celebrated for their depth, but while Indy certainly has options that can contribute, their collective effectiveness is much less pronounced over the season than OKC's. The Thunder's bench are a formidable unit in themselves, whereas Indy's group fill a more traditional role of buying rest for their starting group, who do the real damage. Accordingly, OKC in 5 for me.
Series starts Friday folks. Game 2 is Monday, Game 3 Thursday week, Game 4 on Sat 14th and Game 5 on Tues 17th. Games 6 & 7 if needed fall on June 20 and 23. Bit of patience needed, but enjoy your Finals.
