Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers: NBA Finals Preview

The stage is set, and only two teams remain in contention for the coveted Larry O’Brien trophy. This year’s NBA Finals will feature two teams the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers, who are both seeking their first NBA title in their respective franchise’s history.

While neither team is considered a big market team or a powerhouse franchise in the NBA, this Finals matchup will more than satisfy basketball fans seeking an exciting grand finale to a great NBA postseason. Let’s look at what each team brings to the table for this year’s Finals and see who has the decisive edge.

Historic Defense vs. Red Hot Offense

It’s a rarity in NBA history that the team that sports the best defense in the NBA playoffs gets to face off against the best offense, but this year’s Finals is the embodiment of “rare.” The Thunder finished the regular season as the top defense in the league, and that defensive efficiency has only continued in the playoffs. Whereas the Pacers finished the regular season ninth in overall offensive rating, and have jumped to the top spot among playoff teams this postseason.

While the Pacers calling card has been their ability to push the ball up the floor relentlessly and efficiently, they may have met their match with this Thunder defense. The Thunder possess a unique combination of both speed and versatility on defense, which will force Indiana to play to their tempo more often.

Evenly Matched Depth

One area that both teams come into the series evenly matched in is the incredible depth each team possesses. While the Thunder hold the edge when it comes to their starting five since they possess the league MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Pacers depth could serve as the great equalizer between the two teams. Despite his struggle throughout the postseason, Pacer Forward Bennedict Mathurin came alive against the Knicks, scoring 20 points in consecutive games. It included a 20-point outing in Game 4 that he accomplished in just 12 minutes of game time.

The steady and consistent play of backup Point Guard T.J. McConnell has also been a godsend for the Pacers, as the veteran guard is averaging 8 points and 4 assists on an efficient 53% shooting from the field. I would also be remiss in not giving love to some of the Thunders bench players Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace. Both players have provided the Thunder with excellent defensive effort and overall play, which is why this series may very well come down to which bench players outplay the other.

Coaching Mismatch

In his five seasons at the helm for the Thunder, Head Coach Mark Daigneault has solidified himself as one of the best coaches in the league. Despite being the recipient of this season’s Coach of The Year award, the coaching edge lies with the Pacers Head Coach Rick Carlisle. That is due in part to Carlisle having more finals experience than Daigneault, as he led the Dallas Mavericks to their first NBA title in their Finals upset of the big three Miami Heat back in 2011.

In his latest stint in Indiana, Carlisle has helped engineer perhaps the best rotation in the NBA and has also unlocked Tyrese Haliburton’s potential. While Haliburton showed flashes of his outstanding playmaking ability during his time in Sacramento, he has taken his game to the next level within Carlisle’s fast-paced offense. Coach Daigneault has a fantastic career ahead of him, but Carlisle’s experience gives Indiana a key advantage against the Thunder.

Final Thoughts and Prediction

I fully expect a longer series than what most experts are saying since I am a firm believer in Indiana’s innate ability to catch fire on offense at any moment. This Finals will be a close and exciting one, with both team’s respective superstars putting on a show. I predict that the Oklahoma City Thunder will win the series in six games. Defense has always been what determines whether a team wins a championship or not, and this Thunder team possesses one of the best defenses we’ve seen in recent memory. That is why Oklahoma City will be this year’s NBA champion.