Two teams. One trophy. The youngest Finals matchup in years is here.
And then there were two….
The 2024-25 NBA Finals are set and features two of the youngest teams in the Association.
Finals Matchup
The top seeded Oklahoma City Thunder will represent the Western Conference after dispatching the Timberwolves in five games in the Western Conference Finals, while the East is represented by the fourth seeded Indiana Pacers. The Pacers defeated the Knicks 3-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Both teams are making their second appearances in the NBA Finals; OKC last appeared in 2012 against Miami, while Indiana hasn’t been since the 2000 season.
Thunder’s Historic Season
After a historic season, the Thunder are heavy favorites to win this year’s title. They were 29-1 against Eastern Conference opponents this year; the best inter conference record in NBA history, and won both head-to-head matchups with the Pacers.
MVP-Led Defense
Led by league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (30 points, 7 assists), the Thunder boast the League’s best defense and has posted the most 30-point postseason blowouts (4) in NBA history.
Pacers: The Underdog Story
The Pacers on the other hand have been underdogs in every series thus far and have relished in the role. Led by Eastern Conference Finals MVP, Paschal Siakam and Tyrese Halliburton they have posted the second-best offensive efficiency in the playoffs at 117.7 points per 100 possessions.
Thunder: Win the Turnover Battle
OKC has to continue to win the turnover battle. The Thunder are forcing far more turnovers (18) than any other team while at the same time committing the fewest (11.6) than any time that has made it beyond the first round. If kept up, that would be the largest turnover margin since 1973 when the league started keeping team turnovers as a stat.
They are also scoring 24 ppg off of the turnovers they manufacture.
Five Oklahoma City players – Caruso, Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Luguentz Dort – have averaged more than a steal per game in the playoffs, while Chet Holmgrenhas averaged 2.0 blocks per game.
Pacers: Slow Down SGA and Win from Deep
For the Pacers the road is much more arduous.
First and foremost they have to contain SGA. The league MVP is virtually unstoppable with a plethora of tools in his bag. As the catalyst for OKC he is a matchup problem for the Pacers. They will have to find a way to neutralize him.
Next, the Pacers have to win the turnover battle or at least not lose it by drastic amounts as every other Thunder opponent this season. Point guard Tyrese Haliburton ranks as one of the lowest-turnover guards in the league, and Indiana ranked third in both the regular season and postseason in lowest turnover rate.
Finally, the Pacers need to win the 3-point battle by a wide margin. Again, there’s reason for hope here, as Indiana leads all playoff teams with a 40.1% 3-point mark, while Oklahoma City’s shooters have collectively struggled (33.6% this postseason).
Prediction
Expect a high pace and exciting matchup; both teams are young, athletic, and explosive. I believe that ultimately the cream in OKC will rise to the top and the Thunder will complete a historic season and hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy.
OKC in five games 4-1.
