OKC wasn’t just good this season – they were elite.
Second-best record in the league, second in net rating, and one of only two teams to finish top five in both offensive and defensive efficiency. They’ve been a machine on both ends all year.
But Indiana? They’re no fluke either. After starting the season 10-15 – a stretch that included injuries to key starters like Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith – the Pacers have ripped off a 52-21 run. That’s more wins over that stretch than any team not named the Thunder.
These are the two best teams in the league since New Year’s Day. Still, there’s a noticeable gap in how dominant OKC has looked.
“They’re historically great on both sides of the ball,” said Tyrese Haliburton. “They have the MVP. I mean, there’s so many different things that you could go up and down the list of why they are so great and what they do, and why they’re such a great team.”
OKC took both regular-season games against Indiana. In the second one, they dropped a 133.3 offensive rating, while Indiana had it’s fourth-worst defensive outing of the season.
The Thunder had almost a full week off before Game 1, but SGA still hasn’t reflected on the season that was.
“Honestly, not really. I’ve been so focused on Game 1,” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Being the best version of myself for this group and trying to make sure we’re clicking on all cylinders on the biggest stage for our careers, that’s been the front of my mind.”
He added, “That’s all I’m really worried about, when I do worry about basketball,” he said. “I haven’t taken the time to look back, see all the things we’ve done. But I will when it’s all over, for sure.”
The Pacers know they’re not the favorites, once again. They knocked out the top-seeded Cavs and then sent the Knicks home. But they’re embracing that underdog label for the third straight series.
“We know the odds are stacked against us, but you know, it is what it is,” Haliburton said. “We want to be here. We want to play against the best, and this is the best. So we’re looking forward to challenges.”
Pascal Siakam echoed that mentality.
“I think we focus on ourselves,” he said. “I think I don’t think we expect anyone to pick us up. And that’s been like that the whole playoffs. It’s been like that the whole season. So I think for us, nothing really changes. It’s always been us against anyone, so it doesn’t change.”
And if the Pacers are gonna do it, Haliburton wouldn’t have it any other way.
“If we’re gonna win a championship, I don’t wanna win any other way,” he said. “I don’t wanna go around or go over. I wanna go through the best team. They’re well-coached. There’s no shortcuts with this team.”
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