The NBA Finals are officially set. There are two teams left standing after two very different and awe-inspiring runs through their respective conferences. The Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers are left fighting for their dreams of winning the championship. These two rosters are both built to compete, but the key to the series will be unlocking their teams’ full potential. The Thunder and Pacers both have a winning shot at the title, but their X-Factors could help them seal the deal.
This is the Thunder’s fifth time reaching the NBA Finals in franchise history. The Thunder are led by the league MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and an offense that ranks top 10 in just about every statistical category. It’s easy to see why they’ve been favored to win the title since the end of the regular season. However, in their rare slip-ups, their offense has been shut down. With that being said, their X-Factor is certainly offensive consistency, but Jalen Williams specifically.
Since the playoffs began, Williams has been electric for sure. There have also been multiple games where he has seriously struggled. Through the 16 games he’s played in the playoffs, Williams has shot under 40% in roughly a third of their contests. While this could be considered a small problem for the league’s best offense, in the playoffs, every possession is crucial. The Thunder are 2-3 in these contests. Playing this red-hot Pacers team could pose problems, especially when you look at the way they’ve dismantled some of the league’s rising stars.
The Pacers also provide some interesting matchups for Williams on defense. Pascal Siakam, while not being the best defender, can go toe-to-toe with Williams on offense. He can certainly challenge Williams when on defense with his length. The Pacers will possibly play Williams like a smaller version of Karl-Anthony Towns, and send some alternating looks at him to try and throw him off. Look for Aaron Nesmith, Tyrese Haliburton, and Andrew Nembhard to give Williams and Alexander both different looks on screens and in the post.
Williams will need to be on his A-game every night. Consistency must be a top priority for him and the rest of the roster if they are looking to get it done this season. This could be the start of the NBA’s newest dynasty, and they need to capitalize this season to start it off on the right foot.
This is the Pacers’ second time in franchise history reaching the NBA finals, and it’s been a journey for sure. Just in April, Haliburton was voted the league’s most “overrated” player, and he’s burned everyone since. The whole team has done nothing but compete, and they have knocked off some of the Eastern Conference favorites in their historic playoff run. They knocked off the Milwaukee Bucks and the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games before taking out the New York Knicks in six games. The Pacers have won these series off the back of their depth, playing up to 13 guys some nights to get the job done. Depth will certainly be the X-Factor for them.
They will need everyone to step up, much like in their most recent series against the Knicks. They’ve been very good at sharing the wealth on both sides of the ball. Not only that, but there have been a few games where the bench has come in and provided an instant spark. In Game 6, Myles Turner went down with an injury, and Thomas Bryant stepped in and hit two huge threes. Obi Toppin shot the fourth-most shots on impressive splits.
The bench has been monumental for the Pacers all postseason, and if they can keep that spark alive, they could pull off the upset. Look for players like Toppin, T.J. McConnell, Bennedict Mathurin, and Ben Sheppard to contribute solid minutes off the bench. These guys don’t always score, but the defensive side of the ball will be vastly more important for them in this series.
The Thunder have been heavy favorites to win the championship practically all season long. With this NBA Finals, they continue to be favored, but the Pacers have been solid all postseason long. Look for a physical, dynamic series to take shape, with the games close and stars battling. The Thunder certainly have the advantage, but it’s the playoffs, so always be prepared for chaos.
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