Thinking Basketball #326: Final Preview + All-Playoff teams
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Jun 4, 2025 The podcast dives into the thrilling 2025 NBA Finals showdown between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers. It examines the surprising rise of the Pacers and their innovative playstyle. Discussion includes the legacies of small-market teams, the significance of playoff performances, and crafting all-playoff selections. Memorable playoff journeys of past teams are recounted, along with a deep dive into defensive strategies. Humorous interludes about idiomatic expressions add a lighter touch to the basketball insights.
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Future of NBA in Finals
- The 2025 NBA Finals between Oklahoma City and Indiana contrasts possibly the best defense ever with an innovative, pace-and-space offense.
- This matchup blends the future of defense exemplified by Oklahoma City with offense led by Indiana's unique motion and spacing concepts.
Stars Create Market Value
- Today, a star player often makes the market, not the market making the star.
- Market size is less important given media access and fan engagement worldwide.
OKC Defense Difficult to Replicate
- Oklahoma City's defense is a unique blend of versatility with multiple elite defenders.
- Their hive of strong individual defenders and switching schemes makes replicating their defense very difficult.