...reach the NBA Finals for the second time in franchise history.
[Oklahoma City vs Indiana. Welfare check on Adam Silver pls.]
Siakam was named Eastern Conference Finals MVP for his performance in the series, narrowly beating out Haliburton...
[Siakam's very good. But if you let Siakam win MVP over Haliban, you're not doing it right.]
...the Pacers' relentless ball pressure forced New York into 17 turnovers.
[18 actually. 18 to 13, but the horror was in points gotten off turnovers: 34-13. 17-point game, 21 diff on turnover points. That was Indiana's most effective play.]
The Knicks still have not reached the Finals since 1999, and they couldn't [even] extend the series...
Indiana finally broke open a close game by opening the second half on a 9-0 run to take a 78-63 lead courtesy of three straight 3-pointers -- two from Thomas Bryant...
[Thomas Fucking Bryant. Thomas Bryant was Indy's starter ignition in the 3rd--with his THREES. Rick Carlisle has a sixth sense for the tools in his tool box. Tom Thibodeau, in my opinion, has no sense. If you disagree, and that's reasonable, you have to conclude that Carlisle coached the pants off Thibs in this series. It was always somebody in addition to Haliban. Nesmith, Nembhard, above all Siakam, but in addition, THOMAS BRYANT. Oh the humanity.]
...when the Knicks answered with eight straight to cut the deficit to 78-71, the Pacers responded with another 9-0 run to take their biggest lead of the game and the Knicks were forced to play catch-up the rest of the night.
[The "Pacers" always had an answer to the answer. They kept the "Knicks" at fencer's distance.]
Indiana will visit Oklahoma City for Game 1 on Thursday night, where the Thunder will be overwhelming favorites. They were installed at -750 favorites to win the series, with the Pacers listed as +525 underdogs at ESPN BET. In the last 20 years, only the 2018 Golden State Warriors (-1075 vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers) had shorter odds heading into the Finals than this year's Thunder, according to ESPN Research.
[Peaceniks swept that series. OKC may sweep Indiana, I don't predict that, I predict a gentleman's sweep. Good night, Adam lol.]
