7 biggest problems that HG08 affects the 2025 NBA Finals

The Pacers' offense is beyond the reach of the opponent. The Thunder's defense is ready to be strong and strives to suppress the opponent. Which team will be better?

Oklahoma City -- If the NBA Finals series can be seen as the last test for every participating team before the summer comes -- arguably their final exam -- then one advantage over the college and high school versions that have left many of us miserable is that these guys know the problem ahead of time.

Now it all depends on how the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers respond.

Aptly enough, seven teams are set up here to match the longest possible length of the series. The team with the best performance in seven games will receive the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

1. How will the Pacers limit Shea Gilgers-Alexander's offense?

No one can stop Kia's MVP and scoring champion this season, so slowing down Gilgers Alexander's offense is what Indiana hopes for.

Thunder's point guard averaged at least 30 points per game against 22 of 29 teams and shot more than 50% from the field in 21 of them. He also created some key statistics in two games, and he now faces at least four more times: Gilgers Alexander averaged 39 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists against the Pacers, with a total shooting percentage of 55.6%, 7 of 11 three-pointers and 21 of 23 free throws.

His offense in the interior may require some defensive tactics, which are usually used against the Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo. Gilgers Alexander is not like the Bucks star, breaking through the inside, finishing with a European step, and then completing a dunk, but he will cut into the basket and look for high-shot shooting opportunities and free throw opportunities.

So what can defense do? Perhaps it could build a human wall like the "Greek Monster" and push him to a middle distance or even further away.

2. Can Tyreth Halliburton perform at its best?

Check out the best performances of Shea Gilgers Alexander and Tyres Halliburton before the Thunders face off against the Pacers NBA Finals.

Have you noticed a subtle change in the first question? That's the difference between MVP and the best-squad third team finisher. Halliburton is the Pacers’ engine and barometer, but he is also prone to poor condition. The most recent example was last week’s fifth game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, when the Knicks arranged for him to play earlier in the offensive clock and forced him to make more lateral movements to slow down the point guard and his teammates.

The New York Knicks' focus on defense should become the norm for the Thunder's strong defense. Pass-first Halliburton needs to find his shooter, and the shooter needs a high hit rate to divert attention from him. If Halliburton wants to control the pace of the game, the fewer defensive players (that is, the so-called "signal tower") are better when he switches offense and defense.

3. Who has the scale advantage (Is this important)?

The Thunders have a larger starting lineup, with center Isaiah Haltenstein partnering with 7-foot four player Chet Homgren. Indiana's starting lineup includes veteran Miles Turner, who is 6-foot-11, and is almost on par with rebounds (6.5) per game this season. Pascal Siakam, who is 6-foot-8, is the second largest starter in Indiana.

This season's playoffs, head coach Rick Carlisle has activated two experienced inside players - Thomas Bryant and Tony Bradley to deal with the height advantages shown by opponents such as the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks. But Homgren and Haltenstein are now tacit partners, and they are more likely to use tip-in and alley relay at the basket to harvest victory for the Thunder while controlling defensive rebounds.

4. What are the unknown factors between the two sides?

For Indiana, Andrew Nemhard is perhaps the team's most critical substitute. Halliburton and Siakam are essentials for the team, while Turner and 3D player Aaron Nesmith are known cores for the team. But Nemhard is a double-season guard and has performed very well this season (especially in the finale against the New York Knicks in Game 6). He is expected to be the top pick against Gilgers Alexander and at the best form, his shooting percentage is enough to offset some of the Thunder defender’s score.

Where you and where you are, defender Alex Caruso is a living X factor. He is the only player with championship experience in the Thunder (playing for the Lakers in 2020) and has brought a constant stream of momentum to the team on the defensive end (like TJ McConnell's offensive end on the Pacers). He is also brave on the offensive end, averaging 13.2 points per game in 36 minutes this season and has 3.0 steals.

5. At this stage of the season, is the depth of the team overestimated?

The Pacers and Thunder each have four substitutes playing time over 10 minutes during the 2025 NBA playoffs.

When both teams in the series can play so deeply, the situation is different. In the first three rounds, nine Carlisle players averaged more than 10 minutes of playing time, the same number as Thunder's Mark Daigneault. This is contrary to the traditional view and the situation where only seven to eight players usually get long playing time in Finals history.

Authentic, since there are no back-to-back games in the playoffs and longer TV commercials, starters and top substitutes should get more playing time. But when substitutes - in popular terms - "star players in their respective positions" - can bring the same value as substitutes in both teams, it's too stupid to not let them play. Players like Aaron Wiggins, Carson Wallace, Obie Topin and Ben Shepard are especially able to meet the needs of Denho and Carlisle.

It is good to help starters stay energetic, but it is better to reduce their burden. Only injuries can shorten the rotation of the Thunder or Pacers.

6. Who has the advantage: Carlisle or Denho?

The fierce competition in the finals may depend on the coach's performance as Mark Daigneault and Rick Carlisle face each other head-on.

One is an experienced veteran, the other is a newcomer. Carlisle, 65, was the assistant coach of Larry Bird's coaching staff when the Indiana Pacers last reached the finals in 2000. Dagno, 40, was still in high school in Leminster, Massachusetts, and was preparing for his coaching career before he worked as a four-year student coach at the University of Connecticut.

Carlisle has rich experience in coaching career, with a regular season record of 993 wins and 960 losses (win rate of 53.6%), ranking 11th in history; a playoff record of 83 wins and 83 losses. He is one of only seven head coaches to win the championship, and in 2011 he led the Dallas Mavericks to defeat the Miami Heat. In 2002, he was named Coach of the Year in his first season with the Detroit Pistons, and in the next 23 seasons, he won the top five in the award three times.

Degnot coached the Holy Cross and the University of Florida during his college years, and then served as a substitute for the Thunder and coached the team's NBA Development League team. He was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2023-24 and has been in the league's top five twice in five seasons. His regular season win rate is 211 wins and 189 losses (52.8% win rate), ranking 93rd among NBA coaches. But in the small sample, his playoff winning rate is 18 wins and 8 losses (69.2%), ranking second in history.

Degnott is ahead of Phil Jackson, Steve Cole, Pat Riley and Greg Popovich, and that's all. (In the long run, the top spot belongs to former Cleveland head coach David Blatt, who led the Cavaliers into the playoffs with a record of 14 wins and 6 losses (70% win rate).)

Who will have the upper hand? You choose: be experienced or grow up with core players. The two are closely connected to the team physically, mentally and emotionally. Both of them knew exactly when to exert force, and even if the other party changed their positions, they were not aware of it.

7. Which is better: an excellent offense or an excellent defense?

This is the charm of this final, a difficult contest between both ends of the court. The Pacers and Thunder are no less defensive and offensive, but their signature style is Indiana's quick offense and scoring, while the Oklahoma City defenseman is as strong as a hive.

If this game was five, six or seven years ago, far before the NBA allowed this physical confrontation or even fierce confrontation we see now, the Pacers might have the advantage. But now the situation is different. The Thunder’s aggressiveness and confidence—they lead the league fouls (23.2), and more unslaughtered—maybe there will be a greater impact.

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