The Indiana Pacers are hefty underdogs in Game 1 of the NBA Finals tonight. Then again, they were multiple-bucket underdogs in each of their last two series openers, and Indiana’s unique offense caught those two supposedly stout defenses off guard.
Of course, the Oklahoma City Thunder have the best defense in the NBA. Can it adjust quickly as it learns the Pacers’ habits tonight?
My Pacers vs. Thunder predictions and NBA picks put some faith in chaos before tip at 8:30 ET on Thursday, June 5.
Pacers vs Thunder SGP - June 5
Pacers +9.5
Over 230
Pascal Siakam Over 19.5 Points
The Indiana Pacers were 8.5-point underdogs at Cleveland to open the second round. They won by nine in a game that cleared its total by 4.5 points. They were then 4.5-point underdogs at New York to open the Eastern Conference Finals.
Thanks to a furious fourth-quarter rally, Indiana forced overtime to win outright. Even without overtime, that game cleared its total by 28.5 points.
This offense requires a steep learning curve on defense. How quickly and thoroughly the Thunder pass that test will be the most compelling lesson tonight.
The Oklahoma City Thunder must know no lead is safe against the Pacers. Both teams will continue to press well into the fourth quarter tonight. Furthermore, their best playing styles are helter-skelter versions of chaos. There will be no lull in the action tonight, not a chance.
All those thoughts should set up Indiana for a backdoor cover if nothing else. And that may be the offensive tilt needed to clear this total.
If more is to come from the Pacers in this series opener, it will need to start with Pascal Siakam. The most important thing in breaking through the Thunder defense is finding a second initiator. Oklahoma City will devote Lu Dort and Alex Caruso to hectoring Tyrese Haliburton.
Assuredly, Indiana has spent time this week finding other ways to kickstart its offense.
That should hinge on Siakam. Some emphasis on the 2019 champion could yield massive rewards for the Pacers.
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