The 2025 NBA Finals showcase a thrilling contrast between two very different teams: the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder from the West and the underdog, fourth-seeded Indiana Pacers from the East. While the Thunder’s path to the Finals felt expected, the Pacers have stunned fans and critics alike with their surprising postseason run.
This series will feature Oklahoma City’s league-best defense going head-to-head against Indiana’s potent and efficient offense, setting the stage for a battle that will crown a first-time NBA champion. During the regular season, the Thunder won both matchups against the Pacers, offering a glimpse into the strategic chess match about to unfold.
Indiana's Evolution to Contender
The Pacers' journey to the Finals has been marked by significant growth following a sweep by the Boston Celtics in the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals. That experience highlighted areas for improvement, particularly defensively, where the team was characterized as too porous, allowing high point totals.
The shift in performance has been reflected in the NBA Season odds, which saw Indiana’s championship chances increase steadily throughout the playoffs.
Team Growth
The outside perception of this season might have viewed Indiana as young and known primarily for its offensive firepower. However, internal buy-in and diligent work led to substantial changes. The team has grown, adding better defenders and size, including Pascal Siakam, acquired in a February 2024 trade.
Point guard Tyrese Haliburton noted the team worked hard to get back to this point after falling short last year. Defensively, Indiana dramatically improved, moving from 24th in efficiency last season to 14th this season. This strategic shift came at the cost of some offensive efficiency, dropping from second to ninth, but the overall defensive gain was prioritized.
Defensive Strides
The commitment to defense has been a steadfast focus for over a year and a half under coach Rick Carlisle.
While Haliburton continues to develop, other key players like Siakam, Myles Turner, Aaron Nesmith, and Andrew Nembhard possess solid defensive attributes. Siakam offers mobility and wingspan, Turner provides strong rim protection, and Nesmith often guards opponents' top scoring threats.
Nembhard, in particular, has shown significant defensive improvement, notably making life difficult for Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson in a crucial playoff game. This collective defensive effort is seen as a key reason the team reached the Finals.
Offensive Flow
The Pacers’ offense thrives on teamwork rather than relying on a single star scorer. With seven players averaging at least 10 points, they are difficult to defend because they can win in multiple ways. Their emphasis on ball movement creates opportunities for players to find open shots or make plays, making their attack both balanced and dynamic. This well-rounded offense, combined with their improved defense, makes them a formidable challenge even for the league’s best defenses.
The Thunder's Dominant Defense
The Oklahoma City Thunder arrive as the top seed in the Western Conference, having demonstrated consistent excellence throughout the season. Their post-January 1st record of 53-13 was the best in the NBA, signaling their dominant form.
A defining characteristic of this Thunder team is its elite defense. They finished the regular season with the league's best defense by a significant margin and have maintained that standard in the postseason. Opponents, like Anthony Edwards, have described facing their defense as running into a wall.
Defensive Identity
The Thunder's defense is known for its physicality and relentless ball pressure. This forces opposing offenses to play through contact, disrupting their flow and actions. The team features two players named to All-Defensive teams: Lu Dort on the first team and Jalen Williams on the second.
Other players like Alex Caruso, Chet Holmgren, and Isaiah Hartenstein also possess strong defensive capabilities. This depth of defensive talent means the Pacers will struggle to find easy targets to exploit, unlike in previous series.
Offensive Versatility
While their defense is their calling card, the Thunder also possesses a potent offense led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is described as being on another level. The emergence of Jalen Williams as a reliable two-way scorer and creator has added another dimension.
The Thunder can attack both inside and out, as demonstrated in their March win over Indiana, where they scored 58 points in the paint and connected on 17 three-pointers at a high percentage. Their ability to find scoring opportunities even against capable defenses makes them a multi-faceted threat.
Haliburton Navigating the Pressure
A critical element of this series will be how Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton manages the pressure from the Thunder's elite defense. Oklahoma City's physicality and consistent ball pressure pose a significant challenge, a standard the Pacers got a taste of during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Knicks.
In that game, facing desperate physicality, Haliburton's production dipped significantly, resulting in a poor shooting performance for the team. The Thunder brings that level of defensive intensity nightly.
For Indiana's free-flowing, fast-paced offense to succeed, Haliburton will need to guide the team in playing through constant contact and avoid getting bogged down by defensive pressure or passively attacking switches. Maintaining discipline and ball movement will be key against Oklahoma City's defensive schemes.
Frontcourt Challenges
Another intriguing tactical battle involves the Thunder's use of Jalen Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein against Myles Turner and Indiana's drop coverage. Hartenstein is adept at setting screens that can force switches.
Against Indiana's typical pick-and-roll defense, where Turner drops back towards the rim, Williams is likely to have opportunities to operate in the midrange. Williams is highly proficient in this area of the court.
This setup allows Williams to potentially exploit mismatches or force Turner to decide between stepping up to contest a pull-up jumper or protecting the basket, a moment of indecision that could be costly for the Pacers.
Considering Indiana's lack of significant rim protection outside of Turner, involving him in defensive actions could be a strategic focus for the Thunder.
Ready to Overachieve, Again
According to bookmakers and analysts, the Indiana Pacers enter the NBA Finals as clear underdogs, with many predicting a Thunder victory. However, this team has consistently found ways to overcome challenges they have faced throughout the postseason, a testament to their talent, cohesiveness, and coaching.
Their significant defensive improvement, improved offense, and the emergence of key role players alongside their stars make them a dangerous opponent. Facing the Thunder's top-ranked defense and the brilliance of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander may be the ultimate test, but the freedom and opportunity to surprise on the game's biggest stage once again belong to Indiana.
