2025 NBA Finals

[mrsticka]

Anybody watching them? It's Indiana (the Pacers) vs. Oklahoma (the Thunder). Indiana won Game 1 by only 1 point 111-110. Tonight is Game 2.

[Brad]

What's the NBA?

[mrsticka]

What's the NBA?

What do you mean what's the NBA?

[Omaha Cowboy]

What's the NBA?

What do you mean what's the NBA?

It means in 2025- NBA- No Basketball Allowed..

Nobody’s watching it much today. All they do anymore is spot up for 3’s..

Division 1 College basketball is a superior product…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Brad]

What's the NBA?

What do you mean what's the NBA?

It means in 2025- NBA- No Basketball Allowed..

Nobody’s watching it much today. All they do anymore is spot up for 3’s..

Division 1 College basketball is a superior product…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

Exactly. Pro Football and Pro Hockey is amazing, Pro Baseball is ok, but I watch zero Pro Basketball. I do watch college basketball in March Madness.

Stanley Cup Playoffs are my favorite post season of any sport. Game 3 tomorrow.

[skinzfan23]

What's the NBA?

What do you mean what's the NBA?

It means in 2025- NBA- No Basketball Allowed..

Nobody’s watching it much today. All they do anymore is spot up for 3’s..

Division 1 College basketball is a superior product…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

This is the way I feel. I do know quite a few people I play basketball with still watch, but honestly I haven’t even seen a single game this year. Players are way more athletic than the 80’s and 90’s but the NBA at that time or before was special.

[Omaha Cowboy]

What's the NBA?

What do you mean what's the NBA?

This is the NBA when it was great. The way it should still be today (by the way, watch Andrew Toney scorch the Lakers. He wasn’t called “The Boston Stranger” for nothing)-



Ciao..LiO…Peace

[mrsticka]

What's the NBA?

What do you mean what's the NBA?

This is the NBA when it was great. The way it should still be today (by the way, watch Andrew Toney scorch the Lakers. He wasn’t called “The Boston Stranger” for nothing)-



Ciao..LiO…Peace

Back when Larry Bird and Magic Johnson would meet in the Finals.

[Omaha Cowboy]

What's the NBA?

What do you mean what's the NBA?

This is the NBA when it was great. The way it should still be today (by the way, watch Andrew Toney scorch the Lakers. He wasn’t called “The Boston Stranger” for nothing)-



Ciao..LiO…Peace

Back when Larry Bird and Magic Johnson would meet in the Finals.

Yes. But the Sixers and Lakers also met in the finals 3 times in the 1980’s- this game, from the 1983 season, is the year the Sixers swept the Lakers in the finals 4-0 and won the World Championship..

In the end, this was when the NBA was truly great…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[mrsticka]

Well, to anyone who actually DOES care, Oklahoma City just won Game 2 123-107. So now it’s tied at 1. And there will be a Game 5.

[nebugeater]

Basketball season ended in April with the completion of the Final Four.

[Bob from Omaha]

nba-has-second-highest-season-attendance-mark-ever

[nebport5]

Basketball season ended in April with the completion of the Final Four.

On the other hand, would anyone care about “the big dance” if they don’t have money on a bracket?

[nebport5]

Well, to anyone who actually DOES care, Oklahoma City just won Game 2 123-107. So now it’s tied at 1. And there will be a Game 5.

I enjoy watching the playoffs. The regular season not so much because much like baseball, you can lose a ton of games and still make the playoffs. I’m a Golden State fan partly because of their recent history of "small ball" success it’s not all about being a physical freak of nature(LeBron). Steve Curr also bring a Bulls lineage of basketball IQ over freakish athletes.

They keep talking about moving back the three point line, though I don’t know how much that will help. The bigger problem now is how they officiate the game that discourages defense in the regular season and then let them get away with mugging players during the playoffs.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Attendance at games is one thing..

But national television viewer ratings of the NBA is at an all time low. For the most part, people just don’t care about the NBA and definitely don’t like the way the game has devolved over the past 15 years…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[nebugeater]

Basketball season ended in April with the completion of the Final Four.

On the other hand, would anyone care about “the big dance” if they don’t have money on a bracket?

Never have any money on it for me. The simple fact is that NCAA basketball is a much more enjoyable game. We will see if that holds true as NIL is in play now

[ita]

NBA playoffs have been pretty great. Refs are allowing more physicality, generally. The east was pretty great. We were following the Knicks. The Pacers are a tough team. They can just go off offensively, and are not too bad defensively. Their bench can do some damage. I still think the Thunder will take them down, (similarly good offense, better defense, probably deeper), but the Pacers should win at least another one.

[nebport5]

NBA playoffs have been pretty great. Refs are allowing more physicality, generally. The east was pretty great. We were following the Knicks. The Pacers are a tough team. They can just go off offensively, and are not too bad defensively. Their bench can do some damage. I still think the Thunder will take them down, (similarly good offense, better defense, probably deeper), but the Pacers should win at least another one.

I’ve enjoyed watching the underdogs in the east including the Knicks and Pacers. Game 1 of the finals was great. Both teams can play defense. I’d expect OKC to pull it out too but Indiana has had a great playoff run thus far. I think part of the reason for the low ratings is many of these players are relatively unknown and lack traditional super star players.

[Louie]

Speaking as someone who pays attention the league all year long, the NBA is still really exciting to me. The parity is at an all-time high and the quality of ball is the best its ever been (no matter what you old heads say about the 90s or Wilt Chamberlain). The skill level on offense is completely ludicrous and making a roster pretty much guarantees you are a lights out shooter. And while some may say that nobody plays defense anymore, defenses are getting more and more complicated and becoming a hybrid of mind games and physicality because of how you need to get an offensive scheme unbalanced.

So really, my opinion on the difference in today's game is that it is getting extremely nuanced in style and play and its pretty difficult to breakdown in comparison to how the game was played in previous generations. The fact that players can be consistently accurate from 30 feet away completely changes how a defense plays and in turn, how an offense sets those opportunities up. These schemes are way more complex than hero ball or pounding it into the paint repeatedly, but much more difficult to appreciate while watching the game itself.

Another change that people like to bring up is the illegality of hand-checking, saying that made it easier for the offense to drive. While that is true, hand-checking is such a cheap move for a defender, you can feel which way a player is going to move before you see it, and you can even take your eyes off the ball handler because of it. It made man coverage on the arc so easy to play, especially if you have a height advantage.

Additionally, I think the NBA's political stances are a lightning rod for people who never really watched but have a certain viewpoint that they can easily combine.

I never post long posts (mostly out of laziness), but I felt obliged to do so here as I can say with some pretty high certainty that I've played more basketball than most of you have watched.

[Doctor Fate]

Speaking as someone who pays attention the league all year long, the NBA is still really exciting to me. The parity is at an all-time high and the quality of ball is the best its ever been (no matter what you old heads say about the 90s or Wilt Chamberlain). The skill level on offense is completely ludicrous and making a roster pretty much guarantees you are a lights out shooter. And while some may say that nobody plays defense anymore, defenses are getting more and more complicated and becoming a hybrid of mind games and physicality because of how you need to get an offensive scheme unbalanced.

So really, my opinion on the difference in today's game is that it is getting extremely nuanced in style and play and its pretty difficult to breakdown in comparison to how the game was played in previous generations. The fact that players can be consistently accurate from 30 feet away completely changes how a defense plays and in turn, how an offense sets those opportunities up. These schemes are way more complex than hero ball or pounding it into the paint repeatedly, but much more difficult to appreciate while watching the game itself.

Another change that people like to bring up is the illegality of hand-checking, saying that made it easier for the offense to drive. While that is true, hand-checking is such a cheap move for a defender, you can feel which way a player is going to move before you see it, and you can even take your eyes off the ball handler because of it. It made man coverage on the arc so easy to play, especially if you have a height advantage.

Additionally, I think the NBA's political stances are a lightning rod for people who never really watched but have a certain viewpoint that they can easily combine.

I never post long posts (mostly out of laziness), but I felt obliged to do so here as I can say with some pretty high certainty that I've played more basketball than most of you have watched.

I agree with this 1000%. I've also played a good amount of basketball at various levels and the skill set and nuance of today's players dwarfs that of players in the Jordan era. It really bothers me when people (who usually have never played basketball at a high level) say that there's no defense in the NBA. No, the offensive skill level is so high and the pace of the game is so fast that no matter how great of individual or team defense you play, these guys are going to still score. The saying that "there's levels" is very true, which is way you can have some of the top teams in college basketball have games where they barely break 60. The body and ball control these NBA guys all have is wild and really tough to develop to where they are.

I was literally just talking to someone the other day about hand-checking. It was a cheap way to defend and the absence of it has created better and fundamentally skilled perimeter defenders.

I love the NBA, it's the highest level of basketball in the world. The top international and American players are all there.

[ThreeGGG]

IYKYK

[LourdYount]

Couldn’t agree more with both of you—this is one of the best takes I’ve seen on modern NBA basketball. As someone who plays competitively and studies the game obsessively, the skill evolution is insane. The idea that "defense is dead" is such a lazy narrative. Today’s offenses are just that advanced, and defenses have had to adapt in ways that would’ve been unthinkable 20 years ago.

Why Today’s Game is Next-Level
Shooting Revolution: When guys like Chet Holmgren (a 7’1” center) and SGA can pull up from 30 feet like it’s a layup, defenses have to guard every inch of the floor. That spacing creates driving lanes we never saw in the ‘90s.

Defensive Complexity: Schemes now are about disguising coverages, timely rotations, and forcing offenses into tough decisions—not just "stay in front of your man." The Thunder’s defensive versatility (Chet switching onto guards, Dort locking down stars) is a perfect example.

Pace & Skill: The game is faster, but players are also more skilled at every position. Bigs handle like guards (Jokic, Bam), guards post up like bigs (Luka, Brunson), and everyone has to be a threat from deep.

Hand-Checking Myth
Old heads love to romanticize hand-checking, but it was a crutch for defenders who couldn’t move their feet. Today’s perimeter D requires elite lateral quickness and anticipation—just watch Lu Dort or Jrue Holiday navigate screens.

The International Factor
The NBA isn’t just the best league in the world—it’s a global melting pot of styles. Jokic’s passing, Luka’s step-backs, Wemby’s rim protection… the game has never been more diverse or exciting.

Side Note: If you’re inspired to work on your own game in this era of positionless basketball, c2csport.com.au has the gear to train like the modern NBA requires—whether that’s shooting, handling, or defensive footwork.

Final Thought: The NBA isn’t "soft" or "defense-less"—it’s just evolved. And if you’ve actually played at a high level, you know how much harder that makes the game.

Who else thinks the 2025 Finals (Thunder vs. Pacers) will showcase the absolute peak of this new era? #GameHasChanged

[mrsticka]

Game 3 will be on Wednesday night at 7:00 on ABC. It'll be in Indianapolis this time.

[nebport5]

I’m not buying the offense is too good(making defense look bad) argument when many ex-players who are now analysts do not echo that sentiment. Evolved? Sure. Better? Apparently that depends upon each viewer. Certainly the emphasis on 3s has had an impact on higher score totals. However, there’s way too many players today who concede shots 6+ feet away from the guy they’re supposedly guarding. Getting beat on good ball movement is one thing but there’s still more of a mentality in today’s game of answering with a three than a concerted effort to contest every shot. Granted those counter 3s are often effective. Nonetheless is it a surprise that the team favored to win it all has a superior elite defensive?

I think we all can agree the game is different today and regardless of why exhausting the comparisons between the eras isn’t likely to be fruitful in swaying an opposing viewpoint. I still enjoy watching today's game in spite of agreeing somewhat with the “old-timers”. I hope the rest of this finals series is as competitively entertaining as game 1. It’s a shame more people aren’t watching this series because instead of it being more about over-hyped image conscious star players with endorsement deals(where college sports sadly is heading) it is very much about great basketball.

[Omaha Cowboy]

[Doctor Fate]

I’m not buying the offense is too good(making defense look bad) argument when many ex-players who are now analysts do not echo that sentiment. Evolved? Sure. Better? Apparently that depends upon each viewer. Certainly the emphasis on 3s has had an impact on higher score totals. However, there’s way too many players today who concede shots 6+ feet away from the guy they’re supposedly guarding. Getting beat on good ball movement is one thing but there’s still more of a mentality in today’s game of answering with a three than a concerted effort to contest every shot. Granted those counter 3s are often effective. Nonetheless is it a surprise that the team favored to win it all has a superior elite defensive?

I think we all can agree the game is different today and regardless of why exhausting the comparisons between the eras isn’t likely to be fruitful in swaying an opposing viewpoint. I still enjoy watching today's game in spite of agreeing somewhat with the “old-timers”. I hope the rest of this finals series is as competitively entertaining as game 1. It’s a shame more people aren’t watching this series because instead of it being more about over-hyped image conscious star players with endorsement deals(where college sports sadly is heading) it is very much about great basketball.

When did Michael Jordan, Magic, or Larry ever use a drag step or a decelerated move? Those are just two types of individual moves (or many) that defenders did not have to worry about until maybe the last 10 years. All these new moves create more complexity for team and individual defenders and give an offense so many more variations for scoring opportunities.

[mrsticka]

Indiana just won Game 3 116-107. Game 4 of the NBA Finals will be Friday night at 7:30 on ABC.

[Louie]

Indiana just won Game 3 116-107. Game 4 of the NBA Finals will be Friday night at 7:30 on ABC.

Awesome game to watch

[Stan]

I haven't really paid much attention to the NBA since the 90s, but I've jumped on the Pacers bandwagon since their games against Cleveland. Their comebacks in the post season have been epic and so entertaining to watch. I'm rooting for them to get their first championship, but I do feel like the Thunder are crazy good as well and will show up to even the series if not take the next two.

[ita]

I haven't really paid much attention to the NBA since the 90s, but I've jumped on the Pacers bandwagon since their games against Cleveland. Their comebacks in the post season have been epic and so entertaining to watch. I'm rooting for them to get their first championship, but I do feel like the Thunder are crazy good as well and will show up to even the series if not take the next two.

Thunder will be in desperation mode in Game 4. It will be interesting to see how they respond after that Game 3, but the Pacers have so much momentum. That Pacers crowd is really tough to play in front of as well.

[nebport5]

I’m not buying the offense is too good(making defense look bad) argument when many ex-players who are now analysts do not echo that sentiment. Evolved? Sure. Better? Apparently that depends upon each viewer. Certainly the emphasis on 3s has had an impact on higher score totals. However, there’s way too many players today who concede shots 6+ feet away from the guy they’re supposedly guarding. Getting beat on good ball movement is one thing but there’s still more of a mentality in today’s game of answering with a three than a concerted effort to contest every shot. Granted those counter 3s are often effective. Nonetheless is it a surprise that the team favored to win it all has a superior elite defensive?

I think we all can agree the game is different today and regardless of why exhausting the comparisons between the eras isn’t likely to be fruitful in swaying an opposing viewpoint. I still enjoy watching today's game in spite of agreeing somewhat with the “old-timers”. I hope the rest of this finals series is as competitively entertaining as game 1. It’s a shame more people aren’t watching this series because instead of it being more about over-hyped image conscious star players with endorsement deals(where college sports sadly is heading) it is very much about great basketball.

When did Michael Jordan, Magic, or Larry ever use a drag step or a decelerated move? Those are just two types of individual moves (or many) that defenders did not have to worry about until maybe the last 10 years. All these new moves create more complexity for team and individual defenders and give an offense so many more variations for scoring opportunities.

Jordan!? He certainly did. I’m old enough to remember watching those games live.

Let’s say however, for the sake of argument, that those moves are all new in the last 10ish years. Still, I would point out how often regular NBA games that supposedly matter look like the all-star game where they’re basically watching each other chuck up 3’s s and the “defender” puts up their hands well after the shooting motion. It’s like people who change lanes and signal halfway into the other lane. You’d think with the emphasis put on 3s defenders would get more creative defending around the arch. Getting picked is one thing but falling for the first juke happens an awful lot. Transition defense is typically terrible too.

Fortunately Indy and OKC are solid on both sides of the ball. It’s also nice to see SGA and Haliburton(two guys who obviously shoot 3s well) take the 2 buckets because the shot is often available. I didn’t get to see last nights game(only highlights) but I’m glad we’re seeing a competitive series. Still worth watching.

[Doctor Fate]

Jordan!? He certainly did. I’m old enough to remember watching those games live.

Let’s say however, for the sake of argument, that those moves are all new in the last 10ish years. Still, I would point out how often regular NBA games that supposedly matter look like the all-star game where they’re basically watching each other chuck up 3’s s and the “defender” puts up their hands well after the shooting motion. It’s like people who change lanes and signal halfway into the other lane. You’d think with the emphasis put on 3s defenders would get more creative defending around the arch. Getting picked is one thing but falling for the first juke happens an awful lot. Transition defense is typically terrible too.

Sure, Jordan used the drag step. He had great foot work on his fadeaways too. But deceleration moves? Most of those didn’t exist. My shooting coach in college used to go to camps run by Jordan when he (my shooting coach) was in high school. He said he never learned about all these nuanced moves players are using today. He then played D1 ball and again, never learned these moves. Because they didn’t exist or were very rarely used. Like Luka’s float step. Also used by SGA.

[nebport5]

I’m not saying there isn’t innovation in today’s NBA. In fact, I’d imagine some study of the former greats likely led to some of these moves that have become more synonymous today particularly with certain players. Most of them are about creating separation for which some players really excel. Were they always names for them until a particular player starts making a living off of them? Another reason for these newer moves comes from the evolution of the game itself. Decelerated moves I think are an instinctive result of great players taking advantage of space from more shot attempts being initiated around the arch. Hence, there will be more space to create pace and separation than a congested area in and around the paint. Doncic is phenomenal. I think he’s one of the reasons today’s game is still worth watching. It’s a shame Dallas traded him.


Crazy finals stat: 3 games in and not one free throw attempt for Haliburton.

[mrsticka]

Oklahoma City just won Game 4 111-104 thus tying up the Finals at 2-2 meaning there will be a Game 6. As for Game 5, it'll be Monday night at 7:30 on ABC. And it'll be back in OKC.

[ita]

Oklahoma City just won Game 4 111-104 thus tying up the Finals at 2-2 meaning there will be a Game 6. As for Game 5, it'll be Monday night at 7:30 on ABC. And it'll be back in OKC.

Sga doing sga things though that tough baseline middy he hit might of been a travel. Tough end for mathurin; three missed free throws in a row and playing a little out of control that resulted in a foul. Haliburton starts getting steam until that sga blocked three.

[mrsticka]

Oklahoma City just won Game 4 111-104 thus tying up the Finals at 2-2 meaning there will be a Game 6. As for Game 5, it'll be Monday night at 7:30 on ABC. And it'll be back in OKC.

Sga doing sga things though that tough baseline middy he hit might of been a travel. Tough end for mathurin; three missed free throws in a row and playing a little out of control that resulted in a foul. Haliburton starts getting steam until that sga blocked three.

Game 6 will be Thursday night. Same time, same network, but different city. It’ll be in Indy again. And you’ll be able to see what SGA can do again.

[Doctor Fate]

I’m not saying there isn’t innovation in today’s NBA. In fact, I’d imagine some study of the former greats likely led to some of these moves that have become more synonymous today particularly with certain players. Most of them are about creating separation for which some players really excel. Were they always names for them until a particular player starts making a living off of them? Another reason for these newer moves comes from the evolution of the game itself. Decelerated moves I think are an instinctive result of great players taking advantage of space from more shot attempts being initiated around the arch. Hence, there will be more space to create pace and separation than a congested area in and around the paint. Doncic is phenomenal. I think he’s one of the reasons today’s game is still worth watching. It’s a shame Dallas traded him.

Yeah, that's exactly what I'm saying. Today's players have built off of what players before them did and offenses have evolved. In both situations, today's NBA offenses are more complex on a team and individual level which makes them harder to guard and scheme against. By the nature of the game there are more possible variations of what a team or individual can do on offense than there are on defense. Offenses have evolved more than defenses have, leading to higher scoring games and faster paces.

And yes, I agree. Every offensive move is intended to create space either to blow by your opponent, elevate for a shot, or go into a counter and then do one of the previous two options.

[mrsticka]

Oklahoma City just won Game 5 of the NBA Finals 120-109. They lead the series 3-2. So they're one win away from an NBA Championship. Game 6 will be Thursday night at 7:30 in Indianapolis on ABC.

[Louie]

Halliburton had the worst game of the season at the worst time.

[Greg S]

Halliburton had the worst game of the season at the worst time.

Did I hear he was playing hurt in the 4th? Also doesn't he have the rep where he can play top level or really bad?