[Cactus Jack]

Glad to see the series go to 7 even if all of the games weren't the most compelling. Think playoff blowouts are going to be the new normal in the NBA for awhile, as the strategic reasons for "throwing off" or just packing it in for the next game continue to grow.

So much respect for Pascal Siakam. One of the few players in today's game that can have such an influence on the outcome without scoring, taking tons of shots, or even having offense ran through him. Just a force of nature that wills his himself and his team to win.

You got the impression that things were going to be rough for the Pacers after they had to go without Halliburton for an extended period. Going from him to TJ McConnell is just a huge drop offf and you can only hide McConnell or mask his deficiencies for so long before the opposition counters and makes you pay.

More than a "bit" of a no-show for Obi Toppin-- he didn't score in 21 minutes. If you'd have told me coming in that Toppin, Nesmith, and Turner were going to combine for 9 points, I'd have said it would be a long night for the Pacers. If you'd have also told me that Halliburton would finish with 9, I'd have bet the farm on the Thunder.


Obviously love to see the Kentucky guys do well and think Shai is an amazing player, but he gets a lot of whistles that refs wouldn't dream of giving to other guards. Hats off to him for earning the star treatment in the NBA and being smooth enough to sell the contact to the point that he gets the call, but it can be a little much to see refs control the outcome like they do in the NBA.

Really solid game for OKC across the board, seven players scoring with the four lowest having 7, 9, 10, and 10 and the leading scorers 29, 20, and 18. Obviously a really balanced effort overall.


Nice to see some parity in today's NBA and will be interesting to see if this continues. Despite their youth, I don't know that the Thunder have the talent top-to-bottom to go on a run where they win multiple championships in a short period.