We have our two NBA Finalists confirmed, with the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers going head-to-head.
It promises to be an exhilarating, fast-paced series between two exciting teams full of talent. We look ahead to the 78th NBA Finals here.
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The teams
As mentioned, the two teams matching up in this year’s finals are the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. OKC arrive off the back of a dominant Western Conference finals display, dispatching of the Minnesota Timberwolves 4-1, seeing them reach their first NBA Finals since 2012.
Their opponents, the Indiana Pacers, reigned victorious in the East after overturning the odds in their defeat of the New York Knicks. It has been a historical season for the Pacers in many ways and this is just their second ever appearance in the NBA Finals.
OKC are overwhelming favourites to win their first Championship at 1/7, and it isn’t hard to see why. A team filled of young, upcoming talent; they have the regular season MVP winner in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. SGA has been at his brilliant best throughout the playoffs, and you’d have to expect he’ll play a big part here. He’s priced at 1/6 to win the Finals MVP.
Whilst Indiana are the clear underdogs at 5/1, they cannot be written off here. Star man Tyrese Haliburton has stepped up to the plate, proving himself as one of the league’s best offensive options. He’s a top playmaker, averaging over 10 assists per game and is the beating heart of the Pacers. There are worse bets than the boosted 7/1 for him to win Finals MVP as he will be integral to any potential success Indiana have.
Series prediction
Whilst the odds suggest we are going to see a very one-sided final, there are reasons to believe that proceedings may be a fair bit closer than it would seem.
There’s a few sticking points and trends that will really affect the way that the series will play out. Indiana must be able to overcome OKC’s defence to have a chance at winning here, which will be a tall order. Their ability to keep the ball in front of them on defence, forcing late, tough shots has been a key part of their dominance.
The depth in their lineup is quite something, meaning they can close out quicker than most teams. The Pacers must try and force mismatches, something Haliburton has shown he is proficient at recognising, but this needs punishing whenever it occurs.
A lot hinges on being able to control where Chet Holmgren is defensively. The 7’1 forward is brilliant at shot blocking around the ring and is devastating for those attacking the paint, so drawing him out is a priority.
There are ways for the Pacers to pick apart the Thunder, but it’s tough to see them getting the better of them over the course of a seven-game series. That said, it looks to be closer matched than the odds suggest.
Therefore, the +2.5 series handicap for Oklahoma at 19/20 looks good value. The 7/2 for OKC to win from behind and the series to finish 4-3 to OKC at 19/4 both look worth a go at bigger prices.
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