Basketball Intelligence For 6/17/25

Basketball Intelligence

Jun 17, 2025

∙ Paid

NBA FINALS

No Gimmes

J-Double-Dub

Aaron Bollwinkel and Evan Kuck

Jun 17

Evan and Aaron give their immediate reactions to what shall henceforth be known as "The Jalen Williams Game," as OKC gets a huge win on the back of a 40-point performance from their third-year forward. Plus, we give our feelings on the Desmond Bane deal.

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Film Study: Thunder find transition points in Game 5
John Shuhmann, NBA.com

Jalen Williams’ NBA Finals breakout powered by years of hard work and conviction
Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic

The Thunder have turned the Pacers’ ‘organized chaos’ into a hot mess
Mookie Alexander, SBNation

Isaiah Hartenstein provides the key to unlock the Thunder offense in Game 5 win
Kelly Iko, The Athletic

Game 5 Observations
Iztok Franko, digginbasketball

Three Things From Game 5
Jared Dubin, Last Night In Basketball

Jalen Williams fuels Thunder in Game 5 win
Tim MacMahon, ESPN

BI: Imagine if SGA/JDub were so poor defensively that they were unplayable together deep in the playoffs. Would OKC management blame Daignault and fire him for not winning the title (with the lineup that management constructed)? Of course not. But we’ve seen something comparable happen with a team eliminated in the conference finals with its two best offensive players unplayable together due to defensive shortcomings that were not the coach’s fault!

‘Aggressive’ Thunder keep ball moving early and often to take control of NBA Finals
Fred Katz, The Athletic

Indiana rallied late but couldn’t overcome 23 turnovers or a limited Tyrese Haliburton
Scott Agness, Fieldhouse Files

TJ McConnell was igniting a Pacers comeback, so why didn't he play more in 4th quarter?
Nate Atkins, Indy Star

Jalen Williams brings 'great force' again
Joel Lorenzi, The Oklahoman

Pacers might be doomed in NBA Finals, and it’s hard not to ask, ‘What if?’
Sam Amick, The Athletic

How is OKC Thunder one win from an NBA title? 'Always starts defensively'
Jenni Carlson, The Oklahoman

Three Observations
Dustin Dopirak, Indy Star

With Tyrese Haliburton hobbled, Pacers now on brink of losing NBA Finals. Do they have anything left?
Dan Devine, Yahoo Sports

Jalen Williams Pushes Thunder to Brink of NBA Championship
Chris Mannix, Sports Illustrated

The Thunder finally looked like the Thunder
Mike Shearer, Basketball Poetry

The rest that's built into the NBA Finals can be a good thing, especially now
Tim Reynolds, AP

Jalen Williams learned lessons early in season that paid off with dominant 40-point Game 5
Kurt Helin, NBC Sports