Basketball Intelligence For 6/5/25

Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis

THE FINALS

X's & O's preview of the Finals matchup.
Gibson Pyper, Half Court Hoops

10 key players who will decide Thunder vs. Pacers NBA Finals
Matt Moore, Fansided

Sam Presti built a great Thunder team once. Then he did it again — his way
John Hollinger, The Athletic

Copy the best-run franchises
David Thorpe/Henry Abbott, True Hoop

How the Pacers are going to make the Thunder prove they're the 'best team in the NBA'
Dan Devine, Yahoo Sports

Breaking down the matchup between 'the two hardest-playing teams'
Andrew Greif, NBC Sports

Lu Dort, Bennedict Mathurin and a Montreal brotherhood that brought both to NBA Finals
Julian McKenzie, The Athletic

Canadian ties run deep as Thunder, Pacers meet in NBA Finals
Michael Grange, Sportsnet

How Sam Presti, architect of OKC Thunder rebuild, followed through on blueprint
Joe Mussatto, The Oklahoman

Pacers ready for NBA Finals spotlight: Fueled by doubt, grounded in gratitude, and built with purpose
Scott Agness, Fieldhouse Files

Six big questions for the 2025 NBA Finals
John Hollinger, The Athletic

For NBA referees, earning the White Jacket is the pinnacle of their profession
Jeff Maiilet, The Athletic

Pacers-Thunder May Not Be a Long Series, But It Will be Entertaining
Matthew Roberson, GQ

Finals a tale of two point guards: Thunder has MVP, Pacers have Mr. Clutch
Lorenzo Reyes/Jeff Zillgitt, USA Today

The Mastermind Who Can See the Future—and Built One of the Best Teams in NBA History
Robert O’Connell, Wall Street Journal

How the Thunder and Pacers outfoxed big-market super teams to reach NBA Finals
Ben Golliver, Washington Post

Isaiah Hartenstein is the special type of good you only notice when it’s gone
Abe Beame, SBNation

The Thunder and Pacers making the NBA Finals should change how teams think about roster building
Robbie Hodin, SBNation

Finals Film Study: Pacers' offense vs. Thunder defense
John Schuhmann, NBA.com

Finals Film Study: Thunder offense vs. Pacers' defense
John Schuhmann, NBA.com

Finals Preview Special
Marc Stein, The Stein Line

Finals Preview
NBC Sports

Pacers are used to being underdogs — individually and collectively
Dustin Dopirak, Indy Star

Do the Pacers stand a chance?
Dan Gartland, Sports Illustrated

Earned Not Given
Lu Dort, The Players’ Tribune

Stats, trivia, and other minutiae about the 79th NBA Finals
Justin Kubatko, Statitudes

Finals’ 17 best players ranked
Ricky O’Donnell, SBNation

Alex Caruso’s stellar play for the Thunder highlights the Lakers’ dumbest misfire
Harrison Faigen, Silver Screen And Roll

5 Genius Moves That Made OKC Title Favorites
Jeremias Engelmann, 5x5

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was an MVP hiding in plain sight
Rohan Nadkarni, NBC Sports

7 biggest questions that will shape the Finals
Steve Aschburner, NBA.com

25 key stats ahead of 2025 NBA Finals
John Schuhmann, NBA.com

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TEAM-SPECIFIC

DEN: The Nuggets have 99 problems
Mark Kiszla, Denver Gazette

NYK: Coach Thibs Being Fired Was a No-Brainer
John Ross, Get In The Game 101

NYK: When should you fire your coach?
Nate Silver, Silver Bulletin

The Knicks just had their best season in 25 years. Then they fired Tom Thibodeau. Does that make any sense?

ORL: Jalen Suggs learned how to slow down (a little)
Philip Rossman-Reich, World R Squared

PHX: New Suns coach Jordan Ott worked 'closely' with All-NBA big as Cavs assistant
Duane Rankin, Arizona Republic

PHX: How new Suns coach Jordan Ott went from small Pennsylvania town to the NBA
Doug Haller, The Athletic

SAC: Jake LaRavia Q&A
Michael Scotto, Hoops Hype

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