Basketball Intelligence For 6/8/25
The day's best news and reporting
NBA FINALS
Why Mark Daigneault's first chess move of Thunder-Pacers NBA Finals was most surprising
Joel Lorenzi, The Oklahoman
For SGA and Andrew Nembhard, NBA Finals isn’t about ‘making friends’ — or keeping them
Marcus Thomspon II, The Athletic
OKC vs Indiana in NBA Finals shows how system created by Adam Silver & Co. works
Joe Mussatto, The Oklahoman
And still, even in the current environment, small markets are at a disadvantage. There are three ways in the NBA to acquire players — through the draft, trades and free agency — and only two of them are realistic options for the little guys.
The Thunder’s signing of Isaiah Hartenstein was an exception. OKC was able to outspend New York for Hartenstein, by far the biggest free agent fish the Thunder has snagged in its 17 years of existence.
But star players aren’t angling their way to Oklahoma City or Indianapolis the way they might to Los Angeles or Miami.
BI: Prior to signing Hartenstein last summer, you could argue that the biggest free agent signing for the Thunder was landing Patrick Patterson for 3 years, $16 million back in 2017
2025 NBA Finals: Why Thunder could use more Isaiah Hartenstein in Game 2, whether OKC goes double big or not
James Herbert, CBS Sports
Thunder need Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams to outplay their experience in NBA Finals
Joe Vardon, The Athletic
Thunder-Pacers Game 1 Takeaways: What we learned from the NBA Finals opener
Mon Anthony Valmoria, Basketball News
Six keys for Game 2
Kelly Dwyer, Kelly Dwyer On Hoops
Pacers vs. Thunder: Have the Pacers found a blueprint for success against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the NBA Finals?
Dan Devine, Yahoo! Sports
Pacers' Andrew Nembhard not about to back down from good pal SGA in NBA Finals
Michael Grange, Sportsnet
More often than not, Nembhard was there, absorbing the body blows with his chest, keeping his hands out wide so Gilgeous-Alexander couldn’t lure him into fouls, and moving his feet.
It’s not glamorous work, but it’s crucial, and the Pacers appreciate him for it and not only because he still had the legs to record eight of his 14 points and three of his six assists in the fourth quarter. That’s typical too: Nembhard’s career playoff averages of 13.9 points with an effective field goal percentage of .598 are significantly better than his career regular-season marks of 9.6 points with an eFG of .524.
But it’s defense that the Pacers have come to depend on.
Chet Holmgren can't pull disappearing act in NBA Finals again. OKC needs his offense.
Jeff Zillgitt, USA Today
NBA Finals Game 2: The Many Things I Don't Know
Hardwood Paroxysm
Thunder starting lineup: Cason Wallace got surprising Game 1 nod, but who will OKC use vs. Pacers in Game 2?
Sam Quinn, CBS Sports
Don’t turn the ball over 25 times and other keys in Game 2 for the Indiana Pacers
iPacers, Ben Gibson
Not So Lopsided: 3 Thoughts Going Into Pacers/Thunder Game 2
Jacob Sutton, JSuttHoops
Daigneault confident Holmgren, Jalen Williams will bounce back
Tim MacMahon, ESPN
The 2007 trade that ultimately set the 2025 NBA Finals matchup
Rohan Nadkarni/Joe Murphy, NBC News
2025 NBA Finals: Who Has the Better Offensive Ratings Between Indiana Pacers & OKC Thunder?
Vaibhavi Malhotra, Essentially Sports
NBA Finals: High school teammates who made the NBA
Jason Jordan, ESPN
O Canada: Finals matchup between Olympic teammates Gilgeous-Alexander and Nembhard getting attention
Tim Reynolds, The Washington Times
Remaining NBA Finals, Leaguewide, Team News, WNBA, NBA Draft, and History of the Game for paid subscribers