Thunder's Finals Fury The Counterpunch That Crushed the Pacers!

NBA Finals 2025: Behind the Change in the Thunder's Attack That Delivered a Punch to the Pacers

The Oklahoma City Thunder delivered a resounding statement in Game 2 of the 2025 NBA Finals, dismantling the Indiana Pacers with a 123-107 victory. After a somewhat sluggish performance in Game 1, the Thunder roared back, leaving many wondering what fueled this dramatic turnaround.

According to Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the key was a relentless offensive mindset. "Every night, you — me, personally — try to attack the defense," he explained. "You try to just make the right play. You try to make them pay for what they throw at you, coverage-wise, scheme-wise." And pay they did.

The Thunder's most significant adjustment involved strategically dismantling the Pacers' pick-and-roll defense. Indiana's Game 1 strategy focused on aggressive help, with defenders switching onto the ball-handler as he drove to the basket. While SGA still managed 38 points, it took him 30 shots to get there, and the Thunder's overall offensive flow suffered.

Understanding the Pacers' Defensive Scheme

• In Game 1, Pacers aggressively helped on pick-and-rolls.
• Defenders switched onto the ball-handler, disrupting the Thunder's rhythm.
• OKC scored just 0.93 points per possession in the pick-and-roll.

Coach Mark Daigneault noted the importance of adapting to Indiana's unique style, stating, "I thought Indiana is kind of an acquired taste... I felt like [in Game 2] there were a lot of things we were a little better in, and more comfortable.”

The Thunder's Tactical Shift: Creating Space

The Thunder unlocked their offensive potential by prioritizing space creation. They achieved this by:

• Bringing screeners higher up the floor, setting picks near the half-court logo.
• This gave Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams a longer runway to attack the basket.
• According to Jared Dubin of Last Night in Basketball, there were 33 ball screens at least 30 feet from the rim

While Chet Holmgren downplayed the intentionality of the screen placement, the data speaks for itself: the screens were set farther from the basket than in any other Thunder game this season.

This tactical adjustment, combined with intelligent manipulation of Indiana's help defenders, created longer rotations and opened up driving lanes for Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams. The result? A scorching 1.37 points per possession on pick-and-roll plays, with SGA dishing out six assists on kickouts after those high ball screens.

Game 2: A Statistical Avalanche

• The Thunder scored 63 points on pick-and-roll plays.
• Aaron Wiggins contributed 18 points off the bench, knocking down five three-pointers.
• The Thunder’s half-court offensive rating soared to 119.8 points-per-100 possessions

Impact on the Pacers' Offense

The Thunder's offensive dominance directly impacted the Pacers' ability to get out in transition. With Indiana forced to take the ball out of bounds repeatedly, their transition game suffered, resulting in their fourth-lowest transition rate of the season (8.7%) and fewer than 10 fast-break points – a rare occurrence for the high-octane Pacers.

“You force them into a miss, you grab the ball, get out in transition — play our best basketball,” said Pacers center Myles Turner. “But if you have to take the ball out every single time, [it] slows down our offense, obviously.”

While the Thunder's Game 2 performance was a masterclass in offensive adaptation, Coach Daigneault remains grounded. "You have to continue to improve in a series," he cautioned. "They're going to be home, be very comfortable... If we don't continue to improve, we'll get caught behind them."

The Thunder's victory was more than just a win; it was a statement of their strategic depth and ability to adapt. Whether they can maintain this level of execution remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the 2025 NBA Finals are shaping up to be an unforgettable battle of wits and skill.

Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/nba-finals-2025-behind-the-change-in-the-thunders-attack-that-delivered-a-punch-to-the-pacers-131712846.html