The storylines to watch for in Thunder-Pacers NBA Finals battle
The Knicks got as close to reaching the NBA Finals as they have in a quarter century, but the league title once again will be decided without them.While the Knicks sort out their coaching situation with the firing of Tom Thibodeau following their Eastern Conference finals loss to Indiana, the Pacers will square off with the rolling Thunder with both teams looking to be crowned as the champions for the first time in their respective cities.(Note: The Thunder franchise did win it at all as the Seattle Supersonics in 1979, but this would mark their first title since relocating to Oklahoma City in 2008).Here are 10 storylines to follow beginning with Game 1 on Thursday night in OKC:The Pacers joined the NBA in the 1976 merger with the ABA, and this only marks their second trip to the NBA Finals — and first since Reggie Miller & Co.lost in 2000 to the Lakers of Kobe, Shaq and Phil Jackson.Indiana previously won three ABA titles in the 1970s.The Thunder reached the championship round in 2012 led by young stars Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden before losing in five games to the Heat.One of these cities is going to get a victory celebration for the first time.All eyes will be on the scintillating matchup between two All-Star point guards, Knicks killer Tyrese Haliburton and league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.SGA will look to become the first regular-season MVP to cop an NBA title in the same season since Stephen Curry pulled off the feat with the Warriors in 2015.
He is averaging 29.6 points per game during the Thunder’s 12-4 march through the Western Conference.It’s much harder for anyone to chant “overrated” anymore at Haliburton after he has fronted his team to five playoff round victories in the past two years.He leads the NBA in postseason assists (9.8), including 15 with no turnovers in his Game 4 triple-double against the Knicks.A final four that also featured Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo with the Timberwolves has resulted in eac...