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We have reached the finished line with the NBA season, as the NBA finals start tomorrow. This year’s matchup is a win for small market teams and to show the next crop of potential superstars the league has to offer, so let me into my predictions and x-factors of this year’s finals.
#1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. #4 Indiana Pacers
The Thunder were preseason favorites to be in the finals and represent a new era in the western conference after a validating run by defeating the Nuggets and Timberwolves to get here (the Memphis series was a warm up to be honest). Then there are the Indiana Pacers who went on another surprising run through the east defeating the Bucks, number one seeded Cavs, and Knicks in convincing fashion to make the NBA finals for the first time since 2000.
This match up should be an exciting series, up-tempo sort of pace, offensive, young players/stars, a correct representation of the current era in the NBA. As crazy as a run that the Pacers have had to get here, I think this series will not be long because this Thunder team is historic especially on defense is championship level stuff we have not seen in quite a while. And with that I am taking the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the finals in five games and bring the O’Brien trophy to the prairie, but the Pacers are going to put up a hard fight in every game so do not expect a lot of easy wins in this series.
Winner: Thunder in five games; Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Finals MVP
X-Factors of the Finals: Jalen Williams (Thunder) & Pascal Siakam (Pacers)
Now for the x-factors of this year’s NBA finals will come down to which second star will rise to the occasion. Jalen Williams and Pascal Siakam are going to be the pivotal pieces in the finals; Jalen Williams may be the least impressive or threatening second option while Siakam has reminded many people that he is serious piece for teams with title aspirations. Hopefully, this will be the series where JDub finally breaks through in order for OKC to win the title, but this could be the series where Siakam’s championship experience becomes the secret weapon Indiana needs to pull off an upset.
