Alex Caruso is the only Thunder player who has been to the NBA Finals, but he didn’t get the full experience, writes Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press. Although Caruso was a member of the title-winning Lakers team in 2020, the end of that season and the entire playoffs took place in a closed setting at Disney World in Orlando. That meant no fans, no travel and nothing to match the excitement that will be in the air when this year’s Finals get underway Thursday night in Oklahoma City.
“The Finals in the bubble still had the tangible feel of a Finals,” Caruso said. “You knew what was up for grabs. That adrenaline before the game, obviously, I don’t think it would probably be the same adrenaline level that you feel with fans, just being on the other side of it now. But understanding what’s at stake was still very apparent.”
Caruso was in his third NBA season during that COVID-interrupted campaign. Now 31, he’s the oldest player on an OKC team that’s the second-youngest to reach the Finals in the past 70 years. Considering the Thunder’s dominance throughout the season — 80-18 overall and 43-7 on their home court — Caruso doesn’t believe he’ll have to inspire his teammates for the challenge ahead.
“You don’t have to do anything special. You just have to be who we are,” he said. “That’s worked for us throughout this whole year. So, I’m just continuing to emphasize with the guys, just do what we’ve done all year. Compete at a high level, play together, play as a team. When we do that, we’re pretty good.”
There’s more from Oklahoma City:
- The Thunder wrapped up the Western Conference title last Wednesday and will have been off for more than a full week by the time the NBA Finals start on Thursday, notes Joel Lorenzi of The Oklahoman. It’s the second extended break of the playoffs for OKC, and coach Mark Daigneault is working to keep his players in the right mindset. “You don’t want to be so wise that you’re overcautious,” he said. “You don’t want to be so confident that you’re overconfident. You kind of have to hold those two things, the confidence and the urgency or the wisdom. You have to hold those things in balance.”
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker could be a perfect offseason addition for the Thunder if they can work out a sign-and-trade with the Timberwolves, contends Michael Stamps of Sports Illustrated. The free agent guard is the cousin of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and they play together on the Canadian national team.
- The Thunder are heavy betting favorites heading into the NBA Finals, according to an ESPN story. Oklahoma City has -750 odds to be the next NBA champion, while Indiana is listed at +525.
Lesson learned from Thunder
Most young players have reasonable contracts, not overpaid
For another year or 2 anyway, then they will have to dump talent or inflate their payroll or both.
Yeah it’s not sustainable for okc to be rolling with 3 Max contracts. Williams and Chet getting paid then what? Keep rejuvenating around said max guys. IHart on $30 mil also. It’ll be big business, big markets per usual next season.
Lol you realize they’re all on rookie contracts/extensions. Yall be giving takes with knowledge what of what yall are talking about…
You realize Holmgren and Williams rookie contracts run out in 26/27? That’s what they’re talking about. They have one more year then they have to figure things out.
You mean when they become restricted free agents and they would only have the rookie max extension? Lol again, something they probably aren’t even worried about.
The odds are 50/50. One team will win and the other will lose. There is a 50% chance. 50/50.
I hate this pro-gambling USA. Make all gambling illegal in the USA, its as useless to society as fentanyl.
Free will is a hell of a drug
Free will = the ability to destroy your life? Nope.
I completely agree ….. ban gambling.
ESPN has more screen time showing and talking about gambling than actual sports these days, they should be held accountable and sued out of existence for stabbing the American people in the back.
OKC is not going to get NAW and that idea is stupid. Unless SGA was threatening or begging them to get him it makes no sense. Joe and Wiggins both do what he can do, they have shown they can have big games. Not saying they won’t move them in the future, but it would be for someone better.
NAW is worth 4-year $70 million in my formula
A sign-and-trade deal can trigger a hard cap, meaning that the acquiring team’s payroll is limited to the first tax apron.
It’s the same rumors that think OKC wants to bring back Durant or Westbrook.
Why? Both are past their primes and one is a turnover machine and a defensive liability and the other will demand too much in a trade and would destroy team chemistry….and also is still pretty hated here.
4 types of overpay according to my formula
– “input divided by output” typically refers to a ratio used to determine the efficiency or productivity of a process
40 million overpaid per season per player
George and Beal
30 million overpaid per season per player
Evan Mobley (his contract $269 million)
20 million overpaid per season per player
Lauri Markkanen
Zach LaVine
10 million overpaid per season per player (tons of positive trade value)
Durant
Towns
Really HoopsRumors even here we have to hear about how they are cousins? Dont we think everyone f***ing knows by now? LOLSS
I didn’t know *shruggs*
Every single game of the WCF they mentioned it at least 15 times on the broadcast. Its become the equivalent of the biggest meme in the NBA with every show and writer now mockingly referencing it.
I wouldn’t be so quick to write the Pacers off. They’ll be a good match for the Thunder.
Maybe. I think the two teams match up in a way that could be really fun with just crazy scoring fireworks back and forth. But I also realize that the east was a dumpster fire. The Pacers were 2 wins better than the Griz team that the Thunder walked through like hot butter in round one, and they got the benefit of a far friendlier schedule playing all those dog s*** teams in the east a bunch of extra times.
Like I honestly wonder if any team in the east besides CLE/BOS could even match the Kings 40-42 record with a western conference schedule?
@ChapmansV
The Pacers had a better record vs .500 or better teams (20-18) than any of the Thunder playoff opponents (Grizzlies 14-25, Nuggets 18-21, Wolves 19-21).
They were 21-10 vs the west which projects to 55.56 wins.
They still got a ton of wins vs the Wizards/Hornets/6ers/Nets. The Pacers had the 3rd easiest schedule in the NBA behind BOS/CLE. The Thunder were the easiest in the West by not having to play themselves, but…
Thats where they were 2 wins better than MEM with a way easier schedule. I want to believe that they will make this a series, but it could all be fools gold where the West is just on another level right now.
GSW were tough for OKC this season, and that was all before they got Butler, and I think IND plays the closest to GSW motion space and pace basketball of any team so they may be one of the worst matchups for OKC.
@ChapmansV
The amount of easy wins is irrelevant to the Pacers’ winning record over 500 and above teams (which was 6.5 games better than the Grizzlies record) and ofc there were fewer winning teams in the east.
I have no idea what source you’re using for strength of schedule but teamrankings has the Pacers 10th (including the playoffs) and 21st at the end of the reg season.
link to teamrankings.com
The thing is I have no idea which stars were injured when they played which teams. Like the Mavs for instance, playing them in Nov healthy is way different than Apr. Some times you get lucky and catch teams at bad times.
Like record vs winning teams is SST. Go to BBall reference team SOS is 27th where 1 is hardest 30th easiest. The main point is the 5 non playin teams in the east are probably worse than every west team but UTH. Also doesnt it say something about IND that they lost a ton to bad teams? They can lay an egg some nights like they did in game 5.
I don’t find team SOS in Bball reference, where is that shown?
And the Thunder laid a much bigger egg in the WCF game 3, losing by 42 pts!
In the team misc below the team shooting % and counting stats table. Its in the start of the table by simple rating system and O/D ratings before the 4 factors stuff.
I thought that was a classic Warriors style egg laying where you just come out flat once youve taken control of the series similar to 22 against MEM game 5. Its weird but I think thats the sign of a better team, albeit without the experience and discipline to get it done and not waste time and risk injury. It was the same for GSW the next year where they just FA and found out in SAC for game 6.
@ShaqFoo
It’s really hard to predict until we see a game but I agree that the teams are interestingly similar.
Thunder in 7 seems more likely than 5 or 6
Upsets very rarely happen in NBA playoffs unless injuries happen. Pacers not beating them 4 times.
I think some are confusing having a good run in the East was being the same as the West. Pacers nice under dog story, but I don’t think they beat OKC 2 times even.
And the Thunder weren’t overly impressive through the first two rounds. We’ll see which OKC team shows up in Game 1.
No one should write the Pacers off, great depth and all do their jobs well.. similar to thunder.
Only think Thunder have advantage due to their awesome defence.
Alexander-Walker would be a great pickup, has tremendous upside, but so does Wiggins. Don’t really want to move Joe as he is a shooter they need.
Also the Thunder depth means that they too can play extra hard and just shuttle guys in with their depth.
Pacers can go just as deep. Heck, Mathurin barely even played last night. He was their highest scorer on their 2nd unit. Carlyle is comfortable going 10 or 11 deep.
No yeah they I expect too. I was saying the Thunder can also play that game, but may have the better player like 1-9?