Perhaps I’m confused. OKC was taken to game seven by the Nuggets, and then beat two lesser teams to get to the finals, with home court advantage in each series. The Pacers beat two higher seeded teams, with no home court advantage, and were never extended to seven games. So how is OKC “an overwhelming favorite”?
**🏀 Perspective Shift: Why Are the OKC Thunder Overwhelming Favorites Over the Battle-Tested Pacers?**
As the NBA Finals tip-off approaches, headlines have repeatedly labeled the **Oklahoma City Thunder as “overwhelming favorites”** — but a growing number of fans and analysts are beginning to ask a fair question:
**“Why?”**
After all, a closer look at each team’s playoff path paints a very different picture. While OKC impressed with their youth, athleticism, and home-court advantage, it’s the **Indiana Pacers** who’ve arguably had the **tougher, more impressive run** to the Finals.
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### 🔍 Breaking It Down: OKC’s Path to the Finals
Yes, the Thunder are an exciting, talented team. They deserve respect. But their playoff journey includes:
* **A grueling 7-game series** against the Denver Nuggets — a team that exposed OKC’s inexperience in close games.
* **Victories over lower-seeded teams** in the earlier rounds.
* **Home-court advantage in every series**, including the Finals.
While they’ve shown grit and star power (especially from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren), OKC also benefited from a favorable playoff bracket and struggled to put teams away quickly.
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### 🔥 Indiana Pacers: The Real Giant Killers
Now compare that to the **Indiana Pacers**, who:
* Beat the **No. 2 and No. 3 seeds** in the East.
* Did it all **without home-court advantage**.
* **Never needed a Game 7** — they handled business with confidence and composure.
* Silenced critics every step of the way, especially with their dismantling of powerhouse teams like the Knicks and Celtics.
Players like **Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam**, and **Myles Turner** have all elevated their games, and head coach Rick Carlisle has out-coached multiple playoff veterans.
So again… **why is OKC the overwhelming favorite?**
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### 🧠 The Perception Gap
There are a few reasons:
* **Narrative bias**: OKC is young, flashy, and exceeded expectations this season — media hype naturally follows.
* **Conference perception**: The Western Conference has long been seen as deeper and more competitive than the East.
* **Star power myth**: SGA is a legitimate MVP-caliber player, and the national spotlight has helped inflate OKC’s image.
But these **don’t outweigh playoff performance** — and the Pacers have arguably **proven more** with **less**.
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### 📢 The Underdog Mentality
Pacers fans and neutral observers alike are now embracing the **“nobody believes in us”** mindset — and rightfully so.
> “Perhaps I’m confused,” one fan wrote.
> “OKC was taken to Game 7 by the Nuggets, then beat two lesser teams. Indiana beat higher-seeded teams without home court and didn’t need a Game 7. So why is OKC the favorite?”
That’s not confusion — that’s **clarity**. And it may just be the fuel Indiana needs heading into this final stretch.
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### 🏁 Final Word
The Thunder are a great team. But the Pacers are **battle-tested**, resilient, and thriving in the role of the overlooked contender.
Don’t count them out — because **they’ve been counted out all postseason**, and they’ve proven everyone wrong each time.
The Finals won’t just be about talent. It’ll be about toughness, execution, and heart. And in that department, Indiana might just hold the edge.
**Watch closely. This series may not go the way the “favorites” expect.**
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