Pacers welcome underdog tag, ‘best challenge’ vs OKC in finals
The Indiana Pacers welcome the underdog tag and the “best challenge of facing the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals 2025.
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PACERS WELCOME UNDERDOG TAG, ‘US AGAINST EVERYONE’ MENTALITY AGAINST THUNDER
The Pacers welcome the underdog tag, Tyrese Haliburton said, against the Thunder.
Furthermore, Haliburton acknowledges that if Indiana wants to win its first-ever NBA championship, they have to go through the best team – the Thunder.
Moreover, the All-Star guard and Team USA member that won gold in the 2024 Paris Olympics understood the task at hand all along.
“They’re (OKC) historically great on both sides of the ball. They have the MVP (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander),” Haliburton told reporters at NBA Finals media day on Wednesday.
“There’s so many different things you could name down the list of why they are so great at what they do, why they’re such a great team,” he added.
SIAKAM AWARE OKC THE FAVORITE BUT VOWS PACERS TO ‘CONTINUE TO BE OURSELVES’
Eastern Conference Finals MVP Pascal Siakam is aware that OKC is the favorite in these best-of-seven series.
Moreover, the All-Star forward may be referring to a -700 favorite OKC enjoys among bettors to win its first title, according ESPN BET.
Furthermore, the 31-year-old Cameroonian star made sure he and the Pacers will be there fighting.
“I don’t think we expect anyone to pick us. It’s been that way the whole playoffs,” Siakam said.
“The whole season. Nothing for us changes. We just continue to be ourselves, focus on us. It’s always been us against everyone,” he added.
CARLISLE NO STRANGER OF UNDERDOG TEAMS AFTER LEADING MAVS T0 2011 TITLE OVER LEBRON, HEAT
Furthermore, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle is no stranger of an underdog team after he led the Dallas Mavericks to the 2011 title over the Miami Heat.
Moreover, the veteran mentor has faith in his players, from All-Stars Haliburton to Siakam.
Additionally, he urged his team to “make some shots” and make sure to be smart against OKC.
“We’re aware what’s expected here. We’ve got a lot of work cut out for us,” Carlisle said.
“It’s simply going to come down to us being able to play our game at the best possible level,” he added.
