US EditionThe Audible: On the NBA Finals, Clayton Kershaw and Coaching Instability
- The 2025 NBA Finals start on June 5, featuring the Oklahoma City Thunder hosting the Indiana Pacers in a best-of-seven series.
- The Thunder and Pacers reached the Finals through strategic trades and player development, including the 2022 Sabonis trade and earlier George trade to Oklahoma City.
- The Thunder lead with a 68-14 regular-season record, anchored by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and All-Star Jalen Williams, while the Pacers rely on a fast, press-heavy style.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander amassed 864 million playoff social media views, reflecting the rising importance of digital engagement in promoting small-market teams like Oklahoma City and Indiana.
- The Finals highlight ongoing NBA parity and market balance, as both teams avoid luxury tax and represent small markets, emphasizing competitive balance under the league’s new television deal.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Daily Bulletin
The Audible: On the NBA Finals, Clayton Kershaw and coaching instability
Jim Alexander: As the NBA Finals Disney Will Hate begin tonight, with the small-market Oklahoma City Thunder favored to beat the small-market Indiana Pacers as (so the smart guys say) most of America will yawn, leave it to us to figure out who the key player in this matchup is. It is … wait for it … Paul George! Those of us who figured getting rid of George might get the Clippers closer to a championship? It seems the Thunder and Pacers (in reve…
Among the smaller budgets of the North American basketball league, the two franchises, which compete for the title starting Thursday, embody the NBA's new "Era of Parity" which will crown a seventh different champion in as many seasons.
The Thunder and Pacers bring a new paradigm of the NBA to the Finals
On the surface, the personalities of Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his counterpart, the Indiana Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton, may be dissimilar, yet they have much in common in uplifting their respective teams to the NBA Finals.Both are part of Generation Z (Gen Z). Their ages are separated by 18 months. The older star, Gilgeous-Alexander, often referred to by the acronym SGA, is 26 and will turn 27 in July. He is na…
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander captures spotlight and reshapes NBA Finals narrative with social media dominance
Redefining the NBA Finals: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Social Media Surge In a season where the NBA Finals spotlight typically shines on teams from larger markets, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers have unexpectedly captured the attention of millions. Despite their smaller market size, these teams have not only delivered an exhilarating brand of basketball but have also seen a significant rise in viewership, with ratings surpassing thos…
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Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources lean Left, 43% of the sources are Center
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