NBA champion Eddie House recently joined Jason McIntyre on "The Herd" to share his insights on the Indiana Pacers' chances against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025 NBA Finals. The series, which begins Thursday night, features a significant underdog in the Pacers facing a Thunder team heavily favored to win their first title in Oklahoma City.
House acknowledged the Thunder's dominance, citing their impressive 68-win regular season and relatively smooth playoff run. However, he cautioned against writing off the Pacers, who have consistently defied expectations throughout the playoffs. Their journey to the Finals included overcoming the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks, proving their resilience and ability to perform under pressure.
Several factors contribute to the widespread perception of the Thunder as overwhelming favorites. Their roster boasts depth, youth, and versatility, making them a formidable opponent on both ends of the court. Oklahoma City also had the best defense during the regular season. Moreover, their offensive rating was third-best in the league, averaging over 120 points per game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's exceptional performance throughout the playoffs has further solidified the Thunder's status as the team to beat.
Despite the odds being stacked against them, the Pacers possess qualities that could potentially disrupt the Thunder's plans. Their offense, led by Tyrese Haliburton, is capable of explosive scoring bursts and can challenge even the best defenses. The Pacers' ability to control the tempo of the game and execute their five-out offensive system could create problems for the Thunder.
According to reports, betting trends reveal a fascinating dichotomy. While oddsmakers favor the Thunder, with one bettor in Las Vegas even placing a staggering $1.05 million wager on Oklahoma City to win the series, public bettors at BetMGM are largely backing the Pacers. Approximately 94% of wagers and 85% of the total dollars wagered are on the Pacers to win the series, indicating a belief in their potential to pull off an upset.
To counter the Thunder's strengths, the Pacers will need Pascal Siakam to consistently win his matchups against Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. Additionally, role players like Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard must knock down three-pointers at a high rate to space the floor and create scoring opportunities. Rick Carlisle, the Pacers' coach, will likely need to employ various defensive strategies, including mixing up coverages and even using zone defenses, to keep the Thunder's offense off balance.
Ultimately, Eddie House believes that while the Thunder are the clear favorites, the Pacers have the potential to make the series more competitive than many anticipate. Their resilience, offensive firepower, and ability to defy expectations could lead to an upset if they can effectively exploit the Thunder's weaknesses and capitalize on their own strengths.
