Basketball
If styles make fights, the matchup between the Thunder and Pacers was made in basketball heaven. Unlike any two teams in NBA Finals history, both have utilized at least 10 players each to run up and down the court in the ultimate display of cardiovascular prowess.
As they try to outsprint each other towards the Larry O’Brien Trophy, the Thunder and Pacers have set a new benchmark. They have combined to travel 38.4 miles per game in the five games thus far, marking the most distance covered by two teams in NBA Finals history.
In comparison, last year’s NBA Finals between the Mavericks and Celtics saw the teams travel a combined 33.9 miles per game, and the Nuggets and Heat the year before averaged 33.8 miles. Even the great Warriors teams with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson — who were in perpetual motion — traveled only 16.43 miles per game in the 2015-16 Finals, which is nearly four fewer than this year’s Pacers.
It’s not just the miles covered, but the speed at which they are moving. The Pacers are operating at a breakneck speed of 4.77 mph on offense, which is several decimal points higher than the 4.50 mph that fitness experts deem a power walk.
Yahoo Sports’ Tom Haberstroh broke down how the Pacers and Thunder’s record-setting intensity has shaped the series.
“They cover so much ground, they’re all over the place — 94 feet and 50 feet wide — side to side and up and down,” he said. “This is the most intensely fought NBA Finals I can remember in a long time. They’re picking up full court [on defense], rotating, sprinting in fast breaks — it’s so much fun to watch.”
Dan Devine believes the teams have been able to play at a breakneck speed due to the athletes on the floor. Both have routinely fielded lineups that can guard all five positions, with the likes of Cason Wallace (4.48 mph) and Andrew Nembhard (4.50 mph) running through screens to hound their matchups. In comparison, last year’s Finals saw the Celtics and Mavericks switch everything on defense, with Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum covering only 3.19 and 3.4 mph, respectively, on defense.
“To play this style, you need guys who can go all gas, no breaks, 48 minutes, 94 feet by 50. It’s breathtaking to watch,” he said.
Many analysts concur that OKC and Indiana are setting a new blueprint for the NBA, which has, in recent years, been tainted by excessive ISO basketball and a slow pace, particularly in the playoffs.
Read More Erasmo Noren