Midwest Sports

The NBA Finals match up is set. Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder.  The Indiana Pacers are a fast paced team, who move the ball well, and play good defense. The Pacers outscored the Knicks in game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals 41-10 in transition points and scored 34-13 points off turnovers. The Pacers have 5-7 players that score double digit points.  The Oklahoma City Thunder play good defense, lead all playoff teams with defensive rating, are consistent, and play very well at home. In the regular season they were 36-6 at home and in the playoffs they are 8-1.  The Thunder have a "big three" in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren. The Pacers don't have a superstar which is very interesting. Maybe a new trend in the NBA of not needing a "big three?" The Thunder are very deep too. They have Caruso who comes off the bench and plays good defense.  The Thunder beat the Pacers both times they played each other in the regular season. ...

When the Minnesota Timberwolves were beating up on the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs, all the analysts and experts kept asking what LeBron, Luka, and the Lakers needed to do to beat the Timberwolves. Many people were yelling at their TV screens that the Timberwolves were the better team. OKC crushed Minnesota in 5 games to advance to the NBA Finals. The Thunder were the better team. Hats off to the Timberwolves for making it to the Western Conference Finals two years in a row, but the Thunder were much better. They had 19 more wins and looked like a dominant team. Give then credit and wish them luck in the Finals.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are up 3 games to 1 in the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Game 5 is tonight! OKC was 36-6 at home during the season, has only lost once at home during the playoffs, and has never lost three games in a row. Minnesota had a nice run, but when Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle don't show up in game 4 this is the hole they dug themselves in.

About 8% of teams overcome an 0-2 deficit.  Less than 20% of teams overcome a 1-2 deficit.  Can the Minnesota Timberwolves overcome both? They'll have to try and contain OKC Thunder Guard and League MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander like they did in game 3. OKC needs to go back to doing what they did in the second half of games 1 and 2. Get SGA, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren going. Should be a good game tonight! 

There have been five incidents where the higher seed lost the first two games at home and still went on to win the series.  1969 Lakers beat the Warriors 1994 Rockets beat the Suns 2005 Mavs beat the Rockets 2017 Celtics beat the Bulls 2021 Clippers beat the Mavs Only the Houston Rockets won the NBA Finals out of these five teams though. So keep your pedal to the metal Indiana Pacers!

Since 2021 at least one team down 0-2 in an NBA playoff series has come back and won. Actually it has happened 7 times. 2024 Pacers were down 0-2 to Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals and came back and won 4-3. 2023 Warriors were down 0-2 to the Kings in the first round and won 4-3. 2022 the Mavs were down 0-2 to the Suns in the Western Conference Semifinals and won 4-3. 2021 the Bucks were down 0-2 to the Nets in the Eastern Conference Semifinals and won 4-3. 2021 the Bucks were also down 0-2 to the Suns in the NBA Finals and then won 4 straight for the title. 2021 Clippers were down 0-2 to the Mavs in the first round and won 4-3. 2021 Clippers were also down 0-2 to the Jazz in the Western Conference Semifinals and then won 4 straight.  There's hope for thr Minnesota Timberwolves. 

The Indiana Pacers head to New York to take on the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 today. The Pacers and Knicks have met in the playoffs 8 times, Pacers holding a 5-3 series record. However the Knicks have a 2-1 Eastern Conference Finals series record against the Pacers.  2025 marks the tenth time the Pacers have made it to the Eastern Conference Finals. Unfortunately for them, they currently have a 1-9 record and the one time they won, they ended up losing in the NBA Finals.  The Knicks have a couple of superstars in Brunson and Towns, but Indiana is the deeper team with 6 or 7 players with the ability to score in double figures. My money is on the Pacers. We'll have a good Eastern Conference Finals Series!

It is nice to see the midwest and small market teams representing well in the conference finals. Indiana Pacers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Oklahoma City Thunder are all still alive in the NBA playoffs. Indiana and Minnesota return to their conference finals after both losing last year. They are hoping to have different results this year. OKC had the best record in the NBA in 2025. In the Eastern Conference Finals the 4 seeded Indiana Pacers take on the 3 seeded New York Knicks. This is the 10th time the Pacers have made it to the conference finals. They have only won once and then they lost in the finals to the Lakers in 2000. They actually have played the New York Knicks three times in the conference finals, winning one of those three.  The New York Knicks have won the NBA Finals twice, in 1970 and 1973. The 6 seeded Minnesota Timberwolves take on the top seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the west. Minnesota has never made it to the NBA Finals. This is the third time the Timberwol...

One may look at this series and see a team that has almost 20 more wins then the other (OKC won 68 & Minn won 49) during the regular season. These two teams played against each other four times during the regular season. Splitting the games two apiece. Both teams won a game at home and a game on the road. The Minnesota Timberwolves seem to be playing their best basketball when it counts (late into the season & into the postseason). Since the All Star break the Timberwolves are 25-6 (including the playoffs).  The key to winning this series for Minnesota is of course Anthony Edwards. However, since Julius Randle has been back (All Star Break) the Timberwolves have been winning. Julius Randle actually scored more points then Edwards in all but one game in the series's against Golden State. Randle also only played in one game against the Thunder this season. This series will be Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder against Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves. The Timberwolve...

Nikola Jokic and thr Denver Nuggets gave Oklahoma City Thunder and tough series. Aaron Gordon played which was good. Jokic only had 20 points and you could see he was worn out. You can't beat a good Thunder team in OKC by turning the ball over 22 times. The better team won and now we get to see the Thunder take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday. 

Nikola Jokic gave the Thunder everything he had last night, but his 44 points weren't enough. OKC outscored Denver 34-19 in the 4th quarter and won 112-105 to take a 3-2 series lead.  It was fun to see the top MVP candidates in Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander against each other. Jokic needs more help from Murray, Gordon,Porter, and company. 

The Minnesota Timberwolves took game 4 against the Golden State Warriors last night after a 39 point third quarter. Anthony Edwards had 30 points. He made 6 three pointers.  Julius Randle led the way with 31 points, Jaden McDaniels had 13 rebounds and 10 points, Mike Conley had 5 assists and 11 points, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 13 points.  Jimmy Butler was almost nonexistent. He only had 14 points. Draymond Green had 14, Buddy Hield had 13, and Brandin Podziemski had 11. Jonathan Kuminga had 23 points in only 30 mins. Steve Kerr should probably play him more. Game 5 tomorrow night in Minneapolis. 

Apparently Daniel Jones took less money to sign with the Indianapolis Colts then to resign with the Minnesota Vikings. Jones must like his chances of beating out Anthony Richardson better than JJ McCarthy. I would of liked to see Jones vs McCarthy with the Vikings offense and Kevin O'Connell calling plays.

The Minnesota Vikings haven't listed JJ McCarthy as the starting quarterback yet, but it is unlikely the Sam Howell (aquired via trade last month) is going to beat him out for the starting job. Howell does have starter experience, but I would be surprised if somehow he beat out McCarthy this training camp/preseason. The Vikings also have Brett Rypien who they are high on. Undrafted rookie, Max Brosmer's best chance is the practice squad.  Competition brings out the best in athletes, but it looks like this is McCarthy's team even if the Vikings don't officially say it. Quarterback is the one question mark for a team that is stacked on both sides of the ball heading into the 2025 season. Let's see if McCarthy can take Minnesota further than Sam Darnold did.

The Cleveland Browns drafted Dillon Gabriel in the third round and Shedeur Sanders in the fifth. They also have Kenny Pickett, Joe Flacco, and Deshaun Watson.  Gabriel took the first team reps over Sanders at rookie mini camp, but head coach, Kevin Stefanski said that didn't mean anything. This was probably the best situation for Shedeur to be drafted in. You know the saying, if you have 2 starting quarterbacks, you don't really have a quality starting QB...the Browns have 5 on the roster.  Can Gabriel or Sanders win the starting QB1 job? 

When the Indiana Pacers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in game 1 and 2, they had six players in double figures both games. Donovan Mitchell has scored in all three games. His supporting cast has played better the last two games. Jarrett Allen and Max Strus have played well and now Evan Mobley and Darius Garland are playing well.  The main difference between the three games is Donovan Mitchell showed up every game and Tyrese Haliburton disappeared in game 3. Let's see if he will reappear in game 4.

Tie game after the first quarter. Warrior lead by 2 at half and then by 4 after three quarters. Minnesota was 8 of 25 on 3 points through the first three quarters. Then the Timberwolves' offensive showed up. Anthony Edwards had 13 points in the fourth quarter (36 points in the game). Gobert had 9 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Randle added a triple double. McDaniels had 15, Conley had 7, and Reid had 9.  Jimmy Butler had 33 points in the game, but only 5 in the fourth quarter. Draymond Green fouled out, but only had 2 points. With Steph Curry out the Timberwolves wore down the Warriors.  Gobert has only made 46% of his free throws in the playoffs, but made 5 of 6 today. Game 4 Monday. Let's see if the Twolves can keep it rolling.

The Minnesota Timberwolves made a statement in game 2 winning by 24 against the Steph Curryless Warriors. Julius Randle led the way with 24 points. Minnesota had five players in double figures (plus another with 9 points). And the scary thing is Anthony Edwards only had 20 points. Looks like Curry will out at least one more game. Keep the pedal to the metal Timberwolves!

The Golden State Warriors beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals 99-88 even with Steph Curry leaving the game in the second quarter due to a hamstring strain.  Buddy Heild has 14 3 points in their last two games, Jimmy Butler almost had a triple double, and Draymond Green had 18 points. It didn't help that Anthony Edwards only had a point in the first half.  The Warriors had more rebounds, assists, and steals then the Timberwolves. The Timberwolves had more turnovers and fouls than the Warriors. As for 3 points, the Warriors made 18 of 42 and the Twolves only made 5 of 29. Anthony Edwards and the rest of the Timberwolves need to play much better in game 2 if they want to keep pace with the Warriors.  The Warriors have a 21-1 series record under Head Coach Steve Kerr when winning game 1.

Career NBA assists per game:  Magic Johnson 12.3 John Stockton 10.1 John Wall 9.8 Tyrese Haliburton 9.2 That is some good company to be in.

How in the he'll did the Cavs blow a 5 point lead with 45 seconds left in the game? Is that bad defense or bad coaching by the Cavs? Hats off to the Pacers for never giving up.  I did see that the Cavs were complaining about a few calls from game 1 and sent film to the NBA to review. If the Cavs were already complaining about the refs after game 1 and now being down 0-2 to the Pacers...this series may be over a lot quicker than people thought.  Head Coach, Kenny Atkinson needs to stop complaining about how physical the Pacers are. It's playoff basketball!

Only eight 3 seeds have ever won the NBA Finals, one 4 seed, and one 6 seed. The 6 seed that won was the 1995 Houston Rockets and they were actually the defending champs from the previous year. The 4 seed that won was the 1969 Boston Celtics. No 5, 7, or 8 seed has ever won. All those people that say the regular season doesnt matter might be wrong. Statisticly speaking, if you are not a top 2 seed then you probably won't win. Screw statistics though. I am all about cheering for the underdog, small market teams!  Pacers can beat the Cavs since they already beat them 3 of 4 games this year. I wouldn't be surprised if Denver beats OKC. And the Timberwolves can run with the best of them. Remember there were only 4 games that separated the 2 seed from the 7 seed in the western conference.

The Indiana Pacers beat the Milwaukee Bucks in 5 games and are moving on to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.  The Bucks gave the Pacers everything they had, but they lost Damien Lillard to a torn achilles in game 4, Gary Trent Jr was too inconsistent, and Kyle Kuzma was nonexistent.  Don't get me wrong, even if Lillard was healthy, I don't think the Bucks would of beaten the Pacers. The Pacers are the better team. Indiana had 5-6 players in double digits in the 4 games they won. When Nesmith, Siakam, Turner, Haliburton, Nembhard, and McConnell are playing well not many teams can beat the Pacers.  The Pacers were down 13-30 after the first quarter, but they clawed their way back to force overtime. In overtime, Indiana was down by 7 points with 35 seconds left. They score the last 8 points. No NBA team in the last 50 years has won in the playoffs when being down by 7 with 35 seconds left. The Pacers did just that to finish off the Bucks. Now the Indiana Pacers will take o...

The Minnesota Timberwolves are moving on to the Western Conference Semifinals after beating the LA Lakers 4-1 in their first round playoff series.  Many ESPN analysts picked the Lakers to win in 4 or 5 games. The Lakers had two superstars in Luka Doncic and LeBron James, but the Lakers had very little depth (which is why coach JJ Redick didn't substitute anyone in the second half of game 4).  The Timberwolves were the better team, bigger team, and have the depth. Naz Reid, Donte DiVincenzo, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker all come off the bench and could be starters on most other NBA teams.  The Timberwolves have their superstar in Anthony Edwards, but he'll be the first to point to teammates who are playing really well such as Jaden McDaniels, Rudy Gobert, and Julius Randle. Gobert had 24 rebounds along with 27 points in game 5! Now Minnesota waits to see if they play the Golden State Warrios or Houston Rockets in the next round.