Darren and Vic's Playoff Playbook: NBA Finals Game 7

Published: Saturday, June 21, 2025

by Darren Worrell and Victor Lisboa

For the first time since 2016, the NBA Finals will feature a Game 7 winner-takes-all matchup. In Game 6, the Indiana Pacers extended their season, completely dismantling the Oklahoma City Thunder by a score of 108-91. In this edition, we will break down our biggest takeaways from Game 6 and share what each team needs to do to come out on top in Game 7.

Darren’s Takeaways From Game 6

If Game 6 taught me anything, it was that Oklahoma City better be ready come Sunday night because in this game, they did not play like the OKC team we know and love. They started off the game strong, and it looked like OKC was going to win it in the first stages of the game, but then Rick Carlisle called a timeout, and Indiana went on an insane run and just did not look back. 

The big storyline heading into this one was whether star point guard Tyrese Haliburton would play, as he was dealing with a calf strain from Game 5. According to many initial reports, it seemed the Pacers were fully prepared to go without him, but Haliburton made it clear that he was playing. 

Not only did Haliburton play, but he showed out. You would never guess he was injured with the way he was sprinting up and down the court, setting up teammates, and scoring at a high level. 

OKC, on the other hand, did not look like a No. 1 seed. There were issues across the board as they got outplayed in nearly every area from rebounding, to hustle plays, and more. 

One of the biggest problems was turnovers, as they gave the ball away 21 times. That is uncharacteristic for a team that usually forces their opponents into mistakes. In this one, they got a taste of their own medicine. Simply put, this was far from their best performance.

Vic’s Take on What Indiana Needs to Do to Win Game 7

It all comes down to Game 7. At first, I was not a big fan of Indiana, especially after they knocked my Knicks out of the playoffs. However, throughout the playoffs, they have proved to be a great basketball team all around and they have earned my respect. I predicted that if this series went seven, Indiana would win the championship and I am standing on that. 

For that prediction to come true, Indiana needs to do three key things.  This begins with them having to keep up the defensive pressure they applied to OKC, usually a poised team, into committing 21 turnovers in Game 6, so that kind of intensity has to continue. 

Second, they need to keep trusting their bench. We already know what the stars bring, but guys like T.J. McConnell, Obi Toppin, and Benedict Mathurin have stepped up and been real difference-makers. 

Finally, they need to continue listening to Coach Rick Carlisle. He has been in this position before, leading the 2011 Dallas Mavericks to a title, and he knows exactly what it takes to win on this stage. If the Pacers execute, we could witness the greatest championship run ever.

Vic’s Take on What Oklahoma City Needs to Do to Win Game 7

In my opinion, I believe Game 7 game scripts are different from any other. In a win or go home situation, the intensity will usually always be at its highest, which gives the Thunder an advantage with the crowd. 

The Pacers took a page out of the OKC playbook in Game 6, pressing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from the inbound and beyond. Constantly nagging him and disrupting him with multiple bodies to get physical. In Game 5, this is what we saw out of OKC on their home floor, infamously limiting Tyrese Haliburton to 4 points on 0-6 shooting. 

Haliburton only had 3 turnovers in that game, so even with how poorly he played, he still displayed that he is a clean and high IQ player. Therefore, the Thunder must be able to play as physical as they can and perhaps throw forwards on him, as well as wearing the rest of the Pacers down as much as they can. Indiana’s firepower is just too unpredictable to allow them to make big runs. 

Offensively, the Thunder have to find ways to take pressure away from SGA, and not only do his teammates have to shoot efficiently, but they are each going to have to move the ball effectively to wear out the Pacers, who thrive in transition. 

Limiting the Pacers to play a half-court game where they cannot hit quick 3s with their lethal shooters and extend their possessions on the clock is key to winning this game. If OKC can limit Indy’s possessions, and force them into a halfcourt battle, in addition to the added intensity of a Game 7, I like the Thunders chances. 

However, the Pacers have shown us they are a 48-minute team and are more than capable of overcoming the odds. Therefore, NBA fans are in for an intriguing final act Sunday night, waiting to see how Game 7 unfolds and what team will capture their first championship in franchise history.

Darren Worrell can be reached at darren.worrell@student.shu.edu.

Victor Lisboa can be reached at victor.lisboa@student.shu.edu.

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