The Thunder Rolls

Let us salute the Oklahoma City Thunder on their 103-91 Game 7 victory over the Indiana Pacers last night to secure the 2025 NBA Championship.  We also salute the League and Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who led the team to this championship.

It was a most entertaining Finals series, but the outcome will always carry a nagging "What if?' question for Pacers fans due to the first quarter injury to their star and best player, Tyrese Haliburton.  Haliburton started out on fire hitting three three point field goals before he popped his achilles midway through the first quarter and was lost for the rest of the game.

It was both sad and painful to watch as Haliburton lay on the floor for several minutes before he was able to get to the locker room.  I once heard the great Bill Russell, when he was working a TV commentator, say that "injuries are as much a part of this game as free throws", and that is certainly true.  The Thunder's title does not come with an asterisk because of Taliburton's injury.  As I stated on Facebook yesterday, I think that the Thunder is a better team, and that they probably would have won Game 7 regardless.  Still, the Pacers and their fans will have to always wonder "what if.....?'

I don't want to end this contemplation of the Finals without mentioning the Pacers' TJ McConnell.

McConnell is a local kid out of Chartiers Valley High School.  His father was and is a legendary high school coach at Char Valley. His aunt is Suzie McConnell-Serio, one of the great athletes to ever come out of western PA, and his sister was a star player at Duquesne and is now a rookie in the WNBA.  He started his college career at Duquesne before transferring to Arizona.  He was undrafted but has fashioned a nice little career as bench player and sixth man. In this series, he came off the bench and was effective in every game he played.  Coming into the game last night in place of Haliburton, he kept the Pacers in the game through the first half, before the Thunder just wore them out.  He is one of those types of players that are common in sport:  one that you love when he plays for YOU team, but one who drives you nuts when he plays for the other guys.

One more uplifting moment.  As the dejected Pacers came off the floor at the end of the game, Tyrese Haliburton, dressed and on crutches, was there to greet and console them in defeat.  It was an almost noble moment.

Again, all hail the OKC Thunder, worthy Champions!  And thanks to BOTH teams for a most entertaining and enjoyable Finals series.