June 23, 2025

SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle:

A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 6 comments

NBA Finals Game 7: Thunder beat Pacers for NBA title behind big game from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander after injury to Tyrese Haliburton

posted by BornIcon at 02:09 PM on June 23, 2025

Poor Tyrese.

posted by NoMich at 04:03 PM on June 23, 2025

In prior games, Tyrese was clever about holding the bulk of his scoring till later in the game.

Last night, he came out firing and nailed three threes in quick succession. He looked like he was feeling it and ready to will his team to a historic win.

That will only add to the sense of "what if" and "asterisk win" if there are some folks who are so inclined to peg that on the Thunder.

Siakam wasn't having any of that talk post game. He was all "shit happens; next man up".

I told my brother in law that Holmgren had to score at least 12 and grab 7 boards for a Thunder win. He had been invisible in Game 6. Actually a liability at some moments.

Holmgren did well and him showing up helped create the margin of victory.

I still wouldn't pay him, but I would defer to Presti if I was an OKC fan.

The edgiest folks weighing in were Seattle fans. "NO, THIS IS NOT THE SONICS SECOND TITLE. IT'S OKC'S FIRST TITLE."

posted by beaverboard at 05:39 PM on June 23, 2025

I hope there is no serious talk about adding an asterisk to OKC's championship. If you have this season's SGA on your team, there are no asterisks.

posted by NoMich at 05:53 PM on June 23, 2025

A disturbing trend via r/nba: In the 33-year period from 1990-2023, 45 NBA players suffered torn achilles injuries, a rate of 1.36 per season.

This playoffs saw Hali, Tatum, and Dame Lillard.

The regular season included Dejounte Murray, Isaiah Jackson, Dru Smith, and James Wiseman

There was also one (Da'Ron Holmes) during Summer League.

Any talk of Asterisks is silly and can be rightfully ignored, but the What-Ifs will echo for quite a while, I'm sure.

posted by Ufez Jones at 06:33 PM on June 23, 2025

Also, as a kid that was in middle school in Tulsa during the peak of Jordan mania, it's *suuuuuper* weird that the Larry O'Brien rightfully belongs to Oklahoma for the next year.

posted by Ufez Jones at 06:36 PM on June 23, 2025

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