Stephen A's Take: Stephen A breaks down NBA Playoffs | The Mistakes | Tyrese is not consistent | OKC's lineupLi - The Stephen A. Smith Show

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Stephen A's Take: Stephen A breaks down NBA Playoffs | The Mistakes | Tyrese is not consistent | OKC's lineup"

Release Date: June 7, 2025
Podcast: The Stephen A. Smith Show
Host: Stephen A. Smith
Platform: iHeartPodcasts

Introduction

In this episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, host Stephen A. Smith delves deep into the recent NBA Playoffs, focusing on the Indiana Pacers' dramatic Game 1 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Smith provides comprehensive analysis, highlighting key performances, strategic decisions, and future implications for both teams as they advance in the postseason.

Indiana Pacers' Improbable Comeback

At the [01:07] mark, Stephen A. Smith breaks down the stunning Game 1 outcome where the Indiana Pacers overturned a 15-point deficit in the final nine minutes of the fourth quarter to secure a one-point victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

“The Pacers became the first team to win an NBA Finals game when trailing by at least nine points in the final three minutes of the game.”
— Stephen A. Smith [01:30]

Smith emphasizes the historic nature of this comeback, noting the Pacers' resilience and ability to perform under pressure. He highlights the team's overall postseason record, particularly their performance when trailing by significant margins.

Tyrese Halliburton's Performance

A significant portion of the discussion centers on Tyrese Halliburton's inconsistent performance throughout the game. Smith critiques Halliburton's initial struggles and his crucial late-game contribution.

“Tyrese Halliburton, he's a young rising star in this league. I don't label him a superstar because for me, a superstar is somebody that's the number one option that carries the load that is the face of a franchise from start to finish.”
— Stephen A. Smith [02:15]

Smith acknowledges Halliburton's potential but remains cautious about labeling him a superstar, citing his lack of consistency and overall impact during pivotal moments of the game. He commends Halliburton's late-game presence but points out the need for more reliability in high-stakes situations.

Key Players and Team Dynamics

Smith praises the collective effort of the Pacers, mentioning several key players who stepped up during the game:

Shea Gilgis-Alexander: Scored a game-high 38 points but faltered when it mattered most.
Nemhard and Niecemith: Both showed exceptional performance by creating their own shots and maintaining offensive pressure.
Miles Turner and Pascal Siakam: Both contributed crucial three-pointers, with the Pacers making 10 of 16 corner threes.

“They scored 66 points in the second half on better than 50% shooting against the number one defense in the NBA. That's saying something.”
— Stephen A. Smith [03:45]

Smith lauds the Pacers' offensive efficiency and ability to exploit the Thunder's defensive weaknesses, particularly their success with three-point shooting.

Oklahoma City Thunder's Struggles in Close Games

Turning attention to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Smith criticizes their poor record in closing out close games, both in the regular season and playoffs.

“Oklahoma City, who has a problem closing out close games, their record is under .500. Like three and six.”
— Stephen A. Smith [04:00]

He underscores the Thunder's inconsistency in high-pressure scenarios, suggesting that this trait could be detrimental in the Finals series.

Looking Ahead: Series Predictions

Smith shares his predictions for the NBA Finals, initially favoring Oklahoma City but adjusting his outlook based on the Pacers' Game 1 win.

“I could never believe that [Pacers] would get swept. I believe the Pacers were good to win two games, possibly force a game seven.”
— Stephen A. Smith [04:25]

He maintains that the Pacers are capable of advancing further in the series, contingent on their ability to sustain their performance and overcome Oklahoma City's challenges in closing out games.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In wrapping up the analysis, Smith expresses optimism about the competitiveness of the Finals series, emphasizing the importance of both teams' adjustments moving forward.

“This is a series to pay attention to because don't think for one second that they can't beat OKC. I like this. I like this.”
— Stephen A. Smith [04:50]

Smith underscores the unpredictability of the Finals, encouraging listeners to stay engaged as the series unfolds.

Key Takeaways

Indiana Pacers' Resilience: Demonstrated remarkable comeback ability in Game 1, showcasing depth and strategic prowess.
Tyrese Halliburton's Potential: While showing flashes of brilliance, Halliburton needs to achieve greater consistency to be considered a franchise cornerstone.
Oklahoma City Thunder's Close Game Struggles: Their inability to effectively close out tight games remains a critical vulnerability.
Series Outlook: Smith anticipates a competitive and unpredictable Finals series, with the Pacers emerging as formidable contenders.

This episode offers listeners a thorough and insightful analysis of the NBA Playoffs, blending statistical breakdowns with expert commentary. Stephen A. Smith's passionate delivery and keen observations provide valuable perspectives for fans eager to understand the dynamics shaping the Finals.

Transcript

A (0:00)

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B (1:07)

Now let's get to the NBA finals where the Pacers stole game one against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Pacers were down by 15 with a little over nine minutes in the fourth quarter, nine minutes left in the fourth quarter and managed to take a one point lead courtesy of this late bucket from tyrese Halliburton with 0.3 seconds left. And talk about an improbable victory. The Pacers became the first team to win an NBA Finals game when trailing by at least nine points in the final three minutes of the game. All other teams with 0 and 182 in addition to that, the Pacers have a 53 record this postseason. Went trailing by 15 or more points. Ladies and gentlemen, I was surprised by the comeback. I'll tell you that. Tyrese Halliburton, he's a young rising star in this league. I don't label him a superstar because for me, a superstar is somebody that's the number one option that carries the load that is the face of a franchise from start to finish. And you know, they have that level of responsibility on their shoulders. The Indiana Pacers are a collection of really, really good parts that could end up winning an NBA championship. Shea Gilgis Alexander was sensational last night with 38 points, but not when it counted. That was Tyrese Halliburton who was not good. He was jittery and shaky Looked like a deer in headlights in the first half. Through the third quarter he wasn't much better. But then as the game waned, he came on and let you know that his presence needed to be felt. Nemhard really showed up and showed out and created shots for himself and did some things. Niecemith made sure he was formidable as well. Even Miles Turner hit a bank shot three. Pascal Siakam hit a corner three from the right. You know, the Pacers were 10 of 16 from on corner threes last night in game one. Give credit where credit is due, they came back. They scored 66 points in the second half on better than 50% shooting against the number one defense in the NBA. That's saying something. So Oklahoma City, who has a problem closing out close games, their record is under.500. Like three and six. When you know within three point games, you know, during the regular season and one and four in the playoffs. This is who they are, this is who Oklahoma City has been. And so Shea Gilgis Alexander is going to have to be that superstar, that league MVP Jalen Williams gonna have to show up and help him. If you can average 22 points a game on 49% shooter from the field, 46% shooter from three point range in a conference finals, you can damn sure do it in the NBA finals against Indiana. Oklahoma City is in a tough matchup now and I couldn't be happier because walking into the finals, I had Oklahoma City in six. I still have Oklahoma City in six. But a lot of people believed that the Pacers could get swept. I never believed that. I believe the Pacers were good to win two games, possibly force a game seven. But I knew they would have to win game one to have a chance to do that. Because I don't see OKC losing game two. And I think that if they had gone back to Indiana or going to Indiana, the Games 3 and 4 up 20 in the series of this NBA Finals, I think that Indiana would have been in trouble. But now that Indiana has won, Oklahoma City's got to get its stuff right. And I think that's going to make things very interesting. So I'm happy I got a good finals. That's what I'm happy about. I'm happy that the Indiana paces are showing the basketball world. This is a series to pay attention to because don't think for one second that they can't beat okc. I like this. I like this.