3 Psychological Wars That Will Help Crown Next Champion in 2025 NBA finals

When Tyrese Haliburton and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lined up with their respective teammates before the first game of the 2025 NBA Finals, they knew it was going to be a grind. Both teams play a similar team-first brand of basketball, which has helped them surpass superstar-laden teams to get this far.

According to many, ranking the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers together is sacrilegious. They believe the former is a formidable team that burned through the league to end the regular season with 68 wins.

On the other hand, even if they agree that the East champions have been the second-best team in the league since January 1st this year, they are a step below the Thunder in overall quality. Whatever way one skews that, the six games so far have proved that when the lights are bright, one cannot separate the two.

Where SGA and his teammates have displayed awareness to understand, dissect, and rectify their mistakes, they have also succumbed to the old-school style of basketball that Haliburton and his teammates brought to these NBA Finals.

After they won Game 6, the Pacers look like they have the edge. However, the Pacers are heading back to Oklahoma City, which means they will be without their passionate fans to back them. Therefore, both teams may be battling psychological wars in Game 7 more than anything else.

Tyrese Haliburton has to train his mind to play through injury again

In Game 5, Tyrese Haliburton‘s calf injury became the most important topic among all networks. They debated whether he should take it easy and back out of Game 6. Undoubtedly it was the NBA Finals, but it was also important that the Indiana Pacers did not risk player health.

After an MRI, doctors advised the 25-year-old that if this were the regular season, he would be out for weeks. But he did not listen and played through Game 6 with a sleeve over his calf. Surprisingly, he was not just a passenger.

Many expected TJ McConnell to take on the bulk of the load, but Haliburton wanted to have a say in the proceedings. 14 points and 5 assists in nearly 23 minutes were enough to help swing the game in their favor.

All the Iowa State star needs to do is play similarly in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. His calf might be a bit better after all the rehab, but it still will not be 100%. If he can keep his mind focused enough to overcome the injury and contribute in this manner, his work will be done.

Pacers have to rekindle their do-or-die attitude into Game 7 of NBA Finals

When the Indiana Pacers took the floor at home for Game 6, they knew they had to win at all costs. That is what led them to obliterate the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second quarter, and then continue to hold the fort until the end.

They know the league’s best team will rue their performances from this game and look to bounce back and finish the job they started out to do last October. On top of that, the Thunder will be playing at their home and in front of their passionate fans, all donning white or blue t-shirts, cheering their players on.

In the event the 68-win Thunder start fast, the only way the Indiana Pacers can counter is if they believe from the start that they have to win at all costs. That do-or-die mentality from Game 6 has to follow them into Game 7.

They have seen umpteen times how Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his teammates can flip the switch whenever the Pacers thought they had the upper hand. There is no second chance after Game 7, and Tyrese Haliburton and his teammates have to believe they have to win at all costs.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and OKC have to shake off Game 6 jitters

With the do-or-die mentality, the Indiana Pacers managed to embarrass the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6. Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas noted after the game that in doing so, the East champions might have emotionally destroyed a few of their opponents.

What he meant is that the way the Pacers steamrolled over OKC in the 2nd and 3rd quarters might have made some Thunder players feel hapless, as if they succumbed to believing that their opponents are dominant enough to win the NBA Finals.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his teammates have to shed those thoughts over the next day. Otherwise, they may struggle to grasp the situation that they are in. They still have one game in hand, and considering it will be at home, it presents them the best opportunity to win their 1st-ever NBA title.

To win, they have to start believing that they can stop the Indiana Pacers no matter what form they take in Game 7. They also have to be ready mentally to shake off any mistakes. Only then can they counter the Pacers’ tendencies to stage rallies. The Thunder can win the 2025 NBA Finals, provided they are locked in.

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