The Indiana Pacers hold a 2-1 series lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals.
They are hoping to change that with Game 4, because being down 3-1 is almost always impossible to climb back from.
What can the Thunder change to ensure victory?
According to Evan Sidery, they may want to change a specific lineup choice that hasn’t helped them.
On X, Sidery noted that the Thunder have played Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein together for just five minutes during the Finals.
Instead of having them on the court together, the Thunder have moved away from their big size.
“Before the Finals, Holmgren and Hartenstein lineups carried a +5.7 net rating,” Sidery wrote.
The Thunder have played Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein together for only five minutes in the NBA Finals.
Oklahoma City going away from their size advantage to run with the Pacers is backfiring.
Before the Finals, Holmgren and Hartenstein lineups carried a +5.7 net rating. pic.twitter.com/ivCtYp6u8A
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 12, 2025
Holmgren posted 20 points and 10 rebounds during Game 3, while Hartenstein put up just four points and three rebounds off the bench.
Hartenstein hasn’t been producing a lot of points during the playoffs, but he has been a huge help because of his size.
The idea of pairing him with Holmgren sounds really good on paper, because it makes the Thunder so much bigger, preventing the Pacers from being able to get past them and work hard in the paint.
But that hasn’t been OKC’s approach, at least not yet.
Of course, they may change that now that they have fallen behind by one game.
The Thunder were favorites to win the championship, and they would be very disappointed to go this far and then come up short.
Fans will be paying close attention to the Thunder, especially at the start of Game 4.
That will show if the team thinks changes are needed and could determine the outcome.
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