One of the most intriguing aspects of the Oklahoma City Thunder is their double-big lineup with Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, and how the Indiana Pacers would counter it was going to be one of the more important storylines to follow in the NBA Finals. However, two games into the series, the Thunder proved that it might not matter what they do, because the Pacers are in trouble regardless.
In Game 1, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault opted not to have Holmgren and Hartenstein share the floor at all. For the most part, this strategy worked as Oklahoma City dominated for most of the game before collapsing and [losing at the last second](https://8points9seconds.com/tyrese-haliburton-s-revenge-tour-just-got-even-more-poetic). In Game 2, Daigneault went back to the double-big lineup. It worked to perfection for them, especially given how dominant they were in the paint, and they were able to walk away with a convincing victory.
The Pacers have what it takes to beat the Thunder in the series, but they were considered the underdog for a reason. Oklahoma City can beat the Pacers in many ways, and they proved that in Game 2. The series is far from over, and the Pacers still have some momentum as the series heads to Indiana, but as it stands, it looks like a championship victory is going to be an even bigger challenge than some may have thought.
The Pacers may not have an answer to Oklahoma City's defense
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Not only did the Thunder have the best defensive team in the regular season, but they also had one of the best defensive units the league has seen in recent history. On the defensive side of the ball, the Thunder are incredibly versatile and deep. They have few to no weaknesses on defense, and they are among the best on the perimeter and in the paint. The Pacers have a great offense, but early on, it seems like they may not have any answers for Oklahoma City.
Through the first two games, the Pacers have committed 40 turnovers to the Thunder's 21. Indiana was one of the best teams in the regular season and playoffs in terms of ball security and not turning the ball over. However, this has not been the case early on in the NBA Finals, and that is a huge problem for them.
Fortunately for the Pacers, they have one of the best coaches in the game in Rick Carlisle, who has made great adjustments and drawn up fantastic gameplans all postseason. As the team looks to get things back on track, they must make some changes. Whether they will be enough for the Pacers to win their [first NBA Championship in franchise history](https://8points9seconds.com/rick-carlisle-needed-quote-show-pacers-win-title) or not remains to be seen.