Story & Photos
By Michael Kinney
OKLAHOMA CITY– I’m feeling nostalgic right now. As someone who grew up on the NBA of the 80s and 90s when the Lakers and Celtics were handing out clotheslines, the Bad Boys were publishing the Jordan Rules and the New York Knicks tried to fight everyone, something Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said took me back.
When Gilgeous-Alexander was asked what will determine the winner of the 2025 NBA Championship, the league MVP made a statement that brought a smile to my face.
“They’re stubborn in the way they play,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of the Pacers. “They play like that no matter the game, no matter the environment, no matter the round or stage they play to with their identity. That’s why they’ve been really good. They impose their will on the team. That’s just about us being able to impose our will.”
When Gilgeous-Alexander said “Impose our Will”, he said it matter-of-factly. Like, what other answer could he have given when the ultimate prize is on the line? He didn’t talk about racking up fastbreak points, hitting free throws, or which team can make the most 3-pointers.
It was all about forcing one team to do things they do not want to do. And no team has done that better this season than the Thunder.
“That’s what it always comes down to, no matter if it’s game 41 or it’s game 91,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “The team that wins is the team that imposes their will and has their imprint on the game more and that’s what it’s going to come down to.”
From the outside looking in, the Thunder might not seem like the team that is looking to impose its will on an opponent. You would never mistake Oklahoma City for the Bad Boys.
However, the Thunder have a distinctive way they like to play and when they get rolling, scores can get out of hand.
Whether it’s their swarming defense, streaking 3-point shooting or Gilgeous-Alexander’s ability to get to the free throw line, opposing teams have been unable to stop Oklahoma City from doing what they want to do. Or at least not on a consistent basis.
I was so intrigued by this response, I had to ask Gilgeous-Alexander how the Thunder does Impos. After a long, thoughtful pause, the man who seemingly has had the answer for any defense thrown at him this year admitted it was hard to explain.
“It’s going to sound like not rocket science and not special, but you just have to impose your will more,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “If they want to get to this spot, you have to beat them to the spot. If they want to cut backdoor, you have to make sure they don’t cut backdoor. If they want to beat you to a screen, you have to beat them to the screen. You just have to take them out of their comfort zone and play in your comfort zone. They’re going to try to do the same thing to you. But whoever does it more, whoever plays in their comfort zone more, usually comes out successful.”
However, as Gilgeous-Alexander pointed out, the Thunder are facing a team that, over the second half of the season, has been doing the same. The Pacers went from an afterthought to the squad that appears to have beef with every team.
Indianapolis plays physical, plays defense, plays fast, and talks trash. They also have a star player who hits big shots in big moments.
Throughout this series, you will hear over and over that the Thunder are playing a mirror image of themselves. Both will be looking to impose their will upon the other.
Whichever team makes that happen will be the one hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy when it’s all said and done.
“It’s definitely something I learned to experience, just playing through these games, watching these games,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “My whole seven-year career so far, that’s been the common denominator in winning teams and winning games.”
Game 1 is set for Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Paycom Center.
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