Finals G6 Preview: Alexander Shock Championship + FMVP Harry is doubtful due to injury

At 8:30 a.m. Beijing time on June 20, the NBA Finals will usher in Game 6, and the Pacers will return to their home court against the Thunder. In the first five games, the Thunder led the Pacers 3-2 on aggregate, and they were just one step away from the first NBA championship in the history of the Russian City. Alexander is expected to lift the championship trophy and the FMVP trophy, while Haliburton is doubtful due to injury.

Thunder coach Daigneault believes that the key to preparing for Game 6 of the Finals is "empathy". "We always try to put ourselves in the shoes of our opponents," said Daigneault, "and Paul's 'start from scratch' mentality. We will not introduce any new tactics now, relying only on the mental habits that have been built up for a long time. ”

For Pacers coach Carlisle, the challenge may be even tougher — his team needs to beat the Thunder in two straight games without All-Star point guard Haliburton fully recovering. Carlisle said the Pacers won't really be able to judge Haliburton's playing status until Game 6, and they're looking to get the series into a tiebreaker.

Carlisle revealed that Haliburton was involved in the team's joint practice but "didn't really run" during the 30-minute session. "It depends on who you ask. I have to weigh the risks and ask the right questions," Haliburton said of the decision, "but I'm a competitor, I want to play and I'll do everything I can to play." ”

In the third game of the finals, Haliburton scored 22 points and was one rebound away from completing a triple-double to help the Pacers win. But since then, a calf strain has affected his performance. When the Thunder went from 1-2 to 3-2, Haliburton shot 7-of-2 from the field (1-of-11 from three-point range) in his last two games and scored just 22 points in 70 minutes.

"You can't underestimate great players," Daigneault said, "and if he [Haliburton] plays, we'll have his strongest impact; If he's out, we'll face the Pacers' all-out comeback as well. ”

In the series, key players emerged from the rotation of both teams at various positions: behind Haliburton's quasi-triple-double in Game 3, the Pacers scored 49 points off the bench (Mathurin 27 points, McConnell 5 steals); In the Eastern Conference semifinals last year, Nembhard switched to point guard in Haliburton's absence, helping the Pacers reverse the Knicks.

'Obviously Haliburton is at the heart of us,' Siakam said, "but whether he's playing or not, it's up to the team. The importance of this game requires everyone to take a step forward, and this is a full fight. Siakam contributed 28 points in the battle of Tianwang Mountain - if the Pacers want to compete with the Thunder's "double core onslaught", he needs to continue this performance.

Alexander has combined for 66 points in his last two games, and the spotlight has also been on Jalen Williams, who has scored 67 points in the same period. In the fifth game, facing the defense of the Pacers' "bag ball carrier", Jay Wei scored 40 points.

Alexander said: "Being on the edge of winning the championship is not the same as winning the championship, in my opinion, it only makes sense to win. He praised the culture and environment that the team has built to allow the Thunder to complete their transformation. So far this season, the cohesion in the dressing room and the joy of the whole team have sustained us to focus on Game 6 and be the best version of what the team needs – no matter how many games, how many rounds, how many moments we play, we have to live in the moment. ”

It is worth noting that the Thunder led the Nuggets 3-2 in the semifinals of this season's Western Conference finals, but they lost Game 6 and advanced to the next round through a tie-break. Carlisle is counting on the Pacers to learn from last year's trail to the Knicks, when the energy of the home fans helped them turn the game around in Game 6. "Go all out and hold your ground," he stressed to the team. But the Pacers have to face Alexander and Jayway, who have averaged 60+ points per game in the last three games.

Without dwelling on what it means to win the title, Degneault emphasises the process: "We always approach everything with a 'cumulative mindset', even during the rebuilding period. You can't skip any step in the process. We want to win tomorrow's fight, but the most important thing is to be ready for today and tomorrow, play every round well, and focus on the present moment – once your mind drifts to the past or the future, it affects your ability to accumulate success. ”

List of injuries and illnesses

Thunder: Nikola Topic is out

Pacers: Isaiah Jackson, Jareth Walker are out, Haliburton is doubtful

ESPN predicts G6 win percentage: Thunder 56.4%, Pacers 43.6%