Oklahoma City Thunder's Game 4 victory in the NBA Finals is deemed a decisive factor by Charles Barkley, who proclaims the series to be essentially over.
Charley Barkley's got some bold words for the NBA Finals, boys! After Oklahoma City's thrilling 111-104 win against the Pacers, he declared the series just might be in the bag for the Thunder.
Friday night's victory tied the series at 2-2, and Barkley's post-game analysis suggests that the Thunder now have the edge. During the post-game coverage, he criticized the Pacers, pointing to their fourth quarter collapse as clear evidence that the series momentum has shifted toward the Thunder. The Pacers managed only 17 points in the final quarter, scoring just one point in the last 3:20, and missed crucial free throws.
The Thunder's star player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, was a force to be reckoned with in Game 4, pouring in a game-high 35 points and shooting a perfect 10-for-10 on free throws. That's right, 10 for freakin' 10! Gilgeous-Alexander scored 11 points in the final three minutes of the game to turn the tables when the Thunder were down by four.
Coach Mark Daigneault seemed to make the right call by resting Gilgeous-Alexander for four minutes in the first quarter to save his energy for the game's crucial moments. And save it he did, outmatching the Pacers physically when it mattered most.
Gilgeous-Alexander acknowledged the need to dig deep and play through the pain. As he sees it, "We have no choice but to play through it," if the Thunder want to bring home the championship. Sounds like they're ready to give it their all!
So, what do you think? Got a take on this series?
The Thunder's dominant performance in Game 4, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's remarkable 35 points and perfect free throw performance, has sparked Charley Barkley to predict that the NBA Finals may be within the Thunder's reach, following their 2-2 series tie with the Pacers. With their standout player's determination to play through pain and the tactical decisions of Coach Mark Daigneault, the Thunder seem poised to outplay the Pacers, especially in crucial moments, reminiscent of their come-from-behind win in Game 4.
