Where do the 2025 Pacers rank among the most random finals teams ever?

[Street Knowledge]

Based on what you thought of them before the playoffs. The consensus was that the Cavs and Celtics were the clear cut 2 best teams in the East, then it was a gap to the Knicks who they owned then Indiana.

Like imagine telling people both the Cavs and Celtics would not make the ECF.

 

[mastermind]

The NBA got a history of improbable nba finalists.
1974-75 Warriors
1975-76 Suns
1980-81 Rockets
22-23 Heat

I think the Pacers were more likely than those teams, and their record in 2025 is at near a 60 win pace. The NBA media just slept.

 

[Gil Scott-Heroin]

In retrospect, given they made the ECF last season, it's really hard to categorize them as being "random". They ran it back with the same playoff rotation and they made it one step further this time around.

Surprising, sure, but not random.

 

[SchoolboyC]

The Pacers are kinda similar to the Mavs last year in that their record/seeding isn’t directly indicative of their team strength bc they got off to a slow start.

 

[KingsnBucs1987]

In retrospect, given they made the ECF last season, it's really hard to categorize them as being "random". They ran it back with the same playoff rotation and they made it one step further this time around.

Surprising, sure, but not random.

Thats what I was gonna say, Pacers have been on the improving and on the upswing, not saying they were supposed to be here, but it shouldn't really be a surprise after they beat Cleveland and after December they were on pace to be a top-3 team in the East.

 

[Saysumthinfunnymike]

They got a nice squad and some favorable match ups. I saw OKC is a -750 favorite. That's wild.

 

[Boonapalist]

The 71 Bullets, 76 Suns, or 81 Rockets gotta be up there

 

[Harry B]

Ironically the same EC finals matchup as this year.

Knicks 99.

Did they even have a single all-star?

 

[AlbertPullhoez]

Ironically the same EC finals matchup as this year.

Knicks 99.

Did they even have a single all-star?

That season they didn't have an All Star game

 

[Devil Plisken…CMS]

Ironically the same EC finals matchup as this year.

Knicks 99.

Did they even have a single all-star?

Sprewell was a star
Houston was an unreliable star

Both made all star games

 

[Starski]

They had a top record in 2025 heading into the playoffs and made the ECF last year. Wasn’t the expectation but to imply they shouldn’t be here is stupid.

 

[Harry B]

Sprewell was a star
Houston was an unreliable star

Both made all star games

That season they didn't have an All Star game

yea was more thinking like all-star quality players. The season before that no one made it, which is wild considering the size of the Knicks fanbase. We talking no third team all-nba, no second team all-defense, not even second team rookie.


And 1 win from not even making the playoffs. Also Sprewell and Ewing having questionable health, the latter came back to haunt them too

 

[mbewane]

Ironically the same EC finals matchup as this year.

Knicks 99.

Did they even have a single all-star?

That Knicks team was not your habitual 8 seed. We had injuries, and the shortened-season made it harder for the team to develop a chemistry. But once the playoffs started it was clear that we were way better than our record.

Anyway Indiana shouldn't be that surprising, they were in the ECF last year. They've been trending upwards ever since Carlisle became coach. The fact that neither the Cs nor the Cavs made it to the ECF is more surprising than the Pacers going to the Finals imo.

 

[AlbertPullhoez]

yea was more thinking like all-star quality players. The season before that no one made it, which is wild considering the size of the Knicks fanbase. We talking no third team all-nba, no second team all-defense, not even second team rookie.


And 1 win from not even making the playoffs. Also Sprewell and Ewing having questionable health, the latter came back to haunt them too

Allan Houston and Latrell Sprewell were both All Star caliber players

That team clicked and got hot late in the regular season and into the postseason that year

 

[Da_Eggman]

Honestly they should have had a better record they were working young guys in and had some role issues but they really were better than just 50 wins