OverDrive - Mitchell on the Pacers securing a Game 7, Indiana's dominant performance and the depth making a mark

Episode Date: June 20, 2025

TSN Basketball Analyst Sam Mitchell joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the NBA Finals, the Pacers bringing the series to a Game 7 against the Thunder, Indiana's depth having an elite game, Pascal Siakam's leadership for the roster, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander one step away from a title, the favourite in the game and more.

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who was in the building last night. How you doing, Sam? Doing good, guys. Just a little tired but other than that I'm doing good. Yes. Okay. Well here we go man. Game seven. How would you describe the series so far? I mean from my standpoint it's been a great, great series. What have you made of it through six games so far? I think it's been some of the best basketball that we've seen all year. I think these two teams, not okay. See, but I think Indiana has surprised the amount of people how complete they are. I think that coach Rick Carlisle has proven that, you know,

everybody keeps talking about Eric's posting the best coach in the league, but I think we need to have that consistency there because tell me who has done more than that. Remember now than Rick Carlisle. And remember now Rick Carlisle when he was in Dallas, he beat every closer in that LeBron James team. So I just think right now, this is some good basketball. And I think Indiana has proven to people that their championship cover team, their defense is what's been wowing me.

Their ability to defend and turn OKC over like OKC did to them early in this series and seems to me Rick has flipped the narrative in. I hope game seven is as good as we all anticipated it to be. I would hate to see a blowout. Sam, do you think the game seven will continue with the trend that I just seem to see it a lot where it's like the road team gets smoked in six and then they smoke the other, they smoke the opposition the opposite way around at home. Do you see that happening? I wouldn't think so in a game seven because so much is staking in. You know we always talk about how teams play different at home and on the road and that's true. But this

is different. I mean we saw OKC in the closed out game against Denver, they just blew the doors off Denver. But this is for the NBA championship. This is also a team that everyone thought that would win this series in five. Everybody picked OKC in five. Clearly to me, they're the most talented team. But I think the equalizer has been Rick Carlisle on that bench. And if you ask me right now, who is the MVP for the Indiana Pacers? I would probably say Pascal.

But if if Ob OB Toppin or TJ McCollough didn't have 25 points or something like that and they win this game, we might be shocked to MVP. Yeah, you're right man. Toppin was great last night. That McConnell flies, Sam. I mean he just pushes. He's tough. Yeah, he's a big player and I think that was what was significant about last night the fact that the Pacers were in

the driver's seat all night Halliburton didn't have to play a lot like I don't know what you saw out of Tyrese you know up close and personal but he's clearly not a hundred percent but how how significant yeah I thought if he needed to play 35 40 minutes he could have last night obviously good that he didn't have to he gets another two days of rest only had to play 23 minutes so he's gonna be full to ready to go guys so again okay see all the pressure on them they were supposed to win this series they're the most talented they got the best player the NBA is shake they got another top kid guy is J.il in the NBA on that 10.

I'm going to say this and I know people laugh, but in truly three years, Chad Hogan may be the best player on that team because he possesses those physical attributes that the other guys just don't have. So Sam, what have you seen from Pascal Siakam throughout the whole playoffs and even, like you said, the other last night? Just consistently being Pascal. playoffs and even like you said the other last night You know Pascal's not he's not a guy that can go get your 40 with me either a 30 or 40 like J Will but pastels consistent, you know every night he's getting it from 18 to 22 points He's getting a 6 to 8 rebound every night

He keeps the ball moving the things that I love about Pascal in this series his defense He's he's a place, excellent, excellent defense. And as a matter of fact to me, they've been at their best defensively when they move Pascal at the center. He's been a better rim-contector. He's a much better pick and roll defender, switching out a hard showing and getting back. So Pascal's defense to me has just been lights out. With Sam Mitchell.

And from OKC's standpoint, standpoint you know shea turn the ball over a lot last night and you know i'm curious you did not turn the ball over don't need to be forced into it it i like you came out there when people play there they act like she did turned the ball over that indiana or permit to turn over indiana made him turn the ball over. Every time he

did something bad or got into a frown, Indiana stripped him. Every time he went to the basket and tried to spin on that spin coming back, they kicked the guy down to double team him every time he turned the back. So it's not just Shade that turned the ball over. Give Indiana credit. Indiana forced Shade to 8-0. Well, let's say they put him in similar positions on sunday night you know what what happens how does it how does he need to change the outcome he quite right

and that's what we call out there trying to do a great call out of indiana but we may lose this series game seven at home okc is a good thing that they're really good but guess what serious. Game seven at home. OKC is a good team guys. They are really good. But guess what? I'm going to make everybody beat me besides Shea and J. Will. I got to. I can sleep at night if Caruso and Dork and Chet or whoever else beat me. I can live with that.

I can go on that plane, drink me a beer and be okay with that. But if she gets 40 and J we're just 30, I can't live with that. So I expect Indiana to do everything in their power to load up on those two guys. And again, now this can be dangerous because like, like last night in India, play a lot better and a lot more confident at home. But now this is different. This is for the nba championship yeah this is as big as it gets you know it was sam mitchell and you know the the youth of oklahoma city has been uh... talked about a lot but it it's been a but benefits of them because the

look at great they've been they've been outstanding all year uh... but how could you see having an advantage in a game like this where, you know, neither team has really a lot of experience in this. Seattle is obviously one before. But do you see one team or the other, you know, feeling more comfortable in a game seven? I would think because OKC was such a heavy favorite. Think about it. They had every time the Vegas was picking them a double. Did you win? I would think it would be OKC.

I would think Indiana should go in there with the house money thinking. No one thought we would be in the game seven against OKC had with Halliburton dead banged up in the way that we play. So if I was Indiana, I would go in there and just let it all hang out for any. And if Indiana can jump on OKC Earl and get them down and make them play tight, then the Pacers can't go in there and win. Now, it's not impossible for a guy.

If I was Betty, I want Indiana to win, but if I had to bet my hard-earned money, it would be hard for me to get OKC at home in a game-semi-season, based on what I've seen this year and in the playoffs. like it would be hard for me to get a good book a key and home again there are people who have been here in the playoff uh... was sam mitchell i was watching uh... here member which or was debating you know the best players in the game if she carries the mirror as a big game in game seven does that mean he's the

best player in the nba where do you stand on on shes ranking and what's on the line on sunday night well you're going to be a big issue you know that's objective every year that's why they have a review so yeah i don't think that the way you could say that that's clear in in i mean i i can make an argument but you know that you're not even if you give you the repeat he was better than the Joker best year because the things that he could do

defensively that the Joker can't do and never will be able to do. Think about it. So we can make that argument. But for this year, yeah, Shane has been the best player. He's been the MVP. Now, if you have top three, four player in the NBA, absolutely. Guys, he and I can make this statement, without thinking and putting a lot of thought into it,

he's probably the best guard in the NBA today. Sammy, as soon as the final buzzer goes, the season seems to shut down and it's craziness as far as player transactions. Do you see that to be applicable this year? Oh, guys, I think so. I think what OKC has done and Indiana has done without these agents superstars, I think teams are going to try to unload their agent superstars. How's it really do? Think about it.

Perfect. The guys are agents. They're hard to coach, they're stuck in their ways. Think about coaching Indiana, okay, see how much fun that'd be. Two young teams that are hungry, that are coachable. Think about some of the stuff that we've witnessed this year with players and coaches and things of that nature. It's just, to me, so refreshing to see two teams play,

but yet two teams that allow their coaches to coach You know, they allow their coaches to coach without all these guys my team and my guys That stuff drives me crazy, but it's just been refreshing to me that the games have been about the team Yes, she has been great. Jay will have been great, but this has been too well played This man to This has been great, but this has been too well played. This has been too NBA-thousand well played by two highly very good coach teams. I mean both of these coaches are excellent coaches, but I would have to get a straight edge to Rick right now because he's doing it with mirrors and tape. I mean he's just coaching his butt off.

Sam before we get you out of here I'd like to know how's your short game chipping and putting is it dialed in or are you still working on it? It's suck man my game suck it's been raining in Georgia for three weeks so the courses are saturated it's been extremely hot and then I haven't I haven't touched my club for three weeks. I've been busy a lot, doing a lot of radio, a lot of TV stuff and traveling a lot with the playoffs and stuff. And I tell you what, guys, I have enjoyed this final because the games have been exciting.

I think if it was two teams called the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, people would be talking about how great a experience it's been. But because it's Indiana OKC, but the people who are not watching, they did a disservice to themselves because this is some excellent basketball. Guys, when you take Shay had eight turnovers again, I get what you're saying, but she didn't have a turnover. Indiana forced him into a turnover.

Think about the game. Indiana won game one, 25 turnovers, didn't lead the game with a point, three seconds left in the game. That's the only time think about the game in the other one game what 25 turnovers didn't leave the game at the point three seconds left in the game that's on time they let the game so guys we've had every scenario possible both teams could have have closed these series out by now if you think about it so game seven I hope it is I hope it comes down to a one or two position that's what I want to see. Well, that's what we're pulling for too. We don't have a dog in the fight. Let's just have a great game Sunday night.

And we'll take it from there. Y'all got a dog. You know y'all pulling, y'all know y'all pulling for shade. We are. Y'all got a pull for the Canadian. Yeah. Since, since, since again, no hockey team in Canada can win the cup.

Come on, man. I had to stick it in. I had to stick it in. the cup. Come on man. I had to stick it in. Can't fight facts man. And let me twist it. Not only can we win the cup, y'all are the team folks. I mean Florida the Sunshine State. If you feel you're cooled up with ice in the morning,

by 11 o'clock in the is melting it so hot in Florida. So how the heck you play hockey in Florida and you can't play hockey in Canada? Please tell me. It's a great question. That's why we're taking over the NBA. That's why we're taking over the NBA, Sam. That's a good one, guys.

Good comeback. Great catching up with you, Sam. We'll do it again soon. Anytime, guys. There guys there is Sam Mitchell This pride season celebrate with the station that says bold vibrant and diverse as you are I heart pride Canada from dance anthems to pop icons And hits from 2s LGBTQ plus Canadian artists It's your soundtrack for Pride and Beyond. Just ask your smart speaker to play iHeartPride Canada. Stream us on your

phone or listen now at iHeartRadio.ca. Happy Pride from iHeartPride Canada.