Although the finals lead 2-1, the Pacers biggest problem at the moment is injury problems

On June 13, in the fierce competition in the NBA Finals, the Indiana Pacers temporarily led the Oklahoma City Thunder with a score of 2-1. However, as the series deepens, the Pacers are facing a serious challenge - injury issues. Team core Tyres Halliburton publicly expressed discomfort after Game 3, and Miles Turner also revealed that she was in poor health. In addition, other players in the team are also more or less troubled by injuries. This series of physical problems undoubtedly adds variables to the trend of the finals. As the Pacers' offensive engine, Halliburton's performance this season is amazing. He can contribute more than 20 points per game and send more than 10 assists at the same time, which is the core of the team's offensive system. However, the discomfort in the calf may affect his breakthrough speed and shooting stability, which is undoubtedly a huge blow to the Pacers, which rely on him to organize the offense. Halliburton admitted in the interview: "The calf is indeed a bit uncomfortable, but this is the finals and I will try my best to overcome it." Despite this, fans and coaching staff are still worried about his health. The situation for

Miles Turner is also not optimistic. As the team's inside pillar, Turner's role on the defensive end is irreplaceable. He can not only protect the basket, but also open up space and shoot three-pointers, which is an important part of the Pacers' tactical system. However, physical discomfort caused his performance in Game 3, with rebounding and blocking numbers below season average. "I'm really tired, but I'll stick to it." Despite this, it's still unknown whether his condition will recover in the next game.

In addition to Halliburton and Turner, other Pacers players were also more or less troubled by injuries. Substitute point guard T.J. McConnell sprained his ankle in the second game. Although he insisted on the game with an injury, his movement speed was significantly affected. Frontman Aaron Nesmith also injured his shoulder during the game, and although he insisted on playing, his shooting feel dropped significantly. These injuries make the Pacers' rotation lineup look very tight. In contrast, the Thunder appear younger and more energetic. Their core players Shea Gilgers-Alexander, Josh Gidedy and Chet Homgren are all in a rising career and in good health. Especially Alexander, his performance in the finals is MVP level, and he averages more than 30 points per game, which is the most reliable scoring point on the Thunder's offensive end. Gidey and Homgren also showed great vitality on the defensive end, using speed and bounce to interfere with the Pacers' offense many times. The Thunder's youthful advantage may gradually emerge in the second half of the series. As the game deepens, physical fitness and health will become the key factors in determining the outcome. Thunder head coach Mark Dignot said in an interview: "We are very clear about our strengths, and youth and vitality are our capital. We will take advantage of this and put more pressure on our opponents in the next game."

Judging from historical data, injury issues in the finals can often change the direction of the series. In 2015, the Cleveland Cavaliers suffered injuries from Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving in the finals and eventually lost to the Golden State Warriors; in 2019, the Golden State Warriors lost to the Toronto Raptors due to injuries from Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson. These examples show that injuries are variables that cannot be ignored in the finals.

For the Pacers, how to deal with injuries will be the key to whether they can win the championship. Head coach Rick Carlisle said: "We will pay close attention to the health of the players and adjust the rotation strategy if necessary." However, in the high-intensity confrontation in the finals, the players' recovery time is extremely limited, and the Pacers need to find a solution in a short period of time.

On the other hand, the Thunder sees hope for a reversal. When they are young, they not only have an advantage in physical fitness, but also have more fearless psychologically. Alexander said in an interview: "We will not give up any opportunity, we will give our all in every game." This fighting spirit and vitality may become the key to the Thunder's reversal.

In the next game, the Pacers need to rely more on team cooperation on the offensive end to reduce their personal dependence on Halliburton. At the same time, other players are also needed to stand up on the defensive end to make up for the gap caused by Turner's decline in form. And for the Thunder, they need to continue to be aggressive and use speed and physical fitness to hit their opponents' defense. On the stage of the finals, injuries and physical fitness are often hidden winners and losers. Although the Pacers are temporarily leading, the injury problem makes them walk on thin ice; the Thunder sees the dawn of a reversal with their youth and vitality. Regardless of the final result, this series will become another classic showdown in NBA history.