Indiana Fever HC Outlines ‘Key’ Deciding Factor in Pacers vs Thunder NBA Finals

“I got this.”

Those words still echo in basketball lore—Kobe Bryant’s fearless declaration in Game 4 of the 2000 NBA Finals. Shaquille O’Neal fouled out, “Hack-a-Shaq” strategies failed, and with a sprained ankle, Kobe took over in overtime, sinking the Pacers’ hopes. Larry Bird’s Indiana squad never recovered, losing the series 4–2. That night wasn’t just a game; it was a heartbreak etched into the soul of Indiana basketball fans—a bitter reminder of how close they came to glory and yet how far they fell. Now, fast forward 25 years. The Pacers have clawed their way back to the Finals, facing a team that seems like a shadow of that old Lakers squad—only this time it’s the Thunder. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren are the new dynamic duo, a fresh Kobe-and-Shaq echo, but the stakes feel just as crushing. Can Indiana finally break free from that old nightmare and write a new ending?

Enter Stephanie White—Fever head coach and hoops tactician. Watching the Pacers’ run, she pinpointed the X-factor: the bench.

At a recent postgame press conference, when asked to slip into her “analyst hat,” White didn’t hesitate.

“I think it’s going to be so fun,” she said with a smile that spoke of anticipation and respect. “Two fast teams, both deep, both eager to run. It’s not just about what the stars give you, because they always deliver. It’s about the production from those coming off the bench. That’s the secret sauce.”

Depth. The heartbeat of championship teams.

Yes, Tyrese Haliburton can rack up double-doubles in points and assists. Yes, Pascal Siakam might drop 25-plus points on any given night. But the real difference? The role players—the quiet grinders—Andrew Nembhard, Myles Turner, Obi Toppin, T.J. McConnell, Aaron Nesmith. The guys who don’t always make the highlight reel but shift momentum, change defenses, and grind out wins.

Haliburton summed it up best on May 13 after beating Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers:
“We’re different than every other team in the NBA. We don’t just have one guy who scores all the points. We defeat teams in different ways.”

While the Thunder lean on youth and athleticism, Indiana’s bench—led by veterans like McConnell and Isaiah Jackson—has been the engine behind their postseason surges. Remember Game 6 against Boston? That second unit flipped the script with a +14 run, swinging momentum and firing up the team’s surge.

Bench stats don’t lie. The Pacers average 39.8 bench points per game, 7th-best in the league. The Thunder trails just slightly at 35.1. Both benches are deep, dangerous, and ready to swing in the finals. Indiana’s 50-32 season, second in the Central and fourth in the East, and their 4-2 Eastern Conference Finals win over the Knicks show how far they’ve come. But if the ultimate prize is to be theirs, the echoes of history and the strength of the bench will likely decide the story’s final chapter.

Stephanie White knows this all too well. The Fever’s own bench production—quiet yet mighty—has pushed them to a Player Impact Estimate ranking of 55.2, fourth in the league. So as the Pacers face this Finals challenge, one question lingers: Will history haunt them again, or will the depth, grit, and heart of their entire roster finally deliver the victory they’ve been chasing for 58 years?

Fever and Pacers: Cheering Each Other All Season Long

Well, no matter what happens in the NBA Finals, one thing is for sure—the Indiana Fever will be cheering the Pacers on from the sidelines. Why? Because they’ve been doing it all season long.

This bond between Indiana’s two pro basketball teams has become one of the most heartwarming storylines of 2025. Just look at Caitlin Clark, who’s practically been the Pacers’ unofficial hype woman.

Nov 25, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever Guard Catlin Clark (22) and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in the second half of the game between the Indiana Pacers and the New Orleans Pelicans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

On June 1, during Indiana’s 125-108 win over the Knicks, Clark couldn’t help but troll New York by mimicking Jalen Brunson’s signature celebration after Tyrese Haliburton knocked down a huge three. And it’s not just for show—Clark means it. After the Pacers’ epic Game 1 comeback win over New York in the Eastern Conference Finals, she posted, “PACERS ARE THE GREATEST COMEBACK TEAM I’VE EVER SEEN.”

She even called into the Pacers Radio Network after their dominant Game 4 win over the Cavs, cheekily introduced as “Caitlin from Downtown.” Her breakdown? “Best offensive half I’ve ever seen in all of basketball.” The love is real.

But it goes both ways. Tyrese Haliburton showed up courtside for the Fever’s season opener, cheering loudly for Clark and later sharing a warm hug. He’s been a vocal supporter of the Fever’s journey and the growth of women’s hoops in Indiana.

It’s bigger than basketball—it’s a culture. The Pacers and Fever aren’t just sharing an arena; they’re sharing energy, belief, and a vision for what Indiana basketball looks like when everyone’s lifting each other up.

The post Indiana Fever HC Outlines ‘Key’ Deciding Factor in Pacers vs Thunder NBA Finals appeared first on EssentiallySports.