The NBA Finals are just days away, with the premier offenses and defenses of the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder set to face off against each other.
For OKC to improve its odds against Indiana, it must make a long-overdue change to the starting lineup.
Benching Isaiah Hartenstein
The Pacers are the quickest, most energetic team in the league, meaning OKC will only be held back by having two centers on the court at once. Although Hartenstein has played well this postseason, averaging 9.2 points and 7.9 rebounds while shooting 62.2% from the field, he lacks the lateral quickness to close out on Indiana’s shooters.
One of OKC’s guards is the perfect solution to this lineup issue.
Both Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace have well-equipped perimeter traits to match up against any of the Pacers’ wings and guards. Both are also competent three-point shooters.
In these playoffs, OKC has a negative NET rating with its starting lineup. However, if one of the two guards is in instead of Hartenstein, they have flourished.
It may be limited minutes, but against a high-octane team like Indiana, this is the best lineup they can have.
Who Will Guard Pascal Siakam?
The Eastern Conference Finals MVP is a difficult matchup for anyone, but Jalen Williams is best suited for the battle.
JDub’s combination of defensive IQ, strength, and length is the best solution. In his limited minutes guarding him this season, he has been the definition of lockdown.
In the playoffs, Indiana is first in catch-and-shoot field goal percentage (45.1%) and pull-up points per game (25.9). With this new, quicker starting lineup, OKC will have great opportunities to contest Indiana’s catch-and-shoot barrage.
Who Should Replace Hartenstein?
Alex Caruso has an extraordinary defender in the playoffs, in addition to being a great three-point shooter (41.5%).
With him being in the starting lineup, they will have multiple matchup options for Siakam. He did an excellent job guarding Julius Randle and Nikola Jokic this postseason, and a change of pace between him and J-Dub would be beneficial.
Along with being an extra defender for Siakam, Caruso can be another matchup for Tyrese Haliburton.
As Luguentz Dort is the likely primary defender for him, Caruso will be a perfect switch on pick-and-rolls. He leaves the Pacers with no easy matchups on the perimeter.
Caruso will be the key defensive piece of the most crucial series in OKC history.
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