Charles Barkley Backs the Thunder in NBA Finals
Charles Barkley is all in for the Thunder as this year’s NBA Finals heat up.
Following the Thunder’s 111-104 victory over the Pacers in Oklahoma City on Friday night, Barkley expressed that the Thunder holds a significant advantage, labeling the series as “A-lap” in his post-game analysis.
“Yeah, I think they’re really in trouble,” Barkley noted to reporters after the game. “When teams are on the brink, you have to go for the finish. Taking a 3-1 lead puts you in a solid position, but coming back can be tough… You already know you have the superior team.”
“Then they start thinking, ‘We need to utilize our bench more.’ We’re back to what got us to the Finals. It’s all about dominating the boards,” he added. The tension in Oklahoma City was palpable, with both teams knowing Friday’s outcome was crucial.
The Thunder managed to even the series at two games each, demonstrating accuracy by shooting a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line, while star player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 35 points.
“Waking up this morning, we knew that being at 3-1 is really different from being at 2-2 before going home. We fought hard for this win, which is why we came out on top. We’re determined to bring that same intensity into Game 5 and 6,” said Gilgeous-Alexander.
During a pivotal moment, he scored 11 points in a crucial few minutes as the Thunder sealed the game late in the fourth quarter.
“Yeah, he’s phenomenal. He really stepped up for us offensively,” remarked Oklahoma City’s Mark Daigneault about his star. “It was an impressive performance.”
Daigneault made the strategic choice to allow Gilgeous-Alexander to rest for a bit in the first quarter, hoping to preserve his energy for the later stages of the match.
“Well, it’s not really a choice for me,” Gilgeous-Alexander replied. “What I want to achieve in this game, what the team aims for, that’s part of the process.
“We push through everything, give our all, and press hard on the opposition. In that sense, we really have no other option but to play,” he concluded.
