Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
If there is one thing almost universally loved among sports fans, it’s an underdog. Sure, teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Dodgers have big fanbases, but basically everyone else wants them to lose. That is pretty much the situation playing out in the NBA Finals, even if it’s not from the most likely culprit.
Despite having a franchise history of coming up short and failing to win with elite players, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been the most dominant force in the NBA for most of the last two seasons. After what was essentially one of the more dominant regular seasons in league history, the top-seeded Thunder survived a seven-game series against the Denver Nuggets and blew by the Minnesota Timberwolves to reach the Finals. Their star players are in commercials and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander just won his first MVP award. They are, unquestionably, the favorite to win the NBA Finals.
Which is exactly why almost no one wants them to win.
The Indiana Pacers, on the other hand, have been the darling of the NBA Playoffs. Tyrese Haliburton has emerged as a true star of the league. On the way to the Finals, the Pacers beat the top-seed Cleveland Cavaliers and reignited the simmering rivalry with the New York Knicks. They even own what is to this point The Moment of the postseason so far, when Haliburton hit a game-tying three to force overtime against the Knicks in Game 1 of the ECF.
In a league where no one likes anyone else and rivalries run long, the Pacers have become a uniting force. Nearly two-thirds of fans around the league said they are cheering for Indiana to win the Finals
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26019985/_National_1_60425.png)
Digging into the numbers makes the statement even stronger. If the NBA Finals were decided by the electoral college, the race would be called before midnight. Of the 30 NBA franchises, only six (including the Thunder) have a majority of fans cheering for OKC. Included in that group are both the Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks, teams the Pacers beat on their way to the Finals.
When dropping the voting data over a map of the United State and combining it with which team is most popular in each region – the results look something like the 1980 presidential race.
The Finals, however, are very much not decided by vote or popularity. Even with the clear majority of fans cheering for the Pacers, even more were confident the Thunder will be crowned champion. Ahead of Game 1, 81% of fans said they expect the Thunder to win it all.
Then Game 1 actually happened.
Somehow, the Pacers continued to do weird Pacers magic things and erased a double-digit fourth-quarter lead. A Tyrese Haliburton midrange jumper gave Indiana its first lead of the game with only .3 seconds left. The Pacers took Game 1 and the early series lead, stealing home court advantage.
So what does that change overall? Is this just a speed bump, a wakeup call for the Thunder who will go on to take care of business? Or are the Pacers really a team of destiny on track to bring the Larry O’Brien trophy to the Hoosier State?
We will be tracking the fan sentiment throughout the series. The first roller-coaster drop may have already hit. Who knows how many more are to come. Check back next week for continued results and more surveys surrounding the NBA Finals.
