Pacers-Thunder show why worrying about market size, ratings is waste of time

In the days leading up to the 2025 NBA Finals there seemed to be more discussion about the teams not playing as opposed to the two teams that are playing — the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder. 

The concern was largely centered around the fact both teams are small market teams and what that could mean for the network and league ratings. 

Commissioner Adam Silver was asked about it. Columns were written and hot takes were distributed on the networks. 

But as the Pacers and Thunder showed on Thursday night in Indiana's stunning 111-110 comeback win in Game 1, all of that commentary and worrying is pointless when it comes to the games actually being played on the court. 

Unless you are a league or network executive that has some sort of a financial investment in the games, the subject of TV ratings or the market size of the teams playing should never enter your discourse as a sports fan. 

It shouldn't be a part of your thought process. It's meaningless to you. 

Not only is this the NBA Finals and a championship series with two teams that have proven themselves to be the best in the league this season, it's also still the NBA. It's professional sports. Everybody here is good. You know you are going to get quality basketball and potentially thrilling games. 

Thursday's game was a perfect example of that. 

The Thunder seemed to be in control for most of the game and looked like they were going to do what they have done all season — cruise to a win in dominant fashion and prove why they finished with the best record in the NBA. 

And then it was the Pacers turn to do what they have done all postseason and erase a massive deficit in thrilling fashion, finding a way to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with another clutch moment from their star, Tyrese Haliburton, with 0.3 seconds to play in regulation.