The 5 teams that could STUFF the Thunder chances of going back-to-back
Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine unearth the data that proves the Oklahoma City Thunder dynasty could reign supreme for a long while, starting with going back-to-back next season. But contenders do exist — the 5 teams that could stifle OKC's plans, and why. Plus, Tom & Dan analyze Jrue Holiday's fit with the Portland Trail Blazers. All ahead on this episode of The Big Number.(1:10) - Thunder are favorites to win 2026 Finals(12:35) - How much does KD help Houston Rockets' Finals chances?(18:10) - Can Cleveland Cavaliers take advantage of chaotic East?(23:15) - Where's the Golden State Warriors' ceiling with Jimmy Butler?(29:25) - Should New York Knicks be a Finals sleeper even without a head coach?(33:10) - Are the LA Lakers Finals odds too low?(40:05) - Trail Blazers acquire Jrue Holiday
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1:01:30
38.4 miles per game: why the 2025 NBA Finals are truly next-level
Tom Haberstroh & Dan Devine break down the electric 2025 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers by spotlighting the record-setting intensity measured by 38.4 miles run in each game this series. They dive into why this series marks a HUGE shift in playing styles, Pascal Siakam’s transformative two-way play for Indiana and Jalen Williams’ historic 40-point game at just 24 years old. Plus, the pair debates whether Desmond Bane is the missing piece Orlando needs to become true contenders in the Eastern Conference.(1:27) The Big Number: 38.4 miles per game(21:07) Little Numbers: Thunder open shots in NBA Finals(24:36) Little Numbers: OKC & IND 3-point shooting(29:29) Little Numbers: Siakam’s impressive averages(33:25) Little Numbers: points scored in transition(39:02) Grizzlies trade Desmond Bane to the Magic
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54:11
How Indy keeps making doubters pay, including Jay-Z's failed $1M Thunder bet
Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine are back with this week's big number: 1 million dollars. That's how much Jay-Z allegedly wagered and then lost, when he placed a milly on OKC to win the Finals in 5 games. Indy won Game 3, which rendered that bet moot -- and Indy added another victim to its pool of people that doubted them. Don't miss the guys break down the stats that prove Indy may very well be the better team, both offensively and defensively. Plus later in the show, Tom wonders if Kevin Durant could return to Oklahoma City — especially if the Thunder get packed up in 5 games!(1:10) The Big Number: $1,000,000 wager on OKC in 5(18:14) Little Numbers: Pacers record in first 25 games(23:50) Little Numbers: Indiana’s MPH(29:15) Little Numbers: Pacers passes per game(32:41) Little Numbers: Indiana’s defensive rating(37:14) Best landing spots for KD in trade
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50:33
Proof: PACERS PATH to Procuring Prize & Parade🏆
Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine are well aware that the Oklahoma City Thunder are LIKELY to win this year's NBA title. But what is Indiana's path to a championship, and just how viable is it? The Big Number has unearthed the key stats that prove how the Pacers could walk away with the Larry O, as improbable as it may seem. It would have to start with Tyrese Haliburton becoming ultra aggressive, which will be easier said than done against his #1 kryptonite: Lu Dort.(1:23) The Big Number: Haliburton scoring vs. OKC(11:59) Little Numbers: Pascal Siakam points produced in postseason(16:21) Little Numbers: Thunder corner 3’s(19:41) Little Numbers: What happened last time OKC lost a series?(23:50) Little Numbers: Thunder vs. zone defense(28:54) Knicks fire Tom Thibodeau(38:50) Suns hire Ott as head coach
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45:34
Pacers & Thunder face off in NBA Finals! Who has the upper hand?
Dan Devine and Tom Haberstroh break down the historic matchup between the Indiana Pacers & Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025 NBA Finals. With only a 1% chance of this pairing at the start of the season, the hosts dissect why both teams surged to the top, challenging long-held NBA assumptions about youth, roster continuity, and midseason trades. The conversation spotlights star performances from Tyrese Haliburton and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, plus the impact of strategic additions like Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso. The episode explores why these Finals are one of the most improbable in recent memory, what sets each team apart, and what this means for the future of team-building in the NBA.Don’t miss the discussion on what’s next for the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks, and the unique blend of clutch play, defense, and team chemistry fueling this unlikely Finals.(1:10) - Pacers & Thunder defy all odds to face off in the NBA Finals(20:40) - Why Thunder excel at avoiding turnovers(26:15) - Caruso & Hartenstein fuel OKC's defensive engine(31:50) - Pacers: clutchest team in the NBA?(34:50) - Pacers & Thunder have both dominated in 2025(43:20) - What's next for the Timberwolves?(50:00) - What's next for the Knicks?
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Each week, Tom Haberstroh pours over the data and digs through the stats to come up with THE BIG NUMBER – the one metric that defines the NBA that week. Tune in as he and Dan Devine put Tom’s big number to the test and explain the one thing from the world of basketball that was hidden in plain sight. Listen to THE BIG NUMBER for a fun conversation filled with jokes, stats that you won’t hear anywhere else and become a smarter NBA fan in the process.
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