There is another side to the discussion about this year s "Mini-Ball NBA Finals"?

There is another side to the discussion about this session known as the "Mini-Based NBA Finals" which has nothing to do with the people's concerns about the low TV ratings.

The players and coaches who live and work in Oklahoma City and Indianapolis, they seem to really like the environment. They feel the support from familiar faces, and the atmosphere is different from big cities like New York and Los Angeles: there is less sarcasm and less so much pressure of taking for granted expectations.

The Thunder and the Pacers attended the NBA Finals Media Day. They hoped that the "small town charm" in their hometown would be so kind from the fans that they could convey to the estimated millions of viewers through the TV screen.

This round of the series will be between Oklahoma City, the 47th largest TV market in the United States, and Indianapolis, the 25th largest TV market. The game will start at the Thunder home court Paycom Center.

Thunder head coach Mark Dagnott said: "In a market where everyone is cheering for you, supporting you, and encouraging you, you can truly feel this atmosphere in the game and in the community. I really think it will have an impact on our players' growth."

Oklahoma City has a population of about 700,000. The Thunder is the only top professional sports team in the state (although the teams at the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are also very popular). By land area, Oklahoma is the 20th largest state in the United States, with nearly 70,000 square miles.

The last time the Thunder reached the finals was in 2012. After that, after the end of the 2020 park season, they experienced a period of short but severe reconstruction. Coach Mark Degenut said that during the days when the Thunder lost more than 50 games and young players were able to fully experience the game, the more inclusive and supportive fan environment in the small ball market showed obvious advantages.

Jaylen Williams was selected for the All-Star and NBA All-Series this season. He studied in Gilbert Town (a population of about 275,000) in the suburb of Phoenix, Arizona. In 2022, the Thunder chose him with the No. 12 pick after a 58-losing season. He remembers that when he flew from New York to Oklahoma City after the draft, fans were waiting outside the hotel where he was staying, and that welcome atmosphere never disappeared. "I've always compared this to a local high school football team that's strong, and then the whole town is united around this team, and Oklahoma is that way. But it's not just the city, it's the whole state. I feel full of love no matter where we go. It's been a really cool experience from the first day we've been here."

About 740 miles northeast of Indianapolis, the Pacers beat the Knicks in Game 6 to secure the Eastern Conference championship. Coach Rick Carlisle said to 17,000 fans who were in a rave ceremony: "In the other 49 states, this is just basketball, but in Indiana, it's different." The scene in the streets in the city center after the game was as enthusiastic as a Carmel High School, Munster High School, Suway High School or "Hikoly High School" (well, that's in the movie) won the homecoming victory. The streets were filled with cars and drivers honked their horns happily. The opposite side of the players' parking lot was also filled with people, and some people shouted "MVP" to congratulate Pascal Siakam (the MVP of this Eastern Conference Finals), or Teres Halliburton (the team's facade) on driving away.

Indianapolis has a population of about 180,000 more than Oklahoma City, and the NFL's Indianapolis Colts also have their own court a few streets away from the Pacers' home court. The Indianapolis 500 Grand Prix is ​​one of the most popular racing events in the world, and Indiana also has a number of compelling university teams including Notre Dame, Indiana University and Purdue. Don't forget that WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark is now playing for the Indiana Fanatics. Under the leadership of Clark, this league is ushering in explosive attention and growth.

There are still a strong resonance between the residents of Indianapolis and the local team, as well as between the players. During the Pacers’ Eastern Conference Finals against the Knicks, countless stars from the Colts and Fanatics came on site, and Pacers players were also frequently present to support the Fanatics.

Terris Halliburton said, "The reason why our home atmosphere is special is that people are really passionate about these teams, their parents are passionate about this team, and their grandparents are the same. I think it is completely different from the home advantage or fan composition of big cities. This atmosphere is different."

Haliburton grew up in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and went to college in Ames, Iowa. Both cities have a population of about 66,000. He said: "Indianapolis is much bigger than I know." Halliburton continued: "I know people always say it's a small football market, but I haven't lived in a big way since I was a kid, so I like Indianapolis very much. It's a great place for me and my family. Now my whole family has moved in, and we love it very much. The city makes me feel very happy. I don't need the lights and glamor of those big cities."

"I really like the local, small-town fan atmosphere here. I think Oklahoma City fans can understand this feeling... This is why I want to continue to stay here and even want to play here for my whole career. I really enjoy my life as a Pacer. ”

Carlisle has been active in the NBA almost since 1984. He was selected by the Celtics and has played in markets of all sizes since then as a player or coach. He said: “When you have a good environment, work with a group of good people and the team is competitive, it is a good place to live. ”

Carlisle was obviously reluctant to emphasize the benefits of coaching in Indianapolis alone. He turned to a story: in 2000, he met Thunder general manager Sam Presti, who was an intern at the time, in San Antonio, and praised Presti and Pacers general manager Kevin Prichard as one of the best team builders in the league.

Carlisle said: "This series should be a tribute to these two general managers and their team. As for the size of the market, I understand people will worry about how many people in the small-scale team will watch it. But if we are celebrating the sport of basketball and putting the game above everything else. This is one of the principles emphasized by Adam Xiao Hua when he took office. Then you really shouldn't care about these things. It really shouldn't be. ”

" So I know we will do our best to represent our cities and states, and so will the Thunder. ”