Six keys for Game 2

Human nature is where it is at for this weekend at least, we're probably going to have to wait a few millennia before we change significantly. We might lose our toes, hunch down a bit due to all that screen time. Maybe we'll destroy ourselves completely, maybe we'll evolve to hover a few inches above water so that we don't get our non-toes wet.

What is certain is what will not change, a visiting NBA team's ability to overcome self-satisfaction and complete at full road sweep after taking the first game of a playoff series away from home.

They can't, it is impossible. The quote is already in the paper, "we came here to steal home-court advantage and did," following that Game 2 loss. By 48 points.

Normal person behavior, resting on laurels, letting Game 2 get away from even after poring over every detail from Game 1.

Then again, there is that other human pull, avarice. Fighting sloth since Day One.

Greedy. Let's get greedy, man.

The Pacers could fall victim to those imaginary walls, or they could clean up and push for two. It's only one evening's work, a few hours.

Is it possible?

Game 2 in Oklahoma City at 8:08 PM Eastern on ABC

THREE KEYS FOR A PACER WIN

First, River Trivia.

Indianapolis sits on the White River and the longer it goes without social media hearing about this, the better.

RECOGNIZE THE OPPONENT

It is true, the Thunder have uniforms that look like light-blue Knick uniforms. But these Thunder are not the Knicks, the coach is clean-shaven, Oklahoma City appears to be field twice as many players as New York.

The Pacers are used to fighting through good screens, but Indiana is not yet used to great defense. The Pacers adapted to the shape of their opponent in the Knick series, they'll need some time adjusting to the Thunder juggernaut, no shade to the Knicks.

Actually, shade to the Knicks. Shade, shade, shade.

For the Pacers, one-handed passes are out. "Tight bounce passes," a Rick Carlisle complaint from Game 1, are out. This doesn't just run for that Game 1 first half but also that second half. The Thunder were inches away from another 19 turnovers in Game 1's second half as well, a knuckle away from the referee letting the action play on.

"Value each possession," Myles Turner said after Game 1, he almost pounded the podium. Rick Carlisle is Myles' fourth Pacer head coach, Turner is allowed to approximate the message for us masses.

TREAT THE MVP LIKE RICK BRUNSON'S KID

No slight on Jalen Brunson nor Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but, a guard's a guard. The MVP will attempt more field goals in Game 2, but the Pacers aren't bothered. Keep him off the line and others from dunks, threes and free throws.

At one point in Game 1, Gilgeous-Alexander was 7-17 from the floor, 16 points, the Thunder were winning. Limiting his effectiveness is not a direct line toward success, but the unshared possessions do add up after a while.

Let him shoot. The worst he can do is say "no."

KEEP IT SMALL

Pascal Siakam was smiling in the jump ball circle, T.J. McConnell heard the "MVP" chants and thought "those are mine," Obi Toppin heard the "OKC"-chants and decided to play as if they were screaming "Oh-Bee-Tee."

Again, it's just one evening. Don't wander with the ball, talk a bunch on defense, follow through on jump shots.

THREE KEYS FOR THE THUNDER

Oklahoma City sits on the North Canadian River.

Alright.

The North Canadian River stems from the Canadian River which springs from New Mexico.

What.

Was there a three-way trade between North American countries during the first year of NAFTA that I didn't hear about?

LOUD CITY MORE LIKE LOB CITY

There is only so much Myles Turner and his cast of 6-3 helpers can do to guard a 10-foot rim with two dunker's spots on each side. And a warm splash of paint before it.

The Thunder aren't volume three-point launchers, the Pacers will not trip over themselves trying to squelch open perimeter looks in Game 2, but they will be prone to back screens and front screens and, look out, side screens. The screen that sets the screen that becomes Chet Holmgren screaming as he throws down an open dunk.

This doesn't mean Isaiah Hartenstein requires a spot in the starting lineup, though it would be nice to see a few plays run for the Thunder big man, he airballed a floater in Game 1 and I can't recall the last time he was as inaccurate with his signature move.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault brought up the lineup change unprompted mere seconds into his turn at the Game 1 podium, how many times Cason started this year, the number of different lineups, all sorts of stats he wouldn't mention had the Thunder won.

Whichever lineup coach chooses in Game 2, he'll surely seek to ensure his bigs kiss a little rim.

AC ON ALL THE TIME

Not me, not in this hotel room, I'm trying to do my part. The rest of the hall has it on full bore, doors open.

Daigneault, also unprompted, immediately mentioned the scoring difference in Game 1 directly after Game 1. "One point," was his point, certainly something he shared with his charges minutes before inside the losing locker room.

Each locker room is tied to start Sunday night, each coach doesn't want Game 2 to last that way for very long. This doesn't mean Alex Caruso is in the lead lineup, but we could see selective application from the Thunder bench in Game 2. Not wasting possessions, using Caruso as the all-time defender, like we all used to do with Ron Harper in NBA Live '98. Maybe Kevin Garnett, if you turned Illegal Defense off.

The luxury of fielding Caruso was underdiscussed heading into these Finals, my bad. It is up to the Thunder to ensure Caruso is front and center every instance the Pacers make a point to develop quick hitters.

TIP OF THE CAP TO MY TEAMMATES

There were likely some restless Thunder Thursday nights and Friday mornings. After a contest decided by "one point."

Well, everyone got a taste: Daigneault worked ten players in the first quarter and his 11th (Ajay Mitchell) started the second period. The Thunder can settle in, now, or tense up. Whichever suits them, in Game 2.

OKC's coach tensed up that rotation as the game moved along, trimming it to eight players in the third period. This was the frame when Lu Dort splashed two three-pointers, he hit five all game. Dort may hit five in Game 2 or zero in Game 2 and Game 1 was a one-point game. Others must step up, in case Dort rims out.

In case the free throw well continues drawing buckets of sand.

YOU LEFT THE WATER RUNNING

Thanks for reading!