There’s a saying that “greatness recognizes greatness,” and in Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Finals, Rick Carlisle didn’t just recognize it – he channeled it. Emulating Bill Belichick’s style, the Indiana Pacers coach implemented a strategic defense designed to neutralize the Thunder’s most dangerous player: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA).
The result was a crucial victory that gave Indiana a 2-1 lead in the series. As Draymond Green explained on The Draymond Green Show, the tactic echoed Belichick’s classic approach: double-team the second-best player and force the opponent to beat you with their best. Carlisle embraced that mindset.
SGA still scored 24 points, but he did so under relentless pressure – swarmed by double-teams, early help, and tight coverage that drained the energy from Oklahoma City’s entire offense.
Carlisle turns respect into a trap
More than trying to stop SGA, Carlisle let him play… completely alone. The plan was simple: collapse the paint, isolate Gilgeous-Alexander, and dare the others – Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Lu Dort – to step outside their comfort zones. So far, they haven’t answered the call. OKC’s offensive chaos is a mirror of Indiana’s defensive discipline.
This defensive philosophy, born on NFL sidelines, has transformed the series from a fast-paced duel into a mental chess match. The Pacers’ rotations slow down the game and force the Thunder into constant improvisation.
Indiana controls the game by controlling the pace
What’s most fascinating is that the strategy isn’t just working – it’s breaking OKC psychologically. Every time SGA drives, he runs into a web of defenders that push him to the edge of the shot clock. Players like TJ McConnell, Andrew Nembhard, and Aaron Nesmith don’t look like guards – they look like linebackers executing a detailed game plan.
Carlisle has already proven he can change a series. He did it in 2011 with Dirk Nowitzki, inserting J.J. Barea to throw the Miami Heat off balance and shift the Finals. Now in 2025, he’s once again changing the rules of engagement.
The result isn’t just a series lead – it’s a masterclass in sports strategy. Rick Carlisle is winning from the whiteboard. And if the Thunder don’t respond soon, this series could decisively swing Indiana’s way.
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