Roland NBA Physicality Report

Oklahoma City @ Indiana — June 11, 2025
Final Score: IND 116, OKC 107

Team Physicality Game Summary

Winner: INDIANA

OKC had a slight edge on the physicality front in the first quarter, but after that INDIANA dominated and finished with 81 more "physicality plays" and a +30 "physicality wins" edge. They also delivered +13 "level 2+ force plays" as they took the high intensity moments as well as the overall gameflow.

Team
RPR*
Plays
Wins
L/D
L2+
Falls
KD
IND
447.6
523
150
30
51
25
21
OKC
366.3
442
120
23
38
21
25

Tracking over forty types of contact, aggression, and resilience -- every second of the game.

Header notes:
RPR = "Roland Physicality Rating" (in development), Plays = Physicality Plays (adjusted by level of force), Wins = a Physicality play that is deemed a 'win', L/D = Losses/Defeats (non-intentional fouls and soft plays), L2+ = level 2 or higher force physicality plays, Falls = player hits the ground, KD = Knockdowns: causes opponent to hit the ground


Five "Coaching Factors" Summary

Factor
Winner
Edge
Top Players
Physicality
INDIANA
+30 wins, +13 Level 2+ Force plays, +81 RPR
Shai (110 RPR, 38 Wins), Siakam (83, 30 W), Turner (74, 22 W)
Playing Hard
INDIANA
+12 wins, +29 plays
McConnell (9 Wins), Haliburton (8 W), Holmgren (8 W)
Decision Making/BB IQ
INDIANA
+9 net wins (+20 vs +11 for OKC)
Haliburton (10 wins), Shai (10 W), McConnell (7 W)
Shotmaking
Oklahoma City
+2 (won the threes, lost the midrange)
Dort (+5), Mathurin (+5), Joe (+4)
Referee Effects
Oklahoma City
+1 wins (close, IND with edge in some areas)
Holmgren (+5), Jalen W. (+4), Turner (+4)
  Physicality = "Player vs Opposing Player contact plays"
  Playing Hard = distinct from physicality, "non contact/light contact effort plays"


Notable Team Physicality Details

  1. INDIANA was much more active on grabs/holds with 19 more instances and 7 wins often when Shai could not get free easily to get the ball. In addition, the always important active hands/hounding ballhandlers, usually an OKC specialty saw IND win the category with +5 wins.

  2. The Pacers also had control on the night in the challenging defenders at the rim/verticality defense aerial combo (+7 wins, and a high success rate with their own finishing attempts).

  3. They also had more success with screening actions, and were far more consistent in pressuring ballhandlers in the backcourt, with many IND players taking turns there, to the point Shai let his teammates handle getting the ball across halfcourt.

  4. OKLAHOMA CITY on the other hand was hard pressed and didn't win any physicality category of note, but did keep it even at least on postups and rebounding physicality plays.


Player Physicality Stats

We track over 40 different forms of physical contact, with both the player initiating and the player receiving the contact. From this we can calculate all kinds of stats, ratings, and nuance. We are still learning about the way these stats influence winning. More to come!!

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

Player
RPR*
Plays
Wins
L
L2+
Falls
KD
Gilgeous-Alexander
109.8
97
38
2
10
5
5
Jalen.Williams
70.2
59
26
4
7
2
5
Holmgren
55.0
70
16
0
4
3
3
Dort
37.0
62
9
3
6
2
4
Wallace
31.2
35
12
3
2
4
2
Hartenstein
27.8
51
7
3
5
1
1
Caruso
23.2
45
7
3
2
2
1
Wiggins
7.2
11
4
3
0
1
2
Joe
3.2
9
1
2
1
1
2


...OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER "physicality suffered"

Player
xRPR*
Plays
Agn
Wins
Agn
L2+
Agn
Gilgeous-Alexander
124.0
130
38
13
Jalen.Williams
84.8
99
27
5
Holmgren
67.0
66
19
11
Dort
50.0
60
15
4
Wallace
50.8
43
16
6
Hartenstein
22.8
37
5
3
Caruso
52.2
61
16
4
Wiggins
19.0
14
7
1
Joe
17.5
8
6
3

Analysis:

  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all players in RPR, Physicality Plays, Wins and even Level 2+ Force plays. The most important numbers though are likely on the physicality suffered side where he had more than 2x the xRPR of any INDIANA player, with 130 plays and 38 wins taking a toll no doubt. This is all too familiar of the IND-NYK series where Jalen Brunson was facing constant physicality while Haliburton coasted through the series with a much more moderate level.

  • Jalen Williams was aggressive on offense, driving, creating space for shots. He too took punishment though with the second highest xRPR (physicality suffered) and wins against in the game.

  • Chet Holmgren did not have a very physical game, with only 16 wins and 4 level 2+ plays (as opposed to 19 wins, and 11 L2+ plays against). He is certainly lighter than Turner, and does make "playing hard" non contact plays to make up some of the difference.


INDIANA PACERS

Player
RPR*
Plays
Wins
L
L2+
Falls
KD
Siakam
82.8
79
30
4
6
7
6
Turner
73.8
93
22
5
13
1
2
Haliburton
56.5
54
20
1
4
5
1
Nembhard
56.0
70
18
5
8
0
4
Toppin
40.8
55
15
3
1
0
1
Mathurin
40.8
41
14
1
4
5
0
Sheppard
33.8
37
10
1
5
1
2
McConnell
31.5
30
12
2
2
3
2
Nesmith
24.8
55
6
6
7
3
2
Bryant
6.8
9
3
2
1
0
1

...INDIANA PACERS"physicality suffered"

Player
xRPR*
Plays
Agn
Wins
Agn
L2+
Agn
Siakam
53.5
60
13
9
Turner
52.2
59
17
3
Haliburton
57.5
68
17
4
Nembhard
48.2
65
14
4
Toppin
34.2
37
11
3
Mathurin
35.8
45
9
4
Sheppard
19.0
30
5
1
McConnell
37.0
26
14
1
Nesmith
50.8
41
16
7
Bryant
9.5
10
3
1

Analysis:

  • Pascal Siakam Another strong game from the Pacers player who has been in the Finals before as a starter, and has shown a solid mix of physicality, playing hard effort plays, and sound decision making. Led the team in Wins, Falls, and Knockdowns.

  • Myles Turner delivered some fury in key moments, notching wins and L2+ force plays when it mattered most.

  • Tyrese Haliburton continues to shine under a light burden of "physicality suffered".


Signature Physicality Moments

  • Q2 (9:44) McConnell Mayhem overwhelms the Thunder
    Ater McConell drive and dish to cutting Nesmith, T.J. steals inbounds again but has to fight for loose ball taking it away from Wallace then throwing it off him as he goes ob.

  • Q2 (5:22) Turner benefits from the ref blind eye and produces multi-effort production
    IND players scrambling all over on defense finishing with Toppin swatting Dort shot ob with 1 left on clock. On inbounds Turner has Holmgren in vice grip no call runs over Shai trying to set a screen no call and blocks Chet shot.

  • Q3 (9:18) Shai under constant physicality pressure
    Lots of backcourt pressure and hounding by Nembhard, OKC barely get it across then on a screen Turner ties up Shai for jumpball.

  • Q4 (9:24) Pacers inflicting "physicality suffered"
    Pressure turnover Mathurin up into ball Toppin grabbing Chet, Nembhard grabbing Shai and he can't get free.

  • Q4 (8:33) McConnell making plays again
    McConnell pushes ball gets bunny over Shai misses but Mathurin creates an oreb and Nembhard hits a jumper. Then McConnell with THIRD inbounds steal and immediate score to tie game.

  • Q4 (7:15) Great defensive possession for OKC
    Mathurin falls twice and Jalen Dort almost get turnover before Shai forces miss at rim.

  • Q4 (1:56) Turner too much force for Holmgren
    First Turner blocks Chet's 3 then Chet regains ball drives and Turner absorbs the drive and knocks it ob off Chet.


Final Take

“This Is What Playing Hard Looks Like: Indiana Out-Fights OKC in Game 3”
Carlisle’s 2014 coaching vision comes to life in the NBA Finals

Game 3 of the NBA Finals was a turning point — and a coaching clinic. Indiana didn’t just win the scoreboard battle, they won the fight, dominating the game's physical and effort-based dimensions in a way that perfectly mirrors what Rick Carlisle defined as “playing hard” over a decade ago.


💥 Shai Worn Down
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all players in physicality plays (130), RPR (110), and physicality wins (38) — but it came at a steep cost. He suffered over twice the physicality of any Indiana player (xRPR 124), and spent much of the game under constant pressure.

Signature stretch:
Q3 (9:18) – Nembhard hounding him full-court, Turner ties him up for a jump ball.


🔁 Role Reversal: Haliburton Coasts, Shai Grinds
This game echoed the IND–NYK series: once again, Indiana allowed their star (Haliburton) to flow freely, while punishing the opponent’s creator. Haliburton suffered only 57.5 xRPR with just 17 physicality wins against — barely half of what Shai endured.

IND-OKC Game 3 ..."physicality suffered"

Player
xRPR*
Plays
Agn
Wins
Agn
L2+
Agn
Gilgeous-Alexander
124.0
130
38
13
Haliburton
57.5
68
17
4


🛠️ The Hidden Battle: Contact and Fatigue
While the box score shows a tight game, the physical toll tells a different story. Indiana overwhelmed Oklahoma City with:

  • +81 more physicality plays
  • +13 more high-intensity “Level 2+” force plays
  • +19 grabs/holds (many on Shai)
  • +7 wins in verticality/at-rim contests
They owned the invisible margins of the game — where toughness, persistence, and discomfort live.


🔨 Indiana's Culture on Display
This was Rick Carlisle basketball — a team that:

- Pressures the ball
- Cuts hard
- Plays with an edge
- Moves with urgency
- Multi-effort possessions
- ...and doesn't stop playing

These were the same values Carlisle circled back in 2014 when asked to define “playing hard.”
They’re not buzzwords. They’re a blueprint — and the Pacers are living it.


🧠 Final Word
The scoreboard says 2–1 Indiana.
The film says they’ve found their identity.
And the data says they’re doing exactly what Rick Carlisle always believed wins in June.

"We gave this list to every Mavs coach in 2014 to build our "playing hard" dataset.
Rick's picks are circled below

10 years later, he’s got Indiana up 2–1 in the Finals — and the stuff he circled back then is exactly how they’re winning now. "
Rick Carlisle Playing Hard Definition