Basketball fans are pissed about the Finals’ court design. But there’s a reason it’s so plain

The look of the NBA Finals basketball court is being reconsidered, and we could have the fans to thank.

At Game 2 last Friday, the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder played on the Thunder’s home court. The “Thunder Blue” court shows the team logo at half court and also features logos for Paycom Center, the arena. What it didn’t have was any indication this was a championship game. No “NBA Finals” logo, no Larry O’Brien Trophy.

Unlike the in-season NBA Cup, which got 30 all-new...