Man, what can I say? If there is one team in the league this season that defines the "Heart of a Champion", there isn't a team that even comes close to the Indiana Pacers. This team just wins you over. Their heart, their tenacious defense, their hustle, their "us against the world" mentality after EVERYTHING they went through...I mean, what can you say about this team? I wouldn't wish what happened to them on my worst enemy (not even the Jazz, and that is saying something), and yet they overcome ALL odds and are currently leading the freakin' world champs 2-1 in the series Absolutely unbelievable! And as for the "Coach of the Year" award, is there ANY doubt whatsoever that Rick Carlisle has been the best damn coach in the league (may be even for the past three-four seasons with his 50+ wins in Detroit back-to-back, and yet getting fired)? I think if Indiana wins it all (I know, tremendous odds are against them, but this team seems to thrive whenever the odds are stacked against them), I couldn't be happier for a team outside the Rockets to win it. Stern had pretty much given them a "death sentence" when he suspended Artest for the entire season, and suspended O'Neal and Jackson for a third of the season pretty much (including the prolonged absence by O'Neal due to injuries), and they didn't only make the playoffs, they ended up as a 6th seed! As for the ageless Miller, there is likely no great player in NBA history that has retired while still playing this well and contributing this much to his team. Props to Reggie for his continued playoff heroics. I think Indiana fans are lucky to have this team, and I REALLY think (and thought at the beginning of the season) that if Indiana was in full health/had a full roster, they would've been the best team in the Eastern Conf and the favorites to come out from the East. I just wanted to give props to this franchise, they have tons of heart, a lot of gutz, and lot of determination, AND have overcome all odds already, and then some. Whatever they do from now on will just be a plus. I think Carlisle put it best in the post-game conference today after Larry Brown's complaints about officiating: "I don’t want to hear it. Not with the season we’ve had. They made a great comeback. We’re hanging on for dear life and I’ve got to hear about the officials, come on!" It would be absolute sweet justice if Indiana ousts Detroit. I still doubt it will happen, but they sure won't go down fighting, and I surely won't doubt this team again, not after what they've done already. As I have already said in the thread title, I can't help but root for this team. They play the game the right way, they remind me SOOO much of the Eastern Conf of the mid-1990s, when teams played tenacious defense and hustled and played "rough". They are an old-school type team that I just enjoy watching. If the Pacers win it all, I will be almost as happy as if the Rockets ended up winning it all. I am rooting for them all the way
Carlisle, shmarlisle... your team put you in the situation you're in Carlisle. You expect me to give you credit for fighting out of the hole your own dumbasses put you in? Give me a break... (Note : Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson were on my fantasy team, so this opinion may not be completely unbiased) And no, I'm pulling for the Heat - Kobe must be ridiculed further.
I think your fantasy league bias is breaking through here, so I will let you slide on that one As for further redicule for Kobe, I must agree with that. If Indiana doesn't win it all, then the Heat are a team I am also rooting for. I just would love for the Daddy to get another ring while Kobe is rediculed for years and years to come. There are few things in this world I enjoy more than Kobe being humiliated, all bad things couldn't happen to a worse guy
I root for Indiana only for Reggie Miller because I like this guy, but I think the Pistons will win the series in 7 games.
i agree with your assessment of indiana, this is the only series of this round that is fun to watch. in all honesty, detroit should be sweeping indiana right now, but i love watching this grind it out game. after the playoffs, the one thing im gonna miss from the nba is hearing "reggie for three" on tv. i said this somewhere else, but he is the only thing left from the prime era of the 90's.
reggie is my third favorite player of all time. the first two being dream and russell. he needs a ring! clutch city can be reborn in indy this year!
btw, that was a TOTAL flop on Hunter. Dear god, why the hell would you flop on a shot with less than a minute to go? Hell that reminds me of Juaquin Hawkins flopping on Jordan during Yao's rookie year in Washington, in which we made a pretty damn good comeback. Again, in that situation, how the hell would you flop on one of the greatest players in all time? eh?
That's the first thing I said - as if the refs are going to call a foul on that Ferengi in the closing seconds of a game. It looked like mostly a flop to me; it didn't seem like that big an offensive foul despite the fact the Ferengi's arm did go out to clear space.
Yeah what Carlisle said was awesome imo. Pretty good stuff. Go Pacers they are underdogs and yeah that was a major flop
The Pacers would be an awesome story if they won it all this year. We would remember Reggie's last season a long time. (Also they'd be more likely to trade Artest to the Rockets for Padgett, Mike James and a draft pick!) On a side note, what's the deal with Larry Brown getting to say this about the refs last night: "I can't imagine how this sport is evolving now where they put you in situations where other people determine games. It just blows me away." And: "I'd rather lose it that way than have somebody inventing things for them." It's too bad JVG wasn't vague like Larry, because I doubt Larry will get fined. Go Pacers!
I can't route for those wankers. They, and Reggie Miller, had their chance to beat the Bulls and Lakers in the late 90s (teams I really wanted them to beat, especially the Bulls) when they were really good and blew it. No love loss now. Plus Oneal, Jackson and Artest seem awefully arrogant to me. Never been a Sheed fan, but the rest of the Pistons I can stomach just fine, plus those guys embarrased Kobe last year. I would not mind at all if Detriot wins again and prooves again great teams can beat greater players.
He may be a little dirty on the court (ok maybe a lot), and he may run his mouth (which he doesn't do as much any more)...but that's just the competitor in him. Reggie is one of the classiest individuals in the league today if you look at what he does for his team and the way he handles himself with the media. And he is just downright unselfish. He's been one of the great shooters his whole career, yet the offense has rarely ever centered around him. It was always well-balanced when Smits was there, and now Jermaine O'neal is the main option. The league is going to miss him when he's gone. For one thing, those were completely different teams. They hardly "blew" it. They took the Bulls to 7 games in '98, nearly ending the Bulls run of titles. They were completely overmatched by the Lakers in the 2000 finals...Shaq was as dominant as ever, with Rik Smits and Sam Perkins guarding him. Nobody in the league was going to beat those Lakers.
I agree they were a different team, a more likable team IMO (sans Oneal, SJack, Artest). However they were up on a very beat up Bulls team late in game 7, and simply did not execute the last 5 minutes of they would have beat them. Also, that Laker team was vulnearable. Portland should have beat them (though I am glad they didn't b/c I couldn't stand that Pippen-Wallace Blazer team either) and Indy could have won that series with a couple different plays. Like I said Miller had his chance in those series, and I don't like most of the new guys, so down with them. Besides, they play a lot like Detriot except Detriot does more talking on the court and Indy does more talking during the dead ball. So if you like Indy and the way they play, how can you not like the improved, more focused, version in Detriot.
I just like Indiana not just because of all the odds they have overcome this season, but also because the style of ball they (and Detroit by the way) play is so reminiscent of that 90s Eastern Conf teams that were tough and tenacious on defense and played physical basketball. They and the Pistons are sort of a throwback team to the 90s era. I just like the teams that play Indiana's and Detroit's style. I think the Rockets/Heat are also two teams similar in style that I enjoy watching. The rest of the league I just can't stand.
