The Bulls have had quite a heated rivalry with the Indiana Pacers through the years. It dates back to the battles between Michael Jordan and Reggie Miller in the 1990s.
So, like a lot of people from the Chicago area, I don't have a lot of love for the Pacers. However, with the Bulls eliminated early from the NBA playoffs this season, I've adopted Indiana as my rooting interest moving forward. I have two reasons for this:
1. The Pacers are currently playing the loathsome Miami Heat, a whining, crying, flopping bunch of prima donnas who represent everything that is wrong with professional sports.
2. The longer small-market Indiana lasts in the playoffs, the lower NBA commissioner David Stern's precious TV ratings get. I'm quite sure commissioner Stern is salivating over a possible Lakers vs. Heat matchup in the Finals. You know he wants that Kobe vs. LeBron storyline. I, for one, would like to see that all go to pieces. How about Indiana vs. Oklahoma City instead? I think that would be awesome.
I was hanging on every play down the stretch of the fourth quarter Tuesday night as the Pacers held off the Heat, 78-75, to even the best-of-seven series at 1-1. I couldn't help but think of my formal colleague Michael Lush, a diehard Pacers fan who must have been cursing Paul George's ineptitude at the free throw line as Indiana struggled to put Miami away.
But the Pacers did manage to hang on. To celebrate, let's have a little song:
It's been a long while since the Pacers have won a playoff game like that. Edge of your seat the whole game. I was cursing every one of our guys at the line near the end of the game last night. Hibbert went 1-2. Hill 1-2. George 0-2. 2-6 from three guys who shoot pretty well from the line? Unacceptable. Especially in a game where a 2 point lead is basically a tie ballgame. We got some luck from the basketball gods last night. Bron missing both Fts and Wade missing that layup (which he made much harder by adding a flop). Ugly game, but great win.
After the game I thought to myself, "who else is on Miami? who else actually scored?" I swear all I was watching was Wade or Lebron on every possession. I don't remember anyone else even touching the ball or playing defense. I hate the Heat.
I'll be at game 3 on Thursday. Go Pacers. Beat the Heat.
A buddy of mine described last night's game as being "2-on-5," meaning LeBron and Wade were trying to beat the Pacers by themselves. Miami was playing the kind of basketball I hate — individual, selfish, 1-on-1 crap. I'm glad the Heat failed. I laughed uproariously when LeBron bricked those FTs. Even more hysterical was Wade trying so desperately to draw a foul that he blew that layup. Then, he looks at the official flabbergasted that he didn't get the call. Well, there was no foul, so the refs didn't call anything.
If the Pacers play like they are capable of playing, they can beat Lebron and Wade. Their team just doesn't have enough. I'd be lying if I thought they could win a series with the "big three" playing. But right now, Lebron and Wade are not going to be able to hold up for 40+ minutes a game playing all out on both ends of the floor.
And I noticed something last night watching the LA/OKC game. Another cliche, buzzword that was essentially created by Boston and Miami accumulating three All Star sure fire HOF players. "Big Three." I heard this multiple times last night. LA's "big three" was Bynum, Kobe and Gasol. OKC's "big three" was Durant, Westbrook and Harden. At this rate, you could justify a 'big three' for just about every team in the league.
I hate buzzword bingo.
The funny thing about that is nobody in their right mind would ever believe Westbrook and Harden are as good as Durant. Bynum and Gasol aren't as good as Kobe either. Really, what you're talking about is not really a "big three." It's a superstar and couple of other guys who are good. Bosh isn't in the same class as LeBron or Wade either, although Bosh might actually be more valuable to the Heat than Wade. Miami doesn't have much in the paint without Bosh, and that's what gives the Pacers a chance.
Pacers pound the Heat in Game 3.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap;_ylt=Ao0DxQgVbqJ4gv5W.qtgSNG8vLYF?gid=2012051711
The Heat, all the Miami fans and all of Bron-Bron's apologists were already celebrating an NBA championship when D-Rose went down. I sincerely hope that arrogance comes back to bite them.
Heat up 3-2 now.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/james-wade-lead-heat-past-082620356--nba.html
Too bad. Maybe LeBron will choke in the finals again.