by Kent Sterling There was controversy before the NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals started. Indiana coach Frank Vogel said that the Heat are the team that is next. Someone told LeBron James that Vogel said the Heat “are just another team.” James took umbrage and claimed that the Heat “are a great team.” Even if Vogel […]
by Kent Sterling The Indiana Pacers better make sure their mouthguards fit correctly as the Game Seven they earned tonight is going to bring a response on Monday at 8:30p. The Heat aren’t going to surrender their crown without a fight the likes of which these Pacers have never faced. Tonight, everything that went right […]
Indiana Pacers – Game Six Is Time to Nut Up and Play for Each Other or Be Satisfied
by Kent Sterling If the Pacers are under the delusion that because they are young, a future of opportunities in the conference finals is assured, they should dispel them. With Derrick Rose coming back to the Chicago Bulls, Dwyane Wade likely regaining some measure of health, and David West entering free agency, this opportunity needs […]
by Kent Sterling It was right there for the taking. Control of the Eastern Conference Finals was lazily ceded by the Miami Heat to the Indiana Pacers in the first half, but the Pacers deferred. Then LeBron James reported for duty with focus, and now they face an elimination game Saturday night at Bankers Life […]
by Kent Sterling It’s 60 minutes prior to the tip of a game that will likely determine the outcome of the Eastern Conference Finals, and all that’s left to do now is play the damn game. The Pacers and Heat know each other well enough to be good and pissed off about the behavior of […]
by Kent Sterling I love Gregg Doyel as a writer. He’s angry, funny, and shares his version of the truth with enough hyperbole to make it interesting. I hope I’m half the writer he is when I grow up. His segments with Dan Dakich on 1070 The Fan in Indianapolis are some of the best […]
by Kent Sterling When I criticized Pacers president Larry Bird for drafting Lance Stephenson almost three years ago, I pointed to reports of troubling behavior that I believed to be consistent with a reputation the Pacers were trying to shed. I had a talk with Mark Boyle the following summer about Stephenson, and he told […]
by Kent Sterling Well that was entertaining, wasn’t it. NBA games take a long damn time with replays being checked every 12 seconds, but there are nights like tonight when they are worth it. There was a critical moment with the Pacers holding an 81-72 lead with 8:26 left when the Pacers made what looked […]
by Kent Sterling The constant din of “must-win game” chatter during the analysis of every playoff series is aggravating, and most of the time it’s way premature. If the Indiana Pacers do not win tonight, they will be forced to win three straight to advance to the NBA Final. That would seem to be a […]
by Kent Sterling It was the kind of night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse that Indiana Pacers fans might have remembered for a decade. This was a game that could have defined the franchise’s upward direction for long suffering fans who will be targets for season ticket sales during the off-season. Those who remember it will […]