The Indiana Pacers have been surprising people all postseason long. Now, they are one win away from winning their first NBA championship and Pacers legends have reacted to this year’s squad.
Related: Pascal Siakam spoke about mindset ahead of pivotal Game 7
After blowing out the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6, Pacers legends reacted to their win and chance at winning the franchise’s first NBA title.
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“This franchise really deserves it,” Rik Smits said. “We had a lot of great years, but obviously never made it this far. So, I’m just happy for the team, the owners, and the whole city. It’s a great fan base here. I’ve always loved playing here, so I would love to see a championship.
“It’s different contributions from different guys every night,” Smits said. “It’s really a team effort with them. We don’t have to rely on one or two old stars. It’s been really fun to watch.”
Smits, who was part of the 2000 Finals team, wasn’t the only Pacers legend to give his thoughts. Lance Stephenson, Stephen Jackson, and Metta Sandiford-Artest, also gave their thoughts on this year’s Pacers.
“I think we’ve got this, man,” Stephenson said. “It’s going to be tough, but I think we’re going to have a great game altogether. You’re going to have a bunch of guys in double figures and they’re going to win.
“Nobody here has an ego. They play together.”
Stephen Jackson had this to say:
“This means everything for the guys who played [years ago] to the guys playing now,” he said. “We were supposed to win one when we were here. But it didn’t work out. So, it’s good to see the young guys bring this back.”
Sandiford-Artest gave the Pacers the ultimate praise for playing team basketball:
“What a great team,” he said. “It’s not like a LeBron James team. From that perspective, I feel like if they win it, it changes how people put together teams. They’re changing the game.”
The Pacers’ ultimate legend, Reggie Miller, previously spoke about how not winning an NBA championship still haunts him to this day.
“If I make that shot and we win that series,” Miller said. “I remember going into the locker room, telling JO [Jermaine O’Neal] and Ron [Artest] … I was like, ‘Do you guys understand whoever wins this series is going to win a championship.’
“The Lakers were waiting with Kobe, Shaq, and all that. I was like, `But they ain’t playing defense like Detroit and us. Whoever wins this series is going to win a championship.
“Detroit beats us and it was a gentleman’s five-game sweep,” Miller said. “They beat the crap out of them … If we win that series, I think we were going to win the championship against the Lakers.”
Miller was speaking about the Pacers’ 2004 series against the Detroit Pistons. Indiana won Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals and had a chance to win Game 2 when Miller had a breakaway layup.
Then, out of nowhere, Tayshaun Prince of the Pistons caught up to Miller and blocked his layup attempt.
If this year’s Pacers can pull off the Game 7 victory and bring Indiana a title, all of the Pacers’ legends will be ecstatic. The state of Indiana deserves an NBA championship and they may just get it this year.
