Pacers in 7: This One Means Everything

Game 7

It’s almost like I know what I’m talking about. If you remember from my Finals Preview, I predicted Pacers in 7. And here we are. Still an uphill battle for my 'Cers, but holy ****, this series has been unreal. From Haliburton’s game-winner in Game 1 to nonstop back-and-forth thrillers, this is what basketball fans dream about.

One game. Everything on the line. Game 7 in OKC.

Watching this run has been surreal. Not just because it’s the NBA Finals, but because my favorite team is at the heart of it. In Indiana, we don’t have a lot going for us sports-wise. The Colts have been a dumpster fire for seven straight seasons (in Danny Dimes we trust?), and honestly, things don’t look much better there. That leaves the Pacers as the only real source of joy for me and a lot of Hoosiers. Sure, the Fever are cool, for their two fans, but this Pacers run has been something else entirely.

And for me, it hits different. I was watching when we were under .500 in December, every game, every loss, still locked in. Back when no one was talking about us. I’ve been in the trenches with this team all season. At this point, it honestly feels like I’m part of it. That’s why this game means something to me. It’s personal.

The level of basketball being played might be the highest we’ve seen in a decade. Haliburton hasn’t been lighting up the stat sheet, but that’s just a testament to how balanced this squad is. No one on the roster is even averaging 20 points per game in the series, and they should’ve already closed it out if not for the Game 4 collapse. This is a *true* team. When Obi Toppin and T.J. McConnell are leading the charge in a 25-point blowout in Game 6, that doesn’t exactly boost OKC’s confidence heading back home.

That said, let’s not get it twisted, I’m not handing the trophy to the Pacers just yet. They’re still the underdogs, and Game 7 in Oklahoma City is going to be a dogfight. Add in the fact that Scott Foster is back officiating (SGA is probably already grinning), and yeah, it’s going to be tough. But no matter what happens, this has been an incredible year. Everyone in the Pacers organization should be proud.

But hell, they didn’t make it this far just to make it this far.

No consolation prizes. Game 7. One game for all the marbles. Sunday night in OKC.

I said it once and I’ll say it again: ‘Cers in 7, baby.