The winner of the game was Electric, but no one in the Indiana Pacers locker room has yet to pop a champagne bottle.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals rarely feels like the end of a series. But you’d think the way Pacer fans are celebrating an incredible victory is that their team has only rolled up the Larry O’Brien trophy.
This is not something they take away from what they have achieved. This marked Pacer’s fifth comeback victory in the NBA playoffs this year.
Tailese Halliburton finds himself surrounded by greatness after hitting so many clutch shots in the playoffs.
After hitting yet another game winner, Halliburton had to applaud his critics. But that’s unless everyone on the pacer is willing to go with pleasure to their celebration after Game 1.
Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlyle spoke to the media after the team had a great victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“We really didn’t celebrate anything. It’s really the experience of last year. Part of that is going through this kind of run and reaching the finals before.”
“We know there’s a lot to do and we need to play better. So if the 19 turnover isn’t a final record, we have to be close.”
“And they’re a defensive threat. We’ve brought it to the crowd often, and even if they just take the ball out of your hand, their level of defense is crazy.”
“But to answer your questions, the real temper after the game. Now, instead of the 13-day series in New York, there are two days between the first two games.”
“This is the first day of 17 days. So this is going to be a long journey and a lot. So we need to keep an eye on the ball and stay focused on each other.”
It doesn’t sound like a problem for him yet, but Rick Carlisle has to do his part to keep Pacers players from falling in love with him.
The legendary head coach took the team to the NBA Championship as underdogs as they led the Dallas Mavericks to a victory over Miami’s Heatside, who had LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in their respective primes.
As the point guard referenced Michael Jordan’s iconic catchphrase after Game 1, Halliburton’s confidence is now at its peak.
But he and Pascal Siakam were humbled by victory, reminding them that they must get even better. The Pacers must maintain this mentality forever until the buzzer goes off in their fourth NBA Finals victory.