INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers are headed to the semifinals of the NBA's new In-Season Tournament.
They got there with a thrilling win Monday night over the Boston Celtics.
13Sports director Dave Calabro spoke with Eddie White, the Pacers' corporate communications director, about the team and the fans supporting them.
“It was unbelievable,” White said. “Remember back when Byron Scott hit the shot, we swept Orlando, the first NBA series? The parking lot at (Market Square Arena) we’re coming down circular, moving like this, everybody’s bopping the horns. And then we come out — whichever direction you left the parking lot — people were on their porches with the brooms, with the sweep. This community, which teams do, it was in that building last night. Everybody came together. It was unbelievable. I got a text from a guy that said it was like the Reggie Miller days. It was absolutely magical.”
Tyrese Haliburton is the new star of this franchise. The Boston game became a coming out party for a national television audience.
“Of all people, (TNT’s) Charles Barkley says, 'You know what? The Pacers need to be on television. They’re fun.' And I think the country is seeing what we have now seen,” White said. “And it’s not like one game or one week. I mean, he’s putting … week after week, and what a magical season he’s having. It’s historical what he’s doing.”
Many fans are saying this team is fun to watch, and the chemistry is undeniable.
“I think Kevin Pritchard said it last year, it’s a remarkable locker room … there’s something special about that locker room. They genuinely care about each other. You don’t see that a lot, especially in professional locker rooms. I think it starts in the locker room, and they’re professionals. How about T.J. McConnell? He may not play for three games, and then he shows up the other night, Saturday night, and has a game, nine of 10 from the field. I mean, I think it starts with the guys in that locker room, and give a lot of credit to the coaching staff,” White said.
It’s the first year for the NBA’s In-Season Tournament. White said winning the inaugural event would be a real boost for Indiana.
“First of all, I think it gives confidence to that locker room,” White said. “You can talk the talk, but that would show that they walk the walk, that they accomplished something and won something. Hey, every team had a chance to win this and you won it. If we can win this, why can't we win the other thing that’s down the road? And we’re a young team, I don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, but I think it would be great for the team, great for that locker room. It would be great for the city to win the first-ever In-Season Tournament.”