They say familiarity breeds contempt. In the recent history of the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers, that’s certainly the case. They see a lot of each other, and the more they see each other, the less they like each other.
It's not a new rivalry by any stretch. In 1998 Michael Jordan and Reggie Miller were going at it in the Eastern Conference Finals. Jordan averaged better than 31 points a contest; Miller had just 17.
Then there was this classic moment, which words can never do justice to, so just watch.
To a degree, the legacy of this rivalry has been one-sided, with the Pacers coming just short of the Bulls. That Reggie Miller bow is a nice little synecdoche for the entire rivalry. Just when the Pacers think they've got something, the Bulls snatch it away.
It's little wonder they have a bit of a little-brother complex. Chicago fans even takeover their own stadium, the Banker Field House when the teams play in Indiana.
Chicago also has the lifetime-series advantage. In all the two teams have played 176 times, and the Bulls have won 95 of the contests. The Bulls have ...
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Article written by Kelly Scaletta
Familiarity Breeds Contempt in Brewing Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers Rivalry
November 5th, 2013 by Kelly Scaletta Leave a reply »
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