After the first day of December, the Indiana Pacers were 16-1, taking the NBA by storm with their impenetrable defense and an offense that was surprisingly effective. Fast forward a few months, and the team was 46-13 after a victory over the Utah Jazz on March 2 gave the Pacers a five-game winning streak.
Then came the implosion.
From that point on, Indiana finished the regular season with a 10-13 record, and while it kept the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, it looked vulnerable. This was no longer a title contender—a title favorite, even—but an overseeded team prime for an upset in an early round.
Somehow, the Pacers staved off the Atlanta Hawks despite having to win back-to-back elimination games, then they took out the Washington Wizards and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. It wasn't exactly the expected route, but they ultimately arrived in the matchup versus the Miami Heat that so many expected heading into the 2013-14 campaign.
But after a 25-point loss in Game 6 ended their season, it was quite clear that these Pacers we ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NBA
Article written by Adam Fromal
Will Someone Take the Fall for Indiana Pacers’ Implosion?
May 31st, 2014 by Adam Fromal Leave a reply »
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