Pacers alternative championship battle is dawning, can the underrated legion create miracles

Their voices were excited but low, their faces were radiant but serious, and their celebrations were filled with joy but restrained. After eliminating the Knicks and entering the finals for the first time in 25 years, Pacers defender Nesmith, who was fighting with injuries, sat in front of the locker and applied his ankle. He was tired of the discussion of achievements and was eager to look forward. When the media dispersed, he happily accepted the isolation from the outside world.

Miles Turner, the longest-playing team in history, sat down around Nesmith. Assistant coach Mike Weiner handed him a glass of champagne—the only bottle they opened. After the high-five, the topic has turned to how to beat the Thunder in the finals. No one mentioned "Cinderella's counterattack", perhaps because they disdain to rely on magic and want to become alternative champions who create their own destiny.

"We people may have never been given anything," forward Pascal Siakam admitted, "No one really wants to see us win." But they made a big splash. This team that made it to the finals is the most "alternative": Siakam was only 17 years old when he came into contact with regular basketball and started in the Development League; when Teres Halliburton joined in 2022, the team only won 25 and lost 57, and now he is a two-time All-Star. He sat on the bench in the last life-and-death battle (Olympic final), and if he won the tiebreak with injury, he would be comparable to Reggie Miller.

Each member has a unique story: Turner ignores trading rumors and becomes the team's shot blocker; undrafted T.J. McConnell proves that he can gain a foothold on the big stage; substitute centers are on standby and contribute; confident rookie Mathurin sobers up: "I don't want to live in my dream, I have to make sure my dream is fulfilled - that is, I win the championship."

The Pacers have a history of three ABA championships, but have never reached the top in nearly 50 years since joining the NBA. When he was about to disband in 1977, then assistant coach Nancy Leonard planned to raise funds for TV and sold 8,028 season tickets to save the team. It is this desperate history that has created the stubbornness today. “The belief that ‘it’s us against all of us’ has brought us here,” Siakam said.

But they reached the peak, and even legends such as Iverson, Barkley, and Ewing were unable to reach them. Miller, who worked for the Pacers all his life, also left regrets. At the age of 59, he admitted that the failure scene "constantly circulates in his mind." 25 years ago, he led the team to lose to the Lakers in the finals, and now he witnessed his juniors continuing their dreams on the sidelines. After the sixth game, he hugged Halliburton tightly, as if he saw the unfinished ambition reborn in the latter's eyes. The victory of

G6 gave the Pacers an unprecedented approach to the championship, but "close" is far from enough. Halliburton and his teammates refused to be a foil of tragedy, and their ultimate goal was to shock the world. As Mathurin said: "We only need to find a way to fight against the strong enemies and the hustle and bustle on the road. All we have is each other." Once the trophy is won, the alternative champion is also the real champion.

(text/mango)