Kendrick Perkins is well-known for his takes ageing poorly, however this Indiana Pacers remark could possibly be his worst one but.
The Indiana Pacers compelled the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder to the primary Sport 7 within the NBA Finals in 9 years. It was a superb outing from the underdog Pacers, who obliterated the Thunder in Sport 6.
Pascal Siakam was the Pacers’ main man, scoring 16 factors within the win.
In a recreation the place Tyrese Haliburton was a doubt to play, Siakam delivered a superb outing.
For all of the discuss of their robust offensive efficiency, it was the Pacers’ protection that made historical past, holding the Thunder to the longest scoring drought in an NBA Finals recreation ever.
The Pacers shut down Jalen Williams in the best method potential, whereas additionally forcing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander into a number of errors.
Their outing in Sport 6 was emblematic of why the Indiana Pacers are at all times a harmful crew. However not everybody believed of their skill to succeed at first of the season.
Firstly of the NBA season, a number of analysts tried to foretell how the season would unfold. When it got here to the Indiana Pacers, it was Kendrick Perkins who had the boldest declare.
He acknowledged that after their 2024 Jap Convention Finals run, the Indiana Pacers would regress, and so they wouldn’t even attain the playoffs in any respect.
“I strongly imagine that the Pacers are going to fall off like no restrict… They’re not going to make the playoffs this season. I’m not excessive on them.”
One of many causes he gave for his or her impending failure was the shortage of labor he had seen from Tyrese Haliburton within the offseason, in comparison with a few of the NBA’s different rising younger stars.
“I don’t know if [Tyrese Haliburton] has essentially been placing within the work that he must put in. While you’re watching the opposite younger guys across the league, from Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren, these guys seem like they’ve been working.”
It’s simple to look again on Kendrick Perkins’ soak up late October final yr and poke enjoyable at how issues have turned out.
However to be honest to the previous NBA champion, he was wanting like a clairvoyant after the Pacers’ atrocious begin to the season.
| Interval of the 2024 NBA Season | Indiana Pacers file |
| October – December | 16-18 |
| January – April | 34-14 |
It wasn’t till January that the Indiana Pacers addressed their efficiency points and began performing higher.
Now, as we attain the tip of the season forward of an important Sport 7 tomorrow night time, the Indiana Pacers have confirmed him fallacious in a spectacular method, reaching the NBA Finals regardless of being underdogs.
Heading into Sport 7, the Pacers could have one purpose in thoughts: one way or the other topple the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and win the NBA championship for the primary time in franchise historical past.
