Lazy Giant #37: The Pacers are fun again
A high-scoring offense with an elite point guard? Sign. Me. Up.
For years, Indianapolis was a Pacers town. I don’t know how many years, but give me a break – I’m only 26. I was born early enough to know Reggie is a Pacer and Indianapolis legend, but too late to really watch and appreciate his greatness.
Then, Peyton Manning staked his claim on Indianapolis as the chosen one to lead the Colts to glory. Football ever since has been No. 1 in the Indianapolis-metro area.
Still is, but I can’t help but give the Pacers a look as their season has gotten off to a hot start.
Best team since the early 2010s(?!)
After Reggie Miller retired in 2005, the Pacers franchise has had its fair share of ups and downs, reaching great heights with their early 2010 squads. Those teams usually clashed with the Lebron James-led Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, but never defeated Goliath.
My interest in the Pacers has come and gone throughout the years – I remember watching regular season games late into the night while in high school, astonished by former-Pacer Paul George leading an exciting young team. I also remember seasons where I didn’t watch a game.
Right now, Tyrese Haliburton and this Pacers team is giving me a reason to watch them intently once again.
They’re off to a 7-4 start, with impressive wins over the Philly 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks, each led by MVP caliber players.
But the Pacers have a guy of their own. Maybe not MVP level, but a star nonetheless.
The Pacers all-star point guard (Haliburton) is averaging 24.7 points per game, 12.5 assists per game, and shooting the ball very well. His overall percentage from the field is 53%, three-point range is 44%, and at the free throw line he’s shooting 93%.
The team overall is first in the NBA in scoring (126.5 per game), second in field goal percentage (50%), third in three-point field percentage (38%), and first in assists per game (30.8).
Basically, they’re cooking.
Now, their defense is another story. Their overall rating sits at 27th, but I guess if you’re first in scoring you can make up for sub-par defense with shooting the ball well.
The center of it all and the face of the franchise is officially Tyrese Haliburton. He expresses the type of electricity and stable play on the court that comes with a franchise cornerstone.
There have been plenty of times for great players to become the face of the franchise since Miller retired, and Haliburton seems happy here so far. Especially because the Pacers traded for him from the Kings, so he knows the team gave up quite a bit to acquire him, even if he was confused at first.
🔗 ‘I was just angry at the world’
Pacers fans know things can change, as potential-cornerstones Paul George and Victor Oladipo left for different reasons. But they each had their separate chances to be the face of the franchise.
As long as Haliburton is here, he’ll be the guy. And it’s exactly what the Pacers needed.
It’s still a Colts city, but finally the Pacers may be stepping up again.
We are a basketball state, after all.
Guilty pleasure watch
I’ve needed something easy to watch recently. Something I don’t need to think about, and be entertained by. Enter, Love is Blind on Netflix.
It’s The Bachelor-adjacent show – with a twist. The show’s premise centers on 30 people, 15 men and 15 women, going on blind dates with each other. Literally. Each date takes place in a “pod” where the girl and guy will talk with each other through a thin wall separating them so they can communicate with one another but not see the other person.
If you so choose, you may propose to the person you love the most, but you won’t see them until after you’re engaged. It’s all about establishing an emotional connection.
From there, they will get married in 30 or so days, if they choose to go through with it.
I’m late to the game of watching this show, but I like the innovation, which is what drew me to it initially. I’m not in desperate need of seeing whether people can find love – that’s more of a bonus. I more so wanted to watch because of the social experiment element.
This whole concept just creates chaos after the couples finally see each other. While an emotional connection is developed, that isn’t how romantic relationships are normally developed, nor do couples move this fast into marriage. You’re basically watching a whole relationship from start to finish get microwaved and the results are either great or catastrophic.
Is it top-tier reality TV? No, but it’s entertaining and easy and that’s just what we need sometimes. So, I endorse for those reasons.
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Enjoy your Thanksgiving 🦃