The Indiana Pacers Biggest Mistake in the Past Ten Years
Over the past decade the Indiana Pacers have been under the watchful eye of Hall of Famer Larry Bird. Save for ashort stint in 2012 Bird has called the shots for an Indiana team that saw themselves challenge for a birth to the NBA Finals. In the 2014 the Pacers came painfully close, losing to the Miami Heat in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals. The year prior were nearer to their goal, losing in game seven to Miami. For a few years they were the only legitimate contenders to the LeBron James led East. Unfortunately for Indiana, it was a time where James was at the height of his basketball powers. Indiana’s best player, Paul George, was young during these few seasons. Too young to be expected to carry his team over one of the greatest players basketball has ever seen.
Paul George’s Excellence
Bird could not have anticipated that George would become the player he is today. After all he was the tenth overall pick out of Fresno State and was seen as an elite defender and three-point shooter. No one anticipated him to have the following accolades at just 26 years old: three-time All-Star, NBA All-Rookie Second Team, Most Improved Player, three-time All-NBA third team, two-time All-Defensive Second Team and one-time All-Defensive First Team. George is a top 10 player in the NBA, and Indiana’s championship hopes rest with him, but it was not always so.
This article was originally posted on our parent site, Last Word on Sports. It can be read in full at the site. We are now expanding, with a dedicated site for all your basketball analysis, news and opinion. So stay tuned to Last Word on Baskeball, where we will bring you all of your favorite Last Word features, and much more, from now on.
