'Sucked the air out of my lungs.' Grief, gratitude for Pacers fans after NBA Finals loss
The mood in downtown Indianapolis late on June 22 reflected that lost hope as thousands of Pacers fans walked out of Gainbridge Fieldhouse with their heads down or clenching fists in frustration.
'When I saw Tyrese Haliburton fall to the ground, I knew in that moment," said Justin Bergstrom. "That sucked the air out of my lungs.'
'I had some hope return after we finished the second quarter strong, but then the third quarter happened, and I knew it was over.'
Many fans shared their concerns for Haliburton, who left the game after suffering an Achilles injury in the first quarter. Others reflected on the bigger picture of the Pacers' unanticipated run to the brink of an NBA championship.
'We had a magical season, and it was thanks to this team. It made this city wake up, it was an amazing experience,' said Andrew Kurniawn. 'This was a legendary season, and I am proud of what this team did.'
Others, including fan Laurie Laine of Indianapolis, shared hope for a return to the finals next season.
"This has been the best season I've witnessed as a fan," Laine said.
Re-live the Pacers incredible postseason run with our commemorative book
For every Pacers comeback and game-winning or game-tying shot this postseason, Hudson Aldrich became increasingly inspired. When the Fall Creek Valley eighth-grader tries out for the Cathedral basketball team next year, he'll use each Pacers rally as motivation.
'The Pacers hit these game-winning shots and did not give up until the clock hit zero. It's inspiring to me to never give up until it's over. Always keep going and giving your team energy,' Aldrich said. 'Next year, if we're down or need time to get up, I'll let my teammates know that we can still play because we got the ball in our hands, and there's time on the clock.'
Despite the loss, Pacers fan Stedman Jones believes the team's first finals appearance since 2000 will encourage Aldrich's generation.
'The younger generation wasn't here to see what Reggie Miller did this 25 years ago,' Jones said. 'This Pacers run means a lot because the ones going through high school and AAU are up-and-coming basketball stars. They are seeing that it's possible to make it.'
Maddox Sykes acknowledged that the Pacers gave Indiana 'some love and light.' While Mason Reynolds described the loss as a 'gut punch,' he thinks the Pacers playoff success united the city.
'This run was not expected. Everyone had us counted out in every series we played in,' Reynolds said. 'We came back and won big games. The camaraderie of this city, seeing everybody having a good time. It felt like we were on vacation this past month with the Pacers run.'
To Aldrich, the Pacers put the entire basketball landscape on notice. The Pacers are here and won't go away.
'It's crazy because I ain't never seen anything like this in Indy,' Aldrich said. 'The Pacers put us on the map, and seeing the whole town supporting them, it's cool. We've been called Naptown, but now we are Maptown."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
Lakers jersey history No. 1 — Wes Matthews
Through the 2024-25 season, the Los Angeles Lakers have had a total of 506 players suit up for them, going back to their days in Minneapolis. Some were forgettable, some were serviceable, some were good and a select few were flat-out legendary. As the Lakers approach their 80th season of existence (they were founded back in 1946 as the Detroit Gems in the National Basketball League), LeBron Wire is taking a look at each player who has worn their jersey, whether it has been a purple and gold one or the ones they donned back in the Midwest during their early years. This article takes a look at Wes Matthews, a guard who played for the Lakers during the Showtime era. Matthews played three years of college basketball at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and was taken with the No. 14 pick in the 1980 NBA Draft by the Washington Bullets. As a rookie, he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks and averaged 12.4 points and 5.2 assists a game. He ended up bouncing around the league, mostly as a reserve, over the next several years. In October 1986, the Lakers, needing some backcourt depth, signed Matthews as a free agent. The Lakers already had Hall of Famer Michael Cooper, who played both guard spots and small forward, but they also needed some added insurance at the point guard spot. Matthews didn't play much, but he averaged 4.9 points and 2.4 assists in 12.3 minutes a game during two seasons with the team. He was very lucky with his timing, as Los Angeles won the NBA championship during both of those seasons. Matthews moved on to the now-defunct Continental Basketball Association, where he won a league championship with the Tulsa Fast Breakers during the 1988-89 campaign. In the fourth and final game of the championship series, he hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Tulsa the title. That meant Matthews had won championships in three straight seasons of pro basketball. Meanwhile, the Lakers went after a third straight title that same year, only to get swept by the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals after Byron Scott and Magic Johnson injured their hamstrings. Matthews would appear in one game with the Hawks during the 1989-90 season to close out his NBA career. His son Wesley would play 15 seasons in the league, including one with the Lakers.
New York Times
4 hours ago
- New York Times
Bulls, Billy Donovan agree to contract extension: Source
Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan has inked an extension with the franchise, per a team source. Donovan will enter his sixth season at the helm, having amassed a 195-205 record since 2020. The Bulls have finished the past three seasons in the NBA's Play-In Tournament. Donovan, who will be a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame 2025 induction class, was notably pursued by the New York Knicks during their coaching search before they were ultimately turned away. Negotiations between the Bulls and Donovan reportedly preceded the Knicks' interest. Advertisement Following the 2023-24 season, Donovan's staff was shaken up, with assistants Chris Fleming and Maurice Cheeks let go. Wes Unseld Jr. and Dan Craig were later brought in. Donovan's time with the Bulls began following six seasons as head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder, which concluded in 2020, when Donovan was named the NBA co-Coach of the Year. 'It became apparent that we couldn't provide (Donovan) the information on the future direction of the team over the next several seasons to give him the level of clarity that he understandably desires at this stage of his career,' Thunder general manager Sam Presti said in a statement after mutually parting ways with Donovan following the expiration of his contract. Now, Donovan will head a team that's made a single rotational change — trading guard Lonzo Ball to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Isaac Okoro — since May's ninth-place finish, which resulted in a first-round out in the Play-In Tournament. Donovan, who also coached two NCAA championship teams at Florida, is set to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in September.
USA Today
9 hours ago
- USA Today
Marcus Smart on what JJ Redick told him upon signing with Lakers
It is predicted by plenty of people that Marcus Smart will have a significant impact on the Los Angeles Lakers this coming season. Smart has long been one of the NBA's best and peskiest perimeter defenders, as he was named to the All-Defensive first team three times and won the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year award, and perimeter defense happens to be something the Lakers have been lacking. At age 31, Smart may not be the same player he was three years ago, and he has had trouble staying healthy over the last couple of years. But he said he is highly motivated going into the 2025-26 season, and he relayed that Lakers coach JJ Redick wants him to get back to the player he was with the Boston Celtics before they traded him in 2023. 'JJ just wants me to be me. The person that I was in Boston, the person that he played against and had me chasing around when he was on the court playing. So that's all he asked me and I think I could do that to the best of my ability with the best of them because like I said I have a chip on my shoulder and I'm ready to go.' In his first nine seasons, all of which came with the Celtics, Smart was a big glue guy, as he not only was a defensive menace but was also a terrific secondary facilitator and ball handler, as well as someone who was very resourceful. He can effectively guard at least three positions on the court, and his experience in appearing in the Eastern Conference finals five times and the NBA Finals once will help a Lakers team that has had trouble becoming an elite team again. Smart has career averages of 10.6 points, 4.6 assists and 1.6 steals a game. He isn't a reliable 3-point shooter, but after signing a two-year, $10.5 million contract with L.A., he should provide the squad with good, if not great, value.
