Big, big game tonight in Game 4 from Indy. Perhaps a career defining game for Rick Carlisle as he ventures near the cusp of becoming the third NBA coach in my lifetime to win a championship with a team from both the East and the West.
The other two would be Pat Riley and Phil Jackson. And think about this…those guys won their first titles with Jerry Buss when the Lakers were the gold standard in the NBA versus the joke they’ve become of late. And consider those two had guys named Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Kobe Bryant, Magic, Shaq and Dwayne Wade helping them win championships in Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami.
Rick Carlisle had Dirk and Jason Kidd at the end of their careers with Dallas as the No. 6 seed in 2011. And here Rick Carlisle is again with an Indy team which was at one point five games under .500 this season and the eventual No. 4 seed in the East. And not to be disrespectful, but Tyrese Haliburton and Siakam aren’t exactly mentioned in the same breath as Steph, LeBron, or Tim Duncan either.
And BTW, Pop, Steve Kerr, and Eric Spoelstra have never done what Rick Carlisle might do if his Pacers find a way to win Game 4 tonight in Indy.
Tonight’s game in Indy overflows with NBA historical implications:
Can the Pacers slay that Thunder 12.9 differential which made the Thunder a prohibitive Vegas favorite?
Or could the narrative once again turn out to be Sam Presti once again brought a team to the NBA Finals, but again with a coach not perhaps worthy of riding Secretariat?
The potential narratives are enticing and palpable.
Does this guy remind anyone of a backup point guard named TJ McConnell?
Enjoy the game.
Mike J