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Hacksaw’s Thursday Podcast
You Tube Channel-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
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“NBA-ROLLER COASTER”
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We have 1-more game on the NBA schedule, capping off a schizophrenic championship round.
This Oklahoma City-Indiana Pacers final round denies description. It all started early with the Pacers grit and grime win in Oklahoma City to start the series.
It progressed to the scorch job Thunder win on Indy’s home floor when OKC would have gone down 3-1 in the series.
There was the 71-point combo night from Oklahoma City’s stars Shai Gilegous-Alexander and Jalen Williams.
And then there was Thursday night’s devastation. A raucous crowd, an Indy team hitting 8-of-10 shots early to grab a big lead. A (17-2) burst in the 2nd quarter. The Pacers choke hold defense forcing a ton of turnovers. Indy burying 3-point shots all over the 317-area code. And the lead went to 30-points at one point in the second half.
All this with an ailing superstar Tyrese Haliburton playing limited minutes with a calf.
It looks as if OKC’s heart did not make the flight to Indianapolis. Turnovers, tons of them, at one point (1-11) shooting from 3’s, and a team that got mugged all night long, all over the court by the Pacers defense.
It’s been a long time since the Pacers won a championship. A decade ago the franchise had Reggie Miller and Ric Smits. Back in the 1970s, the Pacers were ABA champions with the likes of George McGinnis, Mel Daniels and Roger Brown.
So they head to the 7th and final game of as wild a series as we have seen in a long time. Sunday will be as hostile in Oklahoma City as Thursday night was in downtown Indianapolis.
Hard to think OKC’s Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and the others would have another clinker of a performance, especially at home. Of course, the youngest team in NBA playoff history has not been down this hallway before. Neither has Indiana-this deep into the finals.
Shall be fun. Sitting in the front seat of this roller coaster? Hold on. The Thunder and Pacers are about to provide one final ride come Game 7.
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