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I find this topic intriguing at this time. Its been awhile since I've had such a strong bond with a team, emotionally, as I do with this year's squad.

I was never exposed to sports as a kid, and my love for the game started in 2001, at 13 years old, when I traded my PlayStation in for a Nintendo 64, and I picked up a copy of NBA Jam 99 with Keith Van Horn on the cover. Anyways, I loved the game and a couple of months later I watched my first NBA game on NBC, it was MJs first game back against Sprewell and the Knicks.

Immediately though I fell in love with the Pacers (I'm from Lafayette, IN), and watched every game I could on channel 4. That team was a blast to watch, remember very well the big trade with the Bulls, bringing in Brad Miller, Ron Artest, Ron Mercier, and Kevin Ollie. Remember the fight between Reggie and Kobe... The 5 straight wins we needed to make the playoffs... The epic (then) 5 game series between us and the Nets where Reggie laid his soul on the court in game 5. Just a great great season. I'm rambling, but I could go on forever.

The point of this thread is to name some of your favorite teams from the time you've been a fan.

And this season's is a top 3 or 4 team for me. After that 01-02 season, I absolutely LOVED the 2007-2010 squads with Granger, Murphy, Dunleavy, and Foster. The original Mustache crew lol, of Dun-Dun, Murph, and Jeff. They didn't win many games, didn't make the playoffs, but they were a good group of guys out there that tried. And Indiana got their own Fox Sports channel around that time, and I could watch just about every single game now.

I didn't necessarily love the Paul George teams, never felt like he embraced us, Indiana... Never felt like my kind of guy. But this team this year? Its something else. Something I haven't felt in maybe a decade, or close to it.

I rambled on, but the Pacers have had some fun times and I always like to hear others' personal memories. So what are some of your favorite teams?

Great topic JermaineOYea, this takes me back and it looks like we are the same age. I hopped on the Pacers bandwagon in 1997 and boy was that season a fun ride. Bird took over as head coach, we started sporting the pinstripes and we took the Jordan Dynasty to 7 games in the ECF. I saw them twice that year, great memories hanging with my dad. I remember who we played on both occasions and the dates of those games. I'm not sure if this my favorite team, but some of my earliest and fondest memories were created during that season. Forgot to mention, the entire team shaved their heads for the playoffs.



I have plenty more to write after this, but I'll leave it here until later.

The Murphleavy ones were my rock bottom ones No defense, unathletic players.

The David West teams were allright, but I had troubles ignoring the softness and slowness of some of the players/coaches.

I became a fan when they reached the finals and I very much liked that type of team. Toughness, defense, enough speed.

But my favorite ones are the Oladipo ones. I just love the type of big men we have right now and big men for a large part dictate the style you want to play. Allround defensive big men who can defend the perimeter and the inside, who can run and jump some. Athletes in other words. Not (giant) stiffs like Dunleavy and Hibbert.

If we get some better defenders, I know I will love this team going forward. There isn't one player on our roster I really dislike and in the past that has been the case for several players. Thugs, softies, slowmos. I very much like it that we are trying to avoid them now.

The Murphleavy area was an especially dark one for a lot of reasons, but at least we had Granger, who had a great 2008-2009 season. Made the all-star team and was name MIP that year. Truly a shame about this knee issues, a healthy Granger could have made all the difference against the Heat.

The ABA teams for sure. The late 90s with Reggie, Rik, and the Davises. The prebrawl team was going to be good, but it wasn't a personal favorite.

A lot revolves around family. My daughter went with me to the fairgrounds when she was too young to really follow the game and to MSA when it was new. My son who is 12 year's younger than his sister went in the Smits Happens years when winning a playoff series was so special they'd make a t-shirt each time. So my favorite teams are headed by the ones I saw with my kids.

Sent from my phone.

Jermainevent wrote:Great topic JermaineOYea, this takes me back and it looks like we are the same age. I hopped on the Pacers bandwagon in 1997 and boy was that season a fun ride. Bird took over as head coach, we started sporting the pinstripes and we took the Jordan Dynasty to 7 games in the ECF. I saw them twice that year, great memories hanging with my dad. I remember who we played on both occasions and the dates of those games. I'm not sure if this my favorite team, but some of my earliest and fondest memories were created during that season. Forgot to mention, the entire team shaved their heads for the playoffs.



I have plenty more to write after this, but I'll leave it here until later.

Thanks, man. I love reminiscing on the old teams, and this team reminds me some of those old, fun teams from my youth. Heart is hard to come by these days with the salaries and lack of loyalty in the game anymore. Would love to hear more of your memories though. Wish I could've caught on to the team earlier like you did, but I'm happy with what I've been able to be a part of so far.

Jermainevent wrote:The Murphleavy area was an especially dark one for a lot of reasons, but at least we had Granger, who had a great 2008-2009 season. Made the all-star team and was name MIP that year. Truly a shame about this knee issues, a healthy Granger could have made all the difference against the Heat.

First off, I swear I didn't mean to steal your name lol... And secondly, I'm surprised by how much people disliked Murph and Dun-Dun. They weren't the most athletic, or skilled... But the guys tried. We were gritty despite our lack of talent. Hated Jim O'Brien though.

Jermainevent wrote:The Murphleavy area was an especially dark one for a lot of reasons, but at least we had Granger, who had a great 2008-2009 season. Made the all-star team and was name MIP that year. Truly a shame about this knee issues, a healthy Granger could have made all the difference against the Heat.

That era was populated with some bad draft pics like 2006 taking Shawne Williams after taking Granger who was a great pick. They needed a point guard and passed on Rondo. 2007 they bought a pick from miami and picked Stanko Barak and passed on Marc Gasol. 2008 we got Rush and Hibbert, moderately good picks Rush got shipped out for smoking dope and Hibbert flopped when the game passed him by.


I am and old guy 55 and I grew up with the great ABA teams, don't let anyone tell you that was a minor league. There were many great players in the ABA from George McGinnis to Dr J, and Artis Gilmore, George Gervin, and others. Watching those ABA championship teams is one of the great memories of my childhood.

JermaineOYea wrote:

Jermainevent wrote:The Murphleavy area was an especially dark one for a lot of reasons, but at least we had Granger, who had a great 2008-2009 season. Made the all-star team and was name MIP that year. Truly a shame about this knee issues, a healthy Granger could have made all the difference against the Heat.

First off, I swear I didn't mean to steal your name lol... And secondly, I'm surprised by how much people disliked Murph and Dun-Dun. They weren't the most athletic, or skilled... But the guys tried. We were gritty despite our lack of talent. Hated Jim O'Brien though.

They were both decent players but over paid and the Pacers were in salary cap hell with a mediocre team. If they hadn't been so over paid I think people would have been ok with them. Now Dunleavy came into the league with GSW as the 3rd over all pick and too much was expected of him.

Any team with Don Buse

I started following the Pacers because of Rik Smits, who is from the same country as i am. I became a fan due to Reggie Miller. I just loved the way he played the game, with his clutch performances, his battles with New York and Chicago during the late 90's.
So for me it has to be the teams from the late 90's ands early 2000, with Smits, Miller, Davis, Jackson, Foster and all the other guys.

I'm a 90s kid, born in '88 and raised on the Pacers. Reggie was (is) my hero, and I wanted to be Mark Jackson. My last name is Smith, so as a kid, I felt a connection to Smits, lol. The Davis "brothers" were the baddest dudes. Heck, I even liked Travis Best and I loved Sam "Smooooooth" Perkins. My immediate answer to the question in the thread is obviously those late-90s teams that fought with NY, Chicago, and finally broke through to the Finals.

Probably not as popular for most of the fanbase, but after those 90s teams, I loved the JO/Artest/SJax/Tinsley squad. Man they were fun to watch. It was always a game of "can we hold the opponent below 80?" I wish they could've kept their heads out of their rear-ends and won Reggie a ring. It's a simultaneous admiration and never-ending grudge with that group.

Obviously the PG/Hibbert/DWest teams were good and I was thrilled to be contending again and I'll always like that team. But this current squad is quickly out-pacing that group in terms of connection to the fanbase and likability. Oladipo and Myles are high level players and high character guys I'm proud to have on the Pacers. Along with Sabonis, GRIII, Thad, Lance, this group plays hard and plays together and does it with flare and humility. If this core sticks together for a few years and manages to compete on an ECF level or better, they're going to seriously challenge that 90s group. Which is saying A LOT.

PS - I LOVED when the whole team shaved their heads, but if I were Rik Smits, I'd pay to have those pictures erased from history!

pizza guy wrote:I'm a 90s kid, born in '88 and raised on the Pacers. Reggie was (is) my hero, and I wanted to be Mark Jackson. My last name is Smith, so as a kid, I felt a connection to Smits, lol. The Davis "brothers" were the baddest dudes. Heck, I even liked Travis Best and I loved Sam "Smooooooth" Perkins. My immediate answer to the question in the thread is obviously those late-90s teams that fought with NY, Chicago, and finally broke through to the Finals.

Probably not as popular for most of the fanbase, but after those 90s teams, I loved the JO/Artest/SJax/Tinsley squad. Man they were fun to watch. It was always a game of "can we hold the opponent below 80?" I wish they could've kept their heads out of their rear-ends and won Reggie a ring. It's a simultaneous admiration and never-ending grudge with that group.

Obviously the PG/Hibbert/DWest teams were good and I was thrilled to be contending again and I'll always like that team. But this current squad is quickly out-pacing that group in terms of connection to the fanbase and likability. Oladipo and Myles are high level players and high character guys I'm proud to have on the Pacers. Along with Sabonis, GRIII, Thad, Lance, this group plays hard and plays together and does it with flare and humility. If this core sticks together for a few years and manages to compete on an ECF level or better, they're going to seriously challenge that 90s group. Which is saying A LOT.

PS - I LOVED when the whole team shaved their heads, but if I were Rik Smits, I'd pay to have those pictures erased from history!

Though not a Pacers fan by blood, but always respected Pacers. Other teams were more flashy with more talent, but Pacers always competed and played the right way.
This team is on the edge to be my favorite team in NBA. I like the spirit of the guys, true sportsmanlike friendship, and talent is there too. When everything is clicking, everybody is healthy - they are just a beauty to watch. A little roster tune ups with further development of the youngsters (Dipo is a youngster too) - and Pacers could be one of the elite teams of the East for a decade to come.
Let's go Pacers!!!
And I like Pacers fans. They are knowledgeable, passionate and respect others.

97-98 Pacers that went to the ECF.

pizza guy wrote:I'm a 90s kid, born in '88 and raised on the Pacers. Reggie was (is) my hero, and I wanted to be Mark Jackson. My last name is Smith, so as a kid, I felt a connection to Smits, lol. The Davis "brothers" were the baddest dudes. Heck, I even liked Travis Best and I loved Sam "Smooooooth" Perkins. My immediate answer to the question in the thread is obviously those late-90s teams that fought with NY, Chicago, and finally broke through to the Finals.

Probably not as popular for most of the fanbase, but after those 90s teams, I loved the JO/Artest/SJax/Tinsley squad. Man they were fun to watch. It was always a game of "can we hold the opponent below 80?" I wish they could've kept their heads out of their rear-ends and won Reggie a ring. It's a simultaneous admiration and never-ending grudge with that group.

Obviously the PG/Hibbert/DWest teams were good and I was thrilled to be contending again and I'll always like that team. But this current squad is quickly out-pacing that group in terms of connection to the fanbase and likability. Oladipo and Myles are high level players and high character guys I'm proud to have on the Pacers. Along with Sabonis, GRIII, Thad, Lance, this group plays hard and plays together and does it with flare and humility. If this core sticks together for a few years and manages to compete on an ECF level or better, they're going to seriously challenge that 90s group. Which is saying A LOT.

PS - I LOVED when the whole team shaved their heads, but if I were Rik Smits, I'd pay to have those pictures erased from history!

I was born in 88 as well, so everything you said basically summed up what I was going to say lol. Smoooth Perkins was so fun to watch. I remember actually saying SMMMOOOOTTTHHH in my house every time he shot. The team that had the Malice at the Palace was a team that could have won it all. Honestly, after that happened, I didn't watch much NBA for awhile. I watched a lot of the Finals games but that's about it. I was strictly watching college for the longest time. A couple years ago I got back into the Pacers. As much as we all love to hate on PG13, he got me excited for awhile.

This year has me more excited than ever. I have probably only missed 2-3 games this season and have went to 2 games so far. There is just something about this team. They all seem like they have something to prove and play like that. I am hoping they keep me this interested for many years to come.

JermaineOYea wrote:

Jermainevent wrote:The Murphleavy area was an especially dark one for a lot of reasons, but at least we had Granger, who had a great 2008-2009 season. Made the all-star team and was name MIP that year. Truly a shame about this knee issues, a healthy Granger could have made all the difference against the Heat.

First off, I swear I didn't mean to steal your name lol... And secondly, I'm surprised by how much people disliked Murph and Dun-Dun. They weren't the most athletic, or skilled... But the guys tried. We were gritty despite our lack of talent. Hated Jim O'Brien though.

Haha no sweat man, I loved JO during his prime, only second to Reggie in my mind. Another guy whose knees eventually betrayed him. I always wonder how he would have been in today's NBA. He didn't have the greatest range, but man he dominated in the post. He probably would have remained more slender in today's game.



I could go on for days about JO, but the reason I wasn't a fan of Dunleavy was that I heard he was a pretty big punk and he went to Duke. He was an empty stats guy, same as Murph. Also, I was still pretty bitter over how far our team had fallen since the brawl, and those guys were a constant reminder because we were forced to jettison Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington for them.

boomershadow wrote:97-98 Pacers that went to the ECF.

This team exactly

No question...the ABA teams. More specifically the ABA teams with Daniels, Brown and Lewis as the nucleus.

The later ABA teams with McGinnis and then Billy Knight were favorites too.

As far as the NBA...the teams of the 90's with Reggie, Smits and the Davis boys.

The team that I saw live playing this game: https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200412010LAC.html

Jermainevent wrote:He was an empty stats guy, same as Murph.

He might've been a punk, but his skillset went beyond the box score, unlike with T-Murda. His ability to play off-ball, pass, and get legitimate rebounds as a wing (might've averaged more is Troy wasn't a rebound-stealer) and shoot (60% TS in '08) made him one of the few pluses on the team.