RealGM

Who do you consider to be the Pacers' biggest rival at the moment?

Whatever team has LeBron, thanks to the number of time we've faced him in the playoffs. I think if we get another series against Toronto, that's a budding rivalry also. At least, as long as we have Lance, lol.

I'd like to say the Cavs because it seems like there is a ton of energy when we play them. The problem is that they swept the playoff series last year and they probably don't see us as a rival. Kind of hard to figure out who to pick, but if this team stays together the next few years, I'm sure we will get a strong rivalry in the process.

Chicago.

I will always remember those Pacers games where many red shirted fans were booing our players in our very own Fieldhouse.

Being a large city, they also seem to have a lot of cockiness surrounding them. Don't like that either.

It is unlikely Cleveland will ever be as good as they were with Lebron and he will be gone soon so I feel a bit of sympathy for them.
Detroit got bankrupt and SvG so I kinda feel sorry for them. Everybody hates the Knicks, nobody cares about the Bucks.
Miami is way too South and LA way too West.

When the Heatles were still around, they were the EASY answer. What I would have given to have taken them down in the ECF one of those years... so close...

Currently? I'd say probably no one. The Knicks haven't relevant enough during the PG era and the Cavs are so much more likeable than the Heat ever were.

Is there a "none" answer?

Currently it feels like no one.

Older members of forum will allways remember games against Knicks in 90-s and nothing is bigger than that rivalry...

At this moment Cavs are probably our biggest rival, but I dont think that they care about it... they are to strong for us as long as they have LBJ

The rivalry with the knicks in the 90s got me to become a pacers fan. Watching in Australia with very one following the knicks and me wanting to be different.

Currently I’d say the Cavs only because of Lebron.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

To answer my own question, to me it's still Miami simply for the arrogant nature of their front office and in spite of the fact that LeBron is no longer there. They seem to think they can lure any free agent that's out there and continuously spend recklessly thinking they have all the elements of a contender. They're a prime example of a team that "buys" most their talent.

...Whereas our organization and fan base is just about the polar opposite of theirs.

New England Patriots


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Historically our greatest rival has still got to be the knicks. In the modern era, the Heatles were for sure the biggest. Now? Well, it's harder to maintain rivalries of that sort when players are moving around more and everybody's under the gun to make a move to compete. Rivalries in that sense are a bit shorter lived than they used to be.

Right now it is whatever team has LeBron because of our history of facing him in the playoffs.

Next season when he is with the Lakers, we will have a new rival (or revisit an old one) in the East.

if rival is the team we want most to beat, OKC.

Sent from my phone.

I think part of it also needs to be the other team recognizing us as rivals, and I think the mutual interest doesn't exist with anyone. The Cavs don't actually see us as rivals. The Heat are not that concerned about us.

Miller4ever wrote:I think part of it also needs to be the other team recognizing us as rivals, and I think the mutual interest doesn't exist with anyone. The Cavs don't actually see us as rivals. The Heat are not that concerned about us.

Well they probably should if they care about playoff positioning.

HurricaneDij25 wrote:

Miller4ever wrote:I think part of it also needs to be the other team recognizing us as rivals, and I think the mutual interest doesn't exist with anyone. The Cavs don't actually see us as rivals. The Heat are not that concerned about us.

Well they probably should if they care about playoff positioning.

But no more than any other Eastern conference team in the 4-9 range, you know what I mean?

Is it just me or does it always feel like a big game whenever we play Miami?

Miller4ever wrote:Is there a "none" answer?

Currently it feels like no one.

Exactly.

Nothing will ever come close to those 90's Knicks rivalry.

I was real young, but Reggie and those 90's teams are the reason why I'm a die hard Pacers fan.

HurricaneDij25 wrote:Is it just me or does it always feel like a big game whenever we play Miami?

Maybe there is still some lingering tension leftover from those ECF days? If not amongst the players since there has been a lot of turnover since then, then maybe the coaching staff or fanbase?

"Beat The Heat" has been chanted in the Fieldhouse at least twice that I know of since Lebron went back to Cleveland. Maybe not much, but still.