Party Like its 1998

Bankers Life Fieldhouse - Tueday February 7th, 2012


Well it was our first go around for a game here professionally covering the Indiana Pacers.  Krissy in PR was so kind to help us through the process of credentialing.  I did have to figure out where in the 20,000 seats I was sitting but I managed.  

Although folks were still filing in at tip off, there weren't near enough seats filled considering we have a 16-7 team that is near the top of the Eastern Conference.  Let's chalk this one to post Super Bowl hangover for now...
Gordon Heyward of the Jazz returns to the site of his miracle tip in for Brownsburg in the Indiana boys State Finals.  The Carmel Elementary School Choir performed a great edition of the National Anthem.  The Jazz were announced......and then the lights went down.  Michael Grady, moonlighting from his day job at 1070 the Fan, got the crowd roaring with the Pacers intros and we were ready to toss it up.


The Pacers controlled the tip and jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead.  The Jazz quickly responded with a 5-0 run of their own to make it 4-5 Jazz by the 8:25 mark of the 1st quarter.


The Pacers got in quick foul trouble with 4 team fouls by the 7:42 mark of the first period.  But a strong early game by Roy Hibbert and Tyler Hansborough pushed the Pacers to a 27-23 lead at the end of the 1st.

Pacers Cheer Block & Pep Band

By this time, most of the attendance could be recorded and it's not pretty.  Did you know that the Pacers have a pep band and a cheer block?  It takes me back to my Tri-Central High School days with the largest cheer block in the state.  Two time spirit award winners!


Anyway, back to the action.  In the second, Indiana continued to push their lead to 7 only to have the Jazz eat away at it.  That changed when at 2:16 to play in the third, Paul George took a pass from Collison on the end of great ball movement and buried a three pointer to put the Pacers up 49-38.  The Pacers pushed their 2nd quarter lead to as much as 13 behind 8 points from Collison and 4 rebounds from David West.  At half time, the score was 57-46 Pacers.  The Pacers shot a blistering 61.1% during the 2nd quarter with only 2 turnovers compared to the Jazz 4 turnovers and just 39.1%.


By half time, Gordon Hayward had only shot 2 of 5 for 4 points including 0-1 from distance.  Al Jefferson led the Jazz with 12 points, 2 assists.  For the Pacers, Darren Collison led the way at the break with 17 points (on his way to a season high) and Roy Hibbert had 12 points and 2 blocks.  Indiana seemed to be gaining control of the game and this article appeared to be coming to a close early.....


To open the 3rd period, it was much the same.  By the 8:04 mark, Indiana had put on a 14 to 4 run and opened up a blowout like 21 point lead. Indiana did it with high percentage shots with 8 of the 14 points during this run coming on lay-ups or dunks.  Here is where it got interesting.  


Whether the Pacers relaxed or the Jazz pushed harder or a combination of the two, the lead began to crumble like Gisele's demeanor in Lucas Oil after the Super Bowl.  


Behind a balanced attack from Utah, the Pacers lead had disappeared by 7:32 remaining in the game.  Paul Millsap led the Jazz with 18 points behind 5 of 7 including 8 of 8 from the stripe.  Five other Jazz players finished in double figures; Al Jefferson 16 pts, CJ Miles 12 pts, Hayward and Harris with 11 pts.  


The teams began to trade one point leads, the crowd stiffened up and we had a ball game going into the home stretch. 


The first deadly blow was struck at 2:42 to go when Paul George buried a 3-pointer to give the Pacers a three point lead.  Then, coming off of a Jazz turnover, Darren Collison dropped in a beautiful floater to make it a two possession game with one minute to play.


The Jazz attempted to stretch the game with fouls, but Indiana kept the lead for good behind 18 of 22 from the charity stripe for 81.8%.


Final Score:  Indiana 104 Utah 99.....Attendance: 11,006.  More people bought hot dogs on the street at the Super Bowl Village.  C'mon folks!


The Pacers may still be a young team and it showed last night in their inability to seal the deal up by 21 points, but the bottom line is this:  Indy, it's time to be Loud and Proud again.  Your Pacers are back.  Do you remember 1998 Indianapolis?  That year the Pacers went 59-23 and rocked this town before losing in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Bulls.  Your Colts finished 3-13 behind a promising, but young QB.  


Get down to the Fieldhouse and PACK THE HOUSE!  It's gonna be one of those years....










By Toby Davis, Director