Defense, depth and ‘no egos': Why Mark Jackson believes the Pacers will win NBA title
INDIANAPOLIS — As catering attendant Leveda Glazebrooks walked by herself through the KeyBank Suite hallways at Gainbridge Fieldhouse after her Game 6 shift, she repeatedly harmonized, 'We gon' be NBA champions.' A similar sentiment reverberated down Pennsylvania street when Glazebrooks would open the employee exit door to fans chanting, ''Cers in 7.'
Hopes were high after the Indiana Pacers defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 108-91 Thursday to force a Game 7. The Pacers bench outscored the Thunder 48-37 thanks to Obi Toppin's team-high 20 points. Indiana's defense caused 21 Thunder turnovers and held Oklahoma to 26.7% shooting from 3. T.J. McConnell added 12 off the bench.
Indiana became the first team to have eight players to score more than 200 points in a postseason. Former Pacers guard Mark Jackson believes Indiana's attitude, defense and depth will turn Glazebrooks' wishful singing into reality.
'This team has made it this far because of how deep they can go in their bench and there are no egos,' Jackson told IndyStar. 'It can be anybody off the bench, and the starters support, acknowledge and recognize their teammates. That's the beautiful thing about being a total team and that's one of the key reasons they've been so successful.'
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Before Game 4, Toppin praised coach Rick Carlisle for promoting a vulnerable culture among Pacer players. While Toppin acknowledged star point guard Tyrese Haliburton and forward Pascal Siakam as the team's unequivocal leaders, he noted, 'Everyone on the team has a voice.'
'The accountability in this locker room from guy 1-15, every guy listens to each other and what every player has to say and that's valuable,' McConnell said.
After Thursday's contest, Carlisle failed to recall a team he's coached that resembled the character of this year's Pacers roster. Carlisle, who is one win away from his second NBA championship as a coach, recognized the Pacers players for their sacrifice.
'These guys try so hard for each other,' Carlisle said.
Former Pacers forward Metta World Peace also noticed a difference in mannerisms among the team.
'They're mature and professional, on top of being good basketball players,' World Peace said.
Nothing vindicated World Peace and Carlisle's point more than Haliburton's decision to play through a strained right calf on Thursday. The two-time NBA All-Star still scored 14 points and dished five assists in Game 6.
'I want to be out there and compete with my brothers,' Haliburton said postgame. 'These are guys that I'm willing to go to war with, and we've had such a special year. We have a special bond as a group, and I think I'd beat myself up if I didn't give it a chance. Those guys have my back and I have theirs at the same time, so that was important to me.'
Toppin added: 'He's not going to let no little injury hold him back from playing in the finals and helping this team win. He's helped us get to this point and he's going to keep going until he can.'
Jackson called Carslisle's brand of basketball 'fun to watch and refreshing' as a former coach and player because of the Pacers' pace. He applauded the franchise for making the 'proper adjustments and right commitments' to improve defensively. The Pacers cracked the top 15 in defensive rating for the first time in five seasons this season.
'Offense comes and goes,' Jackson said. 'Defense is the thing you rely on night in and night out. Because of good defense, you can stumble into games where you win ugly, and that's what they've done. And now they've put themselves in a position to win a championship. This team, it's their time.'
Jackson was Indiana's starting point guard when the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Pacers 4-2 in the 2000 NBA Finals. He believes the 2000 team and Carlisle's roster were both well coached and 'more than capable of winning a championship.' However, Jackson didn't hesitate to state his reason as to why this Pacers squad will accomplish what his couldn't 25 years ago.
'Their point guard is way better,' Jackson said with a laugh.
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