The spirit of Hucao is immortal! The Pacers 25 years of reincarnation finally welcome the moment of redemption

The waiting of a city and the inheritance of two generations of stars are now related to the outcome of a tiebreak battle.

Historical Echoes: Regrets and Pains 25 years ago

In June 2000, the Indiana Pacers stood on the NBA Finals stage for the first time. The team led by Reggie Miller fought six games with the Lakers' "OK combination" and finally watched O'Brien's Cup fall into Los Angeles. What the iron-blooded army left behind was the never-healing scar in the hearts of Yincheng fans - "We are only one step away from greatness." After that, the Pacers were deeply trapped in the whirlpool of fate: the peak lineup that won 61 wins in 2004 collapsed overnight due to the "Auben Hill Palace Incident". Artest was suspended and O'Neal Jr. was injured, and the window for the championship was closed; Paul George was reborn with a broken leg but could not defeat James' Heat dynasty, and eventually went to O'City; Reggie Miller's long reconstruction after retirement made Indian City a supporting role in the league.

When the Pacers returned to the finals in 2025, there were celebrities such as Artest and Schmitz sitting on the sidelines. Artest admitted in tears: "This city has been waiting for too long. We should have won the championship..."

The rise of the new generation: From trading wreckage to championship puzzle

The birth of this Pacers is now known as the most exquisite "reconstruction of ruins" in the NBA

Halliburton - the "grandson of the grandson" traded by George in 2017 (transformed by Oladipo and Sabonis), and transformed into a contemporary magician with 9.8 assists in the playoffs;

Siakam - Raptors' front line, MVP of the East Finals, to make up for key breakthrough shortcomings;

Carlisle - the 1986 Celtics champion member + 2011 Mavericks champion coach, the only active coach who holds & players and doubles of coaches.

They counterattacked with the label of "Underdog":

Eliminating the Bucks 4-1 in the first round (Antetokounmpo is still criticized for being "lucky")

The second round 4-1 Gentleman swept the Eastern Conference First Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Final 4-2 to defeat the Luxury Knicks

Four rounds of the series completed four major reversals of more than 17 points, setting a 26-year playoff record!

Hugio Spirit: The Faith Totem of Indian Basketball

If you ask why the Indiana people are crazy? The answer is hidden in a retro jersey. Starting from 2015, the Pacers launched the "Hickory" themed battle suit, paying tribute to the legend of Zhongshan Hideao High School in the movie "Basketball Ghost". David, a 90-year-old fan, revealed the truth: "Little people fight against the giants, this is our way of life!" This spirit penetrated the team's genes, with 29.2 assists in the regular season, and the league first place, and 28.1 times in the playoffs, but instead of falling; 9 players in the G6 team scored in the finals, and scored 46 points in the substitute; the superstar of the 01st team (Halliburton only had three teams) played the ultimate team basketball. As coach Carlisle said: "We don't need superheroes, we only need 10 desperate people!"

Endgame: The historical weight behind tiebreaks

On June 22, 2025, the NBA will usher in its first finals tiebreak in nine years. For the Pacers, this is not only a battle of victory or defeat, but also a redemption spanning half a century. If you win, you will become the 7th team in history to win the regular season assists of 29+ championships, comparable to Showtime Lakers and Universe Brave; if you lose, you will continue the "Crownless Tragedy" - the ABA three championships are regarded as "antiques" and the NBA has been defeated for 50 years. On the sidelines, the WNBA legend Kechens' shouts resounded throughout the stadium: "Ahhhhh Pacers!" The goddess who dedicated her 15 years of youth to Yincheng was at the same time as the 2 million citizens. When the final whistle sounded, Yincheng had already won no matter who the golden ribbon fell for.

From Miller kneeling to Halliburton's magical pass, from the haze of Auburn Mountain to the glory of Hickory - the tenacity that has been tempered for 25 years has long surpassed the champion itself.

Just like the metaphor of the Elvis Monument outside the stadium: the legend never leaves the stage and is only reborn on a new stage.