Obi off to a slow start with only 2 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists and 1 steal in 16 minutes of a Pacers win over the Pistons.
4 seed Pacers win 114-105 over 1 seed Cavs...Pacers win the series 4-1...Pacers advance to the Eastern Conference finals where they will face the 3 seed Knicks or 2 seed Celtics...Knicks currently leading the Celtics 3 games to 1...game 5 is in Boston
Obi had 5 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal in the closeout victory. Highlight:
Timberwolves eliminated the Warriors yesterday 4 games to 1. They have existed since 1989, this will be their 3rd conference finals appearance, they have never won the conference finals.
Very likely to be the Knicks advancing to face the Pacers, Knicks up 80-43 in the 3rd
Knicks win 119-81. Knicks win the series 4-2.
What's up with these crazy blowout scores? Is that normal now? 38 points?
In yet another blowout, Oklahoma City defeats Denver 125-93...OKC wins the series 4-3 and advances to face Minnesota in the Western Conference Finals
So 3 of the final 4 have never won a title.
The Pacers have never won the NBA title, they are 0-1 in the NBA Finals, having made the Finals in 2000.
Minnesota and OKC have never won a title either.
Minnesota has never made the Finals.
OKC is 0-1 in the Finals.
NY has won multiple titles.
Obi fans should love Knicks-Pacers. I’m excited to see if Obi can crank it up defensively and prove his old coach wrong.
While Obi's D is certainly not the strong suit of his game, the issue in New York, much as it is in Indy, was/is that there is an all-star playing his position. Obi's minutes have gone up a little with the Pacers and his stats have predictably increased as well. It seems like every time he gets to start or play starter's minutes, he goes off. I don't know if we'll ever know what Obi is capable of from a complete player standpoint until he consistently gets starter minutes.
After two different teams, I think we can conclude that Obi does not have the skills to be a starter on a good team. Not sure if he would like to be a starter on a poor team or a back up on a good team. His choice and regardless, the money is great.
The Pacers are not just a "good team." They are one of the best teams in the NBA and as we are about to find out, probably thee best team in the East. Obi would start on many NBA teams. For example if the Bulls had drafted him instead of that bum Pat Williams he would be a starter right now.
There is a lot of space between not good enough to start over Randle or Siakam and not good enough to start on a good team, period. It is an interesting question though, whether he would rather play a backup role on a team that competes for championships or start for a cellar dweller. I assume most guys who are talented enough to reach the apex want to start, it is just part of their make up. The money will always be the money.
Would you rather start on a cellar dweller or a middling team or come off the bench for a title contender? I know my answer.
I think most elite athletes would say without hesitation they want to start, because most elite athletes think "the team won't be a cellar dweller if I have anything to say about it." Not being an elite athlete, things like getting a ring enter into my head. If you are asking me personally, I would say that if I was getting Obi's minutes (so playing a considerable amount, not just riding the bench), and I was on a team that is a title contender, and I was making $11M/yr. I would probably be OK with that but once I won a championship, if Siakam was still ahead of me I would be looking to move to a better opportunity, assuming one exists.
Is anyone else ready to vomit over the attention being given to the Knicks at the expense of the Pacers? For the sake of Obi, UD, the State of Indiana, and all Red States, I hope the Pacers kick Thibs’ @$$.
High scoring game 1...75-72 Knicks ahead in NY...7 left in 3rd
I realize that the Pacers aren’t doing themselves any favors at the moment, but the Conspiracy Theorist in me says there’s no way in he!! the NBA will let the Knicks lose this series. Not when the Western Conference representative will come from either Minnesota or Oklahoma.
Obi with two huge plays in overtime of another amazing Pacers comeback win. Next time they are down 10+ with less than 5 mins to play I might just take a flyer on the in game moneyline.
Yes, big comeback by the Pacers. Crazy bounce on the last shot in regulation by the Pacers to send the game into OT.Obi with two huge plays in overtime of another amazing Pacers comeback win. Next time they are down 10+ with less than 5 mins to play I might just take a flyer on the in game moneyline.
2 big plays by Obi down the stretch: a stick-back dunk and another dunk, he was fouled on the second dunk but no foul was called.
Final score 138-135
Crooked officiating...had they called the foul on the Obi dunk, if Obi makes the ft, the Pacers go up 4, so a 2 possession game then with not much time left.
The refs gave NY a chance to tie with that no-call foul.
The TV announcers all said that Obi got fouled.
Obi scored the last 4 points in the game taking te Pacers from 1 down. I was amazed he was in the game at the end
Yep I thought he'd be on the bench too. He struggled to defend in the first half, but was the only guy rebounding. Two big dunks late to help seal it. NYK gotta feel like they had their lunch money stolen tonight.
Yes, NY has to feel totally discouraged, the Pacers stole that win. NY frittered away their late lead.Yep I thought he'd be on the bench too. He struggled to defend in the first half, but was the only guy rebounding. Two big dunks late to help seal it. NYK gotta feel like they had their lunch money stolen tonight.
Yep I thought he'd be on the bench too. He struggled to defend in the first half, but was the only guy rebounding. Two big dunks late to help seal it. NYK gotta feel like they had their lunch money stolen tonight.
And I'm so happy some of it was stolen by Obi 
How about the final possession where they missed two blatant fouls on the rebound, a travelling, and then didn't blow the whistle when the Knicks player was holding the ball while sitting out of bounds. 🤔
Obi led his team in rebounding - with 10 in 19 minutes. Next best on the team, 5 by 2 guys playing +30 minutes. And as mentioned, he scored the Pacers’ last 4 points in a 3-point win.
I think it was 4 of the last 6. Halliburton had that sweet no look pass to Nembhard for a layup in between Obi’s dunks.
I think it was 4 of the last 6. Halliburton had that sweet no look pass to Nembhard for a layup in between Obi’s dunks.
you are correct. Thanks.
What a great birthday present that game was for me. Toppin clearly fouled on his last dunk and no call. NBA officials...so crooked. All the announcers called the foul. Should be investigated.
I do like the challenges afforded to each team. The Pacers challenged and won a series of bad calls that would have stopped the comeback.
Obi had 4 points, 2 boards and 2 dimes in 19 minutes of run in another Pacer W. They lead the NYK 2-0.
It looked like he was “pressing” to do well in front of his hometown crowd, and against the coach who relegated him to a role for which he wasn’t really suited. Hopefully, when he’s back in Indiana, he can relax and just play.
Updated odds to win the NBA title.
The Thunder have the best odds, then the Pacers, then the Knicks, then the Timberwolves.
Thunder...-320
Pacers...+425
Knicks...+1900
Timberwolves...+2200
With a record of 29-1 against the East, the Thunder are tough to bet against unless the Pacers line moves quite a bit
.
From the previous link...odds to win the NBA title at the beginning of the season.
Timberwolves +850
Thunder +1000
Knicks +1600
Pacers +5000
Has UD ever had an alum or former coach win the NBA title?
Kostas and former strength coach Ed Streit?
https://basketball.realgm.com/ncaa/conferences/Atlantic-10-Conference/10/Dayton/16/nba-players
More Flyers from Jablonski article today. 😊
1955: Don “Monk” Meineke, Dayton’s sixth all-time leading scorer, played in all seven NBA Finals games for the Fort Wayne Pistons. He scored six points in 13 minutes in a 92-91 loss in Game 7.
Meineke played five seasons in the NBA. His career ended after the 1958 season.
Notes: Roger Brown, who played for Dayton’s freshman team in 1960-61, won three ABA championships with the Pacers (1970, 1972 and 1973). The Pacers were one of four ABA teams to join the NBA in the 1976-77 season.
Don May New York Knicks 1970
Johnny Davis Portland Trailblazers 1977
Not sure why Carlisle didn’t give Obi more run time in Q4 last night. I know that +/- isn’t the “end-all/be-all”, but he was +19 in only 14 minutes of PT. Only 1 other Pacer had a + last night, and Siakam was -21 in 35 minutes. Given the loss, what could it have hurt to give Obi just 5 more minutes?
