**Source: Jason Miller / Getty**
The Indiana Pacers are back in the Eastern Conference Finals for the 2nd season in a row.
Last year’s playoff run was widely viewed as a bit of a Cinderella story; an upstart small-market team exceeding expectations before getting swept by a superior Boston squad. This year is different. The Pacers just took down the top seed in the Eastern Conference in five games, right after they sent one of the league’s best players home early in five as well. This is no cute Cinderella story; the Pacers are a legit contender to win an NBA Championship.
Obviously, there is a lot of basketball left to be played. Should the Pacers face the Knicks in the Conference Finals, as seems likely, it will be a very tough test against a very tough team while dealing with a very hostile, fired up Knicks crowd. Most experts will probably favor New York to advance, but as the Pacers just proved against the Cavs, sometimes the “experts” are completely wrong.
Whatever happens, however the Conference Finals and beyond go, there’s no doubt that the Pacers have arrived. Their championship window is wide open; to quote Colts owner Jim Irsay, now is the time for them to go “all chips in.” If that means dipping into the luxury tax, then so be it. The East is right there for the taking this year, and it very likely could be again next year with all the uncertainty surrounding Boston and the health of Jayson Tatum. There might be no better opportunity for a small-market team like Indiana to go for it all; they would be wise to do everything and everything possible to take advantage.
Listen to the Best Of JMV from Wednesday’s edition of the show down below, where JMV discussed the Pacers and their championship window with TNT’s Spero Dedes, Jeremiah Johnson from Pacers TV, Jason Logan of Covers.com and Kevin Bowen from The Fan Morning Show. Tune into The Ride With JMV weekdays from 3-6pm on 93.5/107.5 The Fan!
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