**Source: Gregory Shamus / Getty**
The Indiana Pacers are back in the NBA Finals for the first time in 25 years.
They punched their ticket with a dominant performance in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks, sending the Knicks into the offseason with a 125-108 beatdown. Last time the Pacers were in the Finals, they ran into a Lakers dynasty that starred Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, losing 4-2. Now, they will once again be underdogs as they stare down the league-best Oklahoma City Thunder and the reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Regardless of what happens in the Finals, it’s been a remarkable turnaround for Indiana over the last several seasons. During Monday’s edition of The Ride With JMV, Pacers GM Chad Buchanan joined the show and spoke about what move led to this Pacers resurgence.
“_I would say the deal that’s \[most important\], outside of Tyrese, is hiring Rick as our coach…We knew we wanted a veteran coach, an experienced coach, somebody who had won a lot of games, and it was a no-brainer with Coach Carlisle. Bringing him back, it’s hard to find a more impactful move that’s been made by the Pacers than that hire right there._”
You can’t talk about the Pacers rebuild without mentioning Tyrese Haliburton, and Chad made sure to dive into what the team saw in him before acquiring him, and how impactful he has been for this team.
“_We felt like he was one of those players that, if you really put the ball in his hands and gave him the reins like Rick envisioned us doing, we felt like there was a big jump that could take place with a player like Tyrese, and you’re hopeful. You never know if it’s going to happen or not, because it’s got to be a lot of things coming together in a line to make it work, but to Tyrese’s credit he came in and embraced the change…What he’s done in these playoffs and really since Day 1 when he got here as a Pacers, it’s been just a joy to watch him grow into what he’s become, and I think there’s even more for him to turn into._”
Listen to JMV’s full conversation with Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan down below, and tune into The Ride With JMV weekdays from 3-6pm on 93.5/107.5 The Fan!
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