Even When They’re Down, The Pacers Proved They’re Never Out
For a few years in the mid-1990’s, quarterback Jim Harbaugh and the Indianapolis Colts had a couple of well-earned monickers.
Harbaugh was “Captain Comeback”, leading his “Cardiac Colts” to shocking, come-from-behind victories. Fans embraced Harbaugh and the team and would ride with them all the way to the 1995 AFC Championship game, where the Colts would come within one dropped Hail Mary from making the Super Bowl.
It’s been 30 years since that Colts team endeared themselves to Indianapolis. The Colts themselves have since fallen on hard times; however, Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers have been keeping that spirit alive in 2025 with a pair of truly shocking last-second playoff victories over the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 5 of Round 1, and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 of Round 2.
Now, we might need to workshop a new nickname for these Pacers. “Pacemaker Pacers”, perhaps? It certainly feels like I’m going to need one after this last week. Whatever name the fans decide on, one thing is for sure: as long as Tyrese Haliburton is around, the Pacers are never out of a game, no matter how little time is left on the clock.
During the Wednesday edition of The Ride With JMV, Spero Dedes of TNT joined the show! Spero had the call of Game 2, and he spoke to JMV about Haliburton.
“He’s a special player. Who knows how far he can take this franchise in the coming years…Maybe the ceiling is even higher than we thought? There are great players in this league, but there’s a separation when you talk about intangibles, when you talk about that inner fight and that inner spirit that I think few guys in this league have, and I would put him in that class.”
Listen to JMV’s full conversation with Spero Dedes of TNT down below, and tune into The Ride With JMV weekdays from 3-6pm on 93.5/107.5 The Fan!