Wizards Fans Actually Booed The Pacers For Not Running Up The Score Even Higher In Last Night’s 162-109 Blowout
If you're going to lose, make it a historical loss. BUT the Indiana Pacers couldn't even do that for the crowd that stuck around for the casual 53 point blowout. If only stacking up bad losses helped your lottery chances. Instead of seeing NBA history with total points and 3 pointers made in a single game, the crowd in DC got to witness a bunch of Pacers franchise records and the most efficient game by any offense in the 21st century. There wasn't even some sort of in game promotion like the opposing team scores 160 points and you stick around till the end of this dog shit game - you get a free chicken sandwich. Sad.
While beating up on the bottom of the barrel Washington Wizards doesn't exactly get the juices going, I was thankful Indiana numbed the pain of losing to the Lakers on LeBron a buzzer beater the other night. It was also a blessing to see the Pacers not do what they usually do - play to the level of their competition by eking out a win vs Washington/ or worse, stacking an L. Last season the Pacers had one of the better records against the best teams in the NBA while also holding onto one of the worst records against low level talent teams. Hopefully those days are finally behind Indy as this young team matures - nothing helps you mature faster than getting the young guys minutes. While you could hear DC fans booing, you know the attendance is cooked when you're able to hear enough Pacer fans in the arena chanting we want Furphy.
Franchise records are cool, and setting NBA records would have been great, but I'm most thankful for Indiana going up 20 points at half so I could pay attention to the Sweet 16 games. No one wants to keep track of a March NBA game between Washington and Indiana when we've got prime college hoops on. The DMV area was in shambles last night, booing the Pacers for running out the clock, and Maryland's head coach for leaving them in the middle of the big dance. Maybe things will turn around and Cooper Flagg will end up in the DMV? Too bad the NBA will never let that happen.
