At one point during NBC Boston’s broadcast of the Celtics-Pacers game, Tommy Heinsohn said something to the effect of “do you know who this Indiana Pacers team reminds me of? Last year’s Boston Celtics.”
Tommy’s truth bomb was a compliment to a gritty Pacers team without their best player (Victor Oladipo), a sly indictment of what’s been missing with this year’s team, and a wake up call. Indiana is for real.
When asked about their toughness and grittiness, Brad Stevens didn’t mince words. “I think they’re the litmus test for that.