“I’m not over it. I’m not over it,” Anthony said. “I might act like it’s over but I’m not over it, not at all.”
Them’s is fighting words, and guess what I love it. I love that a guy can still be upset over a second round loss to the Indiana Pacers. Just like I am fine with David West and Roy Hibbert not shaking hands with the Miami Heat after that Game 7 loss of the Conference Finals. Just like I am fine with Lebron James not shaking hands when he lost that series, and didn’t want to engage in that. I think it’s acceptable to be sour after a loss, especially if it’s a playoff loss. That means your season is over, so why wouldn’t you be upset? You can get all the fist bumping, bro hugging, lovey dovey stuff out of the way before the game. Even that’s a bit too much for me anymore.
Sure in the little leagues, high school, and even college, you can build up that idea of sportsmanship and how to handle winning/losing. But these are professional athletes, maybe I am naive in believing they know how to handle themselves in those aspects. I don’t see any reason to make a guy stand in line for a handshake that doesn’t mean anything. You think Michael Jordan cared to shake hands after a game? How about Kobe Bryant? Just like in the NFL, everyone gets up in arms if a coach isn’t seeking out the other coach. It’s not a big deal. Guys take losses hard because it’s all about winning. Just ask any coach that as they’re only around for a few years anymore. It’s about that win now attitude.
This makes me think about the Indiana Pacers, and how there are three teams right now that always come to mind that I want to beat in the regular season and postseason. When I say beat, I mean beat down by double figures, so that you’re showing that you’re a real team to be reckoned with. The three teams are simple to come up with, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, and Chicago Bulls. Each team presents their own reasoning for why I want to just take them out big time.
The Heat are the team to beat, so come regular season, I love to watch the Pacers play them, and last year’s playoff series was one of the best in a while to watch. Two teams just bumping with each other to up each other. It doesn’t get any better than that.
The Knicks have always been a thorn in my side, obviously back to the battles in the 1990s. I think it’s lost some of that luster over the past decade, but could be coming back around if both teams are on the upper end of the Conference.
The Bulls are that team I believe that the Pacers will be vying for that Central Division title. Also, think back to 1998, when some guy by the name of Michael Jordan ends up taking out this Indiana Pacers team that looked to be primed for that NBA Finals appearance. Yes, I am going all the way back to 1998 as to why I want to beat this team. You look at now, and sure Derrick Rose is one of the best around, which gives you more reason to want to show that you’re the better team.
If Carmelo Anthony has some fighting words for the Pacers, you better believe this team will be ready to battle right back. They’ve shown before, they’ve got that fight in them. Their actions will speak louder as the season goes on, and now this makes me want the regular season to get underway even sooner.