A Retrospective of the LeBron James vs. Indiana Pacers Rivalry

Blowgate

by Ben Gibson

Lance Stephenson was always a divisive figure among Indiana Pacers fans. But the moment his antics finally jumped the shark is probably when most Indiana Pacers fans were out on Lance Stephenson. And it might have been when he lost the front office, too.

While it wasn’t the unspeakable act that some media blowhard made it out to be, it certainly summed up most people’s frustrations with Stephenson.

In the middle of Game 5 during the 2014 Eastern Conference finals, Lance Stephenson thought the smartest thing he could do was blow in the reigning MVP’s ear.

This was probably the lowest moment of the rivalry.

Indiana was sticking the landing on The Struggle, having barely made it to what had once seemed like an inevitable Eastern Conference finals rematch. They definitely showed some resolve by getting a victory in Game 1, but what came next — three straight wins by Miami — had all the makings of a gentleman’s sweep.

When Lance blew in LeBron’s ear, most NBA onlookers wondered why the Heat would even be gentlemanly about their beatdown of Indiana.

The Pacers would win Game 5 on the strength of an epic fourth quarter from Paul George, but the memes and tributes to Blowgate that followed were a reminder of how far the Pacers had fallen. And after Lance continued with his silly antics the next game, it came as little surprise that while the Pacers were subsequently blown out in Game 6.

Nor was it shocking to see the Pacers front office make such a half-hearted effort to retain Sir Lance-a-Lot the following offseason.

Next: PG's Quarter for the Ages