This past week when I was going through my typical routine of Pacers news, and normally that’s a fairly quick search during the offseason, I saw one interesting piece. I can only handle looking at so many mock drafts and theoretical trades that always seem to help the other team more than the Blue and Gold. That being said, I was beyond excited to see the following post:
10 years ago today, Roy Hibbert erased Carmelo Anthony.😤@Roy_Meets_World finished with 21 points, 12 rebounds and 5 blocks in our 106-99 series-clinching win over the Knicks. pic.twitter.com/4RnJtdcuKZ
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 18, 2023
Seeing anything about Roy Hibbert automatically catches my eye. He has always been one of my favorite Pacers, and the teams that he anchored in the paint were some of the most fun to watch. His verticality is legendary, and anytime I was in the arena or watching on tv, I just felt that Roy was playing for the fans like me with his tenacious defense and thundering dunks. It’s hard to believe that the block on Carmelo Anthony has been 10 years ago now…
I remember sitting at Bankers Life Fieldhouse excited for that game, and boy… that block will always be a highlight I remember. Seems like yesterday, but a whole decade has come and gone, and Pacer fans are waiting for the return to winning playoff series, not just getting close year after year. 2013 doesn’t seem that long ago, but it is! As I’ve gotten older, I’m starting to understand what older sports fans when they just cannot contain themselves when their favorite team actually wins in the postseason or even a championship. I know that I won’t know what to do with myself when the Pacers finally win a 4th game in a playoff series. At least it seems that the team is heading in the right direction. I’m excited to see what the Pacers do in the upcoming draft (who should the Pacers take?) and watching the growth from this past season. I haven’t had this feeling since the Hibbert block year, and I’m sure glad it’s back!