The Indiana Pacers are down 3-2 in the NBA Finals to the Oklahoma City Thunder, but not all hope is lost just yet. This series is not over yet, and if recent history says anything, it is too early to count the Pacers out as they are 3-0 in Games 6 and 7 over the past two seasons, and they may still have a legitimate shot at winning the series. In order for the Pacers to pull off this incredibly difficult comeback and secure their first-ever NBA Championship, they must continue this trend.
Indiana has built a reputation for being a resilient team that is always capable of bouncing back. They have lost three consecutive games just once since the turn of the calendar, and it is safe to assume they are not going to go down without a fight, even against a team as dominant as the Thunder. While it will be a difficult task for the Pacers to complete (especially given the latest injury updates on Tyrese Haliburton), they have regularly achieved the impossible. Only time will tell whether they can do it once again.
The Pacers cannot be counted out just yet
The Pacers have had a bit of a rocky series up to this point. They have had some stretches where they outplayed Oklahoma City, and they were just minutes away from taking a 3-1 series lead in Game 4. However, on the flip side, there were also plenty of moments where they did not even look like they were on the Thunder's level, as they have done a great job of making Indiana uncomfortable for most of the series.
Regardless, if there is one thing the Pacers have made clear time and time again, it is that they usually play their best basketball when their backs are up against the wall. In a somewhat fortunate case (though it is a less-than-ideal situation), the odds could not be more against the Pacers than they are now.
As Indiana looks to pull off this comeback, they will need to rely heavily on the guys that got them to this point. Pascal Siakam has been solid throughout the series and has been the Pacers' most consistent starter. Furthermore, the team has gotten some solid play out of T.J. McConnell and Bennedict Mathurin so far. On the flip side, players like Myles Turner, Andrew Nembhard, and Aaron Nesmith must step up for the Pacers to have a legitimate chance of pulling this off.
It is not going to be easy, and some would even say it is impossible, but the Pacers still have what it takes to come back in this series and walk away with the Larry O'Brien Trophy. And if their recent playoff trend continues, an NBA Finals victory is inevitable for Indiana.