The Indiana Pacers are just two wins away from winning an NBA Championship. While it is way too early for the team to celebrate and look towards the future, the Pacers sent a league-changing message in Game 3: they have the makings of a dynasty. The Pacers are an incredibly young team, and they have what it takes to be legitimate title contenders for the foreseeable future.
So far in the NBA Finals, the Pacers have proven they can go head-to-head against the best team in the league. Additionally, after making a conference finals appearance last year, Indiana is building a reputation as a team that comes alive in the playoffs, and that is a scary thought for their opponents, who may have to deal with them for a long time.
The Pacers have what it takes to be the next NBA dynasty
Assuming the Pacers hang on in the NBA Finals and eliminate the Oklahoma City Thunder, who were considered the heavy favorites in the series, they will make history. Not only would this be their first NBA title in franchise history, but a championship victory would solidify their standings as one of the most resilient championship teams in league history. The scariest part, though, is that they still have an incredibly bright future.
Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, and Aaron Nesmith are 25 years old, and Bennedict Mathurin is just 22. None of those guys have hit their peak yet, and they are still taking over games in the NBA Finals on either side of the ball. Furthermore, Obi Toppin recently turned 27 years old, and he is quietly having a clutch postseason so far. Additionally, outside of James Johnson, T.J. McConnell, and Pascal Siakam, nobody on the Pacers is older than 29 years old.
If the Pacers are willing to pay out, they can keep winning and competing for a very long time. They already have an NBA Finals appearance and two consecutive conference finals appearances under their belt, and they are two wins away from an NBA Championship with a Hall of Fame coach who most likely will not be going anywhere anytime soon.
The Pacers drastically improved from last season to this season, and they are likely not even close to reaching their ceiling. A championship is realistically within reach for Indiana, and they should remain in the picture for quite some time and potentially make a name for themselves as the next NBA dynasty.