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Dec 11, 2023·edited Dec 11, 2023Liked by Ryan J. Van Dever

That was a crazy game. The Lakers pulled away in the end, but the Pacers definitely deserve some credit.

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The contrasts of styles in the game made it clear that without a dominant presence like AD, it was going to be a challenging game. In that particular game, the Lakers' defense was outstanding, to say the least.

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For sure. Also, we could say that without Austin Reaves, they probably wouldn't have won… Everyone talks a bit too much about what AD did, and although he deserves as much credit as he can get, Austin Reaves was there too!

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Dec 14, 2023Liked by Ryan J. Van Dever

It was very exciting to see AD return to his old form from the bubble, and a few games since the IST final, it's nice to see that this form was not a one off high performance for the championship. I am also glad that you mentioned the Pacers bench as they were fun to watch during the game. What is also nice for them is the brief exposure to a playoff atmosphere for such a young performing team.

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That's what I loved about the IST, giving primetime exposure to a team that normally doesn't get that kind of viewership, well unless you have NBA pass.

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Yes, the entire supporting cast was mentioned in the article, it was an entire team effort, but without AD bringing his A game offensively and defensively they wouldn't have even been in the game.

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