Larry. Bird and Pritchard walked through the passage of the Consec Arena, where a large number of fans had already gathered to buy tickets.

That's right, even though Game 5 of the series, the Pacers still have to fight in Oklahoma. Still, tickets for the Consec Arena were sold out, and countless Pacers fans were pouring into the stadium to witness the potential to make history through a live broadcast on the big screen.

In the fifth game of the series, if the Pacers can continue to defeat the Thunder today, then this yellow team will lift the NBA championship trophy!

And it's also the first historic O'Brien Cup in the history of the Pacers!

In fact, the Indiana Pacers have won three championships in their history. But those three championships have nothing to do with the NBA, they are all the glory left by the Pacers during the ABA period.

The Indiana Pacers joined the NBA in the 1976-1977 season along with three other ABA teams, the Denver Nuggets, the New York Nets, and the San Antonio Spurs, making the Pacers' former glory in the ABA a thing of the past. At that time, the Pacers, who already had a dominant position in the ABA, struggled after entering the NBA.

In the opener of the 1976-1977 season, the Pacers' opponents, the Boston Celtics, taught them a lesson. The Pacers lost 122-129 in overtime, and the Pacers went on a three-game losing streak, then a four-game winning streak, and then a six-game losing streak...... It wasn't until March 19 that they met the Golden State Warriors, a game in which the Pacers were ravaged and lost by 59 points at 91-150, which was also the heaviest defeat in franchise history.

Once the glory of the ABA has become worthless in the NBA, the three-time ABA championship winner has been dismal since joining the NBA, with only one win rate exceeding 50% in his first 13 seasons.

After 15 years of exploration, the team's results finally improved in the early 90s. By the mid-90s, they had become a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference. From 1994 to 2000, the Pacers reached the Eastern Conference Finals five times, won the Central Division twice, and reached the NBA Finals in 2000.

Another 12 years later, the Pacers have become an indispensable force in the NBA. And now, Indianapolis fans can finally continue their championship dreams.

So, even though the game isn't playing in Indianapolis, the Pacers are still selling tickets openly, and fans are willing to buy it. Just watching the game on the big screen on the spot, the fans are already very satisfied. Because it's a moment of honor that no Indianapolis wants to miss! It's a moment of glory where all the Pacers fans wear team t-shirts on corn paste, gather and get into it as if they were watching a real live game!

Bird and Pritchard were no exception, and of course they didn't choose to huddle with the fans, but instead opened a luxury box on their own.

The luxury boxes in NBA arenas are truly worthy of the word "luxury", as they not only have a good view of the game, but also have facilities such as kitchens, TVs and even bathtubs.

In previous seasons, tickets for the Pacers' luxury box have not sold very well. But this year, most of the boxes in the Consec Arena were full, and the attendance rate has also increased a lot. I believe that next season, the Pacers' broadcast fees will also increase.

Bird and Pritchard opened the door of the box, and there were already three people sitting in the box. They are Stephens, the majority shareholder of the Pacers. Simon, who has taken all of the Pacers shares from his father, Herbert, in the middle of the season. The other two are Vivek, a minority shareholder of the Pacers. Lanadivi and his daughter, who is also the girlfriend of Pacers coach Coach Henson, Angel Anderson. Lanadivi.

"Bird, Kevin, I've been waiting for you for a long time! I said a long time ago that we should fly straight to Oklahoma! "As soon as Bird entered the door, Stephen. Simon enthusiastically embraced the two giants who handled the team's affairs. Pritchard is in charge of business, and Bird is in charge of basketball, and the cooperation between the two is seamless, which also makes Stephen, the big boss, very satisfied.

"It's not good for all of us to go to Oklahoma, okay? Let your father go in our place. Moreover, your father has worked so hard for this team for so many years, and I believe he deserves such an honor. Bird patted Stephen on the shoulder, Herbert was in Oklahoma at this time. Because if the Pacers can win the championship today, then Herbert will be the owner of the team from David Brown. Stern took over the first O'Brien Cup in team history.

Although the official majority shareholder of the Pacers is now his son Stephen, Herbert and his late brother finally saw the day when the Pacers won the championship, and this honor naturally cannot be missed by Herbert.

"I don't disagree with that, Bird. My dad deserves that honor, but I, I just want to get up close and personal with the atmosphere that comes after winning the championship. As Herbert said, his son is more passionate about basketball than he is about basketball.

"Trust me, you don't feel a championship vibe in Oklahoma, you just hear endless boos. If you want to feel the atmosphere of winning the championship, the Consec Arena is the best choice. Bird nodded at Stephen and greeted Vivek again.

"I heard that Henson and Angeli are getting married?"

"No, it's their business, and I don't want to meddle. When to get married, you have to ask them. Vivek said and glanced at his daughter, while Angeli just blushed and bowed her head.

"Marry or not you'll have to prepare a big party for the city this summer, Vivek. Do you know what I'm thinking about right now? I'm already thinking about the championship parade. I can give you a lot of experience in this area. Bird sat down on the couch, and the king was reminding people of the three championships he had won before.

Vivek pulled the humidor out of his pocket and handed it to everyone in the room except Angeli. The box of cigars was given to him by Henson when he first met, but since he never smoked cigars, it was never opened.

But today, for the sake of the championship, Vivek also decided to get a taste of what it is like to win.

"yes, the overall winner...... Is that kid really going to get it done? Vivek took a puff on his cigar and exhaled the smoke ring. It's as if everything in front of me is like smoke, and something is unrealistic......

But one thing is certain, Vivek likes the guy who leads the team to the finals and is good to his daughter.

※※※

"I told you, I don't like him."

Oklahoma City, third row of the stands at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. A bald man with glasses put his mouth in the ear of an old man with white hair.

"There may only be a very small part of the world that likes him, Adam." Stern kept smiling, and if you didn't look closely, you wouldn't have noticed that the president of the alliance was talking.

On the night of the Finals, and the night of the Finals where the championship may be decided, the NBA president is naturally indispensable.

After all, if the Pacers win the championship, Stern will have to come up to the stage to present the awards.

So tonight, the NBA commissioner and vice president are both there. This is the second time they have watched the Pacers live this season, but Stern and Xiao Hua would never have imagined that they would meet the Pacers in the Finals this time.

After 48 minutes, Stern is likely to smile and hand out the glittering trophy to a team he had hoped to be eliminated!

It's kind of ironic.

"What did you see him do in the Eastern Conference Finals this year? Popovich and Duncan are just talking about it, while Henson. What about Joe? He openly provokes the Union! Use fake falls and backhand defense to satirize the league's blowing penalties. This is too bad, not counting his open-mouthed attitude in front of the media and his contempt for the rules of the league. We should take the opportunity to impose heavy penalties! Xiao Hua's face was expressionless, but his tone was full of anger.

And those words he said to reporters when the Eastern Conference champions presented the awards. What' Everyone's Fun or Not, We're Damn Eastern Conference Champions! It felt like he was pointing at our noses and yelling, and we had to congratulate him on becoming the overlord of the East!" Xiao Hua gritted his teeth, he hadn't forgotten what Henson had been doing.

"There's no rule in the league that players can't defend with their hands behind their backs, Adam. Sometimes, we really can't control everything. Stern shook his head, he was tired of the life of wits with coaches.

Besides, the playoff games between the Pacers and the Thunder are also stronger than they imagined. It's just a pity that the finals may be ended today, otherwise the league can make more money.

"You don't have the courage you used to be, David." Xiao Hua sat up straight, the "iron-fisted president" of the year may have really become a kind old man now.

"That's why I need you to replace me, Adam. Well, the game begins. Let go of your personal grievances and enjoy the game. Stern said, looking intently at the pitch below.

The Pacers players in corn yellow jerseys played, and at the back was still the Henson, who seemed to be always full of confidence and seemed not afraid of any power. Joe.

Stern didn't argue with his successor because he knew very well that whether people liked it or hated it......

Tonight, no one can stop the Chinese-American coach from leading the Pacers to the top.