Tussle (Why even in a loss at Golden State the Pacers get tall respect)

"You gotta fight for this one bruh!"

William Eardley, the late 19^th century and early 20^th century English soccer player, once said, “Ambition is the path to success, persistence is the vehicle you arrive in.” Denis Waitley, the motivational speaker, gave it to us like this, “As long as we are persistent in our pursuit of our deepest destiny, we will continue to grow. We cannot choose the day or time when we will fully bloom. It happens in its own time.” Then James Whitcomb Riley, the best-selling writer and poet, shut the buildin’ down with, “The most essential factor is persistence – the determination never to allow your energy or enthusiasm to be dampened by the discouragement that must inevitably come.”

Well playas…the Indiana Pacers didn’t let the discouragement of another injury take the wind out of their sails on Wednesday night. As soon as the joint started Roy Hibbert went down with a left ankle sprain and didn’t return. Despite ole boy havin’ to sit, the Pacers gave the Golden State Warriors an old school fist fight out in Oakland. In what seemed like an after-set because the joint started so late they were eventually pushed out of the door with a 117-102 loss.

Let’s keep it real or all the way 100, whichever comes 1^st! Even though the Pacers are 14-23 they are extremely fun to watch! Why? Because these boyz are givin’ you everything they’ve got night in and night out. Well…except for back seat sittin’, Skittles and cornbread eatin’ Roy on most nights! You don’t know what he’s gonna give you but he got a pass on Wednesday night with the dull ankle sprain.

"I wasn't eatin' Skittles tonight Jay!"

The Pacers stepped off in the joint like somebody had stolen their bicycles and jumped all over the Warriors in the first half. Everybody and their momma’s momma were surprised to see that it was all locked up at the break at 50. Say what you want playa but Frank should be the leadin’ candidate for Coach of the Year even with a losin’ record because this dun is bakin’ cakes with sunflowers seeds this year.

Now the second half got away from a boy because that Warriors back-court is ridiculous. Klay Thompson scored 27 of his 40 in the second half and Steph Curry put up 21 in a UPS uniform as he delivered 15 dimes to Big Momma sittin’ on the porch shuckin’ peas.

The persistence of the Pacers kept them from completely fallin’ apart with six cats in double figures. Solomon Hill led the fellas with 21 as David West came through with 16, 7 and 6. Both Chris Copeland and Donald Sloan threw 14 in the kitty as C.J. Miles dropped 13 on a boy. Luis Scola came out of the trunk with 12 but it wasn’t enough to keep the best team in the NBA from knockin’ a boy out with the old school brass knuckles.

I know cats can get caught up with Golden State’s back-court but the difference in this ball game was the Pacers turnin’ the rock over bruh. They committed 17 turnovers against a team that can get out of the gate. The Bay Area ballers scored 28 fast break points with 22 of them directly off of turnovers. That’s the ball game playa. Turn it over half as much as you did and you upset the best team in the league at the crib. I’m just sayin’!

Even with a loss I can ride with these cats because they’re scrappin’ every night. They aren’t just comin’ out of their sneakers and jewelry just because a boy told them too. If they’re givin’ it up it’s only after a straight up tussle in the street. I got tall respect for boyz that will fight for theirs. Up next Boston at the crib and stop me when I start lyin’!

Holla At Ya Boy!
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The caption under the photos isn’t real but its REAL talk!