Tuesday night the Indiana Pacers clinched their first-round series against the Orlando Magic to advance the second round of the NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2006.
The Orlando Series is the only NBA Playoff series that the Pacers have won without having Reggie Miller on their roster (though they won many ABA series back in the 1970s).
Indiana begins the second round Miami on Sunday at 2:30 CST, televised on ABC.
In honor of this accomplishment, here is the cover of the Pacers’ 1971-72 ABA Press Guide.
It’s a cartoon of then-Pacers coach Bobby “Slick” Leonard preparing to gun down a group of players, mascots, and coaches representing the other ABA teams under the guise of taking a group photo.
You’ll notice Memphis Pros coach Babe McCarthy, Zelmo Beaty of the Utah Stars, Rick Barry of the New York Nets, and diminutive Mack Calvin of The Floridians, all about the be killed in cold blood by the man known to my generation for yelling “Boom Baby” on the Pacers’ radio broadcasts whenever Reggie Miller would hit a three pointer.
The Kentucky Colonel looks frightened. He should be.
My favorite thing about this picture is the look of resignation on the face of the Pittsburgh Condor. His species (which has no business being in Pittsburgh) has been endangered for years, so he expects this sort of thing to happen.
Hat tip: Fun While It Lasted
About Josh Tinley
