Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton has found a way to rack up assists off the court as he reached out to an aggrieved Pacers fan on "The Pat McAfee Show". While speaking with the fan, who was assaulted with trash bags for wearing a Haliburton jersey after Game 6 of the Celtics-Knicks series, the guard said:
"I would like to personally bring you and a plus one out here to come to Game 4 here in Indiana. I'll bring you guys out here, put you guys up, and put you guys on tickets to the game."
"The Pacers, everybody in the organization wants to make sure you're taken care of. All the team's excited to meet you. It's all we've been talking about. Everybody's seen the video."
The video, in context, shows Hans Perez, a firefighter and loyal Pacers fan, getting attacked by a mob of Knicks fans after Game 6 against the Boston Celtics.
The situation would have naturally been a terrifying one for Perez, who was being chased by several Knicks fans and attacked with filled trash bags. However, in light of this, Haliburton and the Pacers organization have shown a lot of class.
Perez himself was excited about the notion of being in attendance for Game 4. He said, "I've got to talk to the guys. But I'm pretty sure we can work something out."
The support the fan has for the Pacers has been cultivated by the team's awe-inspiring playoff run. With the 25-year-old star on a mission to prove his haters wrong, Indiana has forged its path to the ECF.
That being said, the Pacers haven't looked like they have been tested; rather, they haven't showcased their full potential just yet. Although their star has seemed otherworldly, Rick Carlisle's team has simply shown a commitment to executing strategies in the most effective way possible.
Having completed a gentleman's sweep in both of their playoff series thus far, the Pacers have established a certain ability to dominate their opponents. However, this may not be as easy against the New York Knicks.
The Knicks have been on a warpath through the postseason as well. After making some miraculous comebacks, fuelled by some inspiring individual performances, New York has looked nigh invincible.
Led by an elite offensive weapon in Jalen Brunson, the Knicks have showcased a grit and tenacity when it comes to winning games that can only be attributed to championship-caliber teams.
The matchup between these Eastern Conference giants is bound to be exciting. Both teams will be vying for a spot in the NBA Finals, considering how long it has been since their last appearance.
With Game 1 slotted to take place on Wednesday, May 21st at 8:00 pm ET, Madison Square Garden is bound to be buzzing with a new kind of excitement and energy.
