Commanders Reveal Reason For Primetime Appearances
The Washington Commanders' meteoric rise from cellar dwellers in 2023 to media darlings and NFC Championship participants in 2024 could be due to a host of factors.
The new culture, Dan Quinn's coaching, and anything in between—if we are being honest, it's down to one thing—Jayden Daniels.
Advertisement
The rookie quarterback who took all before him last season, as he helped transform the Commanders from a four-win team in 2023 to a 12-5 team in 2024.
Because of that, the Commanders in 2025 are now seen as must-watch in the regular season, and ESPN's John Keim knows it's all down to Jayden.
"Call it the schedule Jayden Daniels built," Keim wrote. "His popularity is one big reason why Washington will play five prime-time games and 10 games in what's considered a national window. The Commanders have seven national games in a row from Weeks 6-13, interrupted only by their bye -- with three night games in four weeks. It ties the record for the most prime-time games in franchise history -- they had five in 2013 and '17."
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5).Matt Kartozian/Imagn Images
Washington's offseason paints the picture of a franchise that feels close to winning a Super Bowl, with trades for Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel signaling their 2025 intent.
Advertisement
But more than that, the expected improvement from Daniels after his Rookie of the Year season, to now being a borderline star, is enough to get fans and media alike excited for what might be in store.
For so long, the Commanders have been the punchline of jokes, but it has taken Quinn, Daniels, and general manager Adam Peters just 12 months to change that.
The proof is in the pudding, with the Commanders being on prime time in 2025 for five weeks, tying the most the franchise has ever had.
And it's all down to Jayden.
Related: Commanders Trade for Tyreek Proposed in Controversial Media Move
Related: Commanders Win-Now Mentality Solidifies 1 Major Area
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
42 minutes ago
- New York Times
Commanders' Daron Payne is leading by example with his inspiring offseason work
ASHBURN, Va. — Washington Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. was in trouble with head coach Dan Quinn at practice this week. Blame Daron Payne. In Tuesday's closed and padless session, Whitt challenged the revamped defensive line to attack. The amped tackle 'went after it' to the point that Whitt apologized to Quinn for the overzealous display, explaining that Payne 'did exactly what I told him to do.' Advertisement It's not that Payne's efforts were out of bounds for game action, nor was the intensity a one-off this offseason. It's why Whitt cited the eight-year veteran when asked during his Wednesday news conference which player stood out early in workouts and organized team activities. '(Payne) looks really good. He looks in tempo,' Whitt said. 'Like, every day this dude is — I'm having to tell him, 'Hey, man, let's calm down.'' Washington fans previously witnessed Payne playing the role of interior monster. The 2022 version collapsed pockets and engulfed ball carriers en route to earning his lone Pro Bowl selection with 11 1/2 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. The 2018 first-round pick signed a four-year, $90 million contract the following offseason. Whitt and Quinn will become unabashed cheerleaders if Payne's performances sniff that level. While solid in the subsequent two seasons, Payne's combined sack (8) and tackles for loss (18) numbers didn't pop. There were a few individual standout moments during Washington's all-smiles 12-win regular season. Maintaining this intensity when the games count would help regain that form. 'I walked past (Payne) today and said, 'Man, you've had a remarkable offseason,'' Quinn said following Wednesday's session. 'I felt that way through the drill work, through the skill (work). You just see something that jumps out differently. … I felt that from him coming into this offseason, and I've certainly been impressed by what I've seen so far.' The Commanders require a big-man group effort to bolster a defense that lagged significantly behind the Jayden Daniels-led offense in Washington's surprising run to the NFC Championship Game. Washington released two-time Pro Bowl tackle Jonathan Allen, yet met the internal goal of getting 'bigger and longer' up front by signing free agent linemen Javon Kinlaw and Deatrich Wise Jr. Advertisement Johnny Newton enters his sophomore season a year removed from surgeries on both feet. Frankie Luvu, Washington's top returning sacker, and Dorance Armstrong remain. 'The vision of how we want to play, how we want to be and how we want to look, you're seeing more of it right now from a size, length and speed standpoint,' Whitt said. The coaches and players understand that the eye test in these unphysical OTAs doesn't automatically translate to in-season success. There are still outside concerns about Washington's edge defender talent and pass rush effectiveness. Many of the personnel transactions, including free-agent defensive tackle Eddie Goldman, were with last season's 30th-ranked run defense in mind. Payne is the one lineman with game-changing potential. Once part of a starting lineup with four consecutive first-round picks, Payne is now the lone rotational lineman who has been with Washington for more than one season. Accordingly, Washington's second-longest tenured player behind punter Tress Way embraced defensive line coach Darryl Tapp's challenge following the season to become the group's leader. 'I've been trying to work hard … trying to show the young boys how to do it,' Payne said. 'Just going out training hard every day, and then reloading in the morning and coming back the next day, trying to do it again.' Whitt correctly notes that Payne 'doesn't talk much at all. But he is leading by example. This year, you can really see him taking that leadership role to the next step.' Usage is another area where Payne stands out. He will play on all three downs. Others might; Quinn and Whitt will spend the summer sorting out line combinations. Along with preseason games, Quinn confirmed the Commanders will hold joint practices with the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens. Advertisement 'We'll get a couple of practices against other teams, and those practices help, too, because as coaches we can emphasize (matchups and scenarios),' Quinn said. 'So those are helpful, too, which you don't get during the (preseason) game.' With Kinlaw, a hulking 6-foot-5, 319-pounder, Washington has 'the ability to move him up and down the line of scrimmage,' Whitt said. Wise, a Super Bowl champion with New England, likely starts at end opposite Armstrong, but he can play inside. Goldman is a run-game specialist. 'Man, we got some big ol' guys, bro,' said the 6-foot-3, 320-pound Payne. Measurables aside, there's no potentially bigger impact player on the line — and arguably the entire defense — than Payne. Though not entering a contract year, motivation may come from seeing Allen released. The Commanders would gain significant salary-cap savings by releasing Payne next offseason. After enduring numerous down seasons, Payne isn't looking to leave now that opponents see Washington as a considerable foe. 'Man, it's super fun being on a big stage,' Payne said. 'I know (opponents) used to single us out because they think they get an easy win. Now they want to beat us.' • Wide receiver Terry McLaurin, left tackle Laremy Tunsil and cornerback Marshon Lattimore skipped voluntary OTAs for a second consecutive week. While McLaurin and Tunsil were in town for other portions of the offseason program, Lattimore has stayed away. The four-time Pro Bowler battled hamstring injuries before and after last year's trade deadline deal with the New Orleans Saints. During the playoffs, Lattimore also labored in coverage against star receivers Mike Evans and A.J. Brown. Whitt said the team has 'been in communication' with Lattimore. 'When he gets here, we'll see exactly where he is from a conditioning standpoint. From a mental standpoint, the coaches have been talking with him. He's a smart young man, but we'll see exactly where he is when he gets here.' Advertisement Kinlaw and wide receiver Michael Gallup did not participate in Wednesday's on-field work but are with the team. • The passing game was crisper this week after an uneven OTA opener. Daniels continues his upward trajectory, displaying accuracy and his signature calm professionalism. Washington found different ways to put the ball in receiver Deebo Samuel's hands as a pass catcher and runner. While tight end Ben Sinnott worked out with a black jersey, indicating an injury, reserve Colson Yankoff had multiple receptions in 11-on-11 drills. for your viewing pleasure — Washington Commanders (@Commanders) June 4, 2025 • Whitt demoted safety Quan Martin to the second-team defense last offseason because 'he was making mistakes that we can't afford to make.' The turnaround was immediate and sustainable. Martin shone in the following three practices before delivering an impressive second NFL season despite dealing with enough shoulder pain to warrant eventual surgeries. This year, Whitt sees a 'laser-focused' player capable of breaking out. 'This kid has the potential to be one of the better safeties in this league, and that's what I'm holding him to,' Whitt said.
New York Times
42 minutes ago
- New York Times
An NFL player was against ‘shrink dudes.' Then he started working with one
Editor's note: This story is a part of Peak, The Athletic's desk covering leadership, personal development and success through the lens of sports. Follow Peak here. When Doug Baldwin first met the sports psychologist who would have a profound impact on his life, he was skeptical about working with him. 'Skeptical is kind of a nice way of putting it,' Baldwin said. 'I was against it.' It was 2011, and Baldwin had just joined the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted rookie. The draft snub fed his intensity and insecurities. For years, he had used the feeling that he wasn't good enough to prove that he was. That combination had helped him reach the pros, going from an unheralded two-star prospect out of high school to Stanford's leading receiver as a senior. When he made a mistake, he dwelt on it and used it to knock his self-worth, prompting him to work even harder. Advertisement Only later, as he learned how to frame and consider his internal thoughts, did he truly understand the personal costs of that mindset. So when Baldwin met Dr. Michael Gervais, a sports psychologist that Seahawks coach Pete Carroll had brought in to work with players, he wasn't sold. Baldwin believed the way he had always carried himself was what made him a successful football player. And when Gervais walked in with his fluffy hair, polished style and frequent smile, Baldwin thought he looked like a Tom Cruise clone. A teammate in Seattle, running back Marshawn Lynch, had a name for people like Gervais: 'shrink dudes.' Yet when Gervais explained the intent of his work — to unlock the best versions of players through training their minds — and the goals it could help them achieve, Baldwin decided to give him a shot. If this is what he says it is, Baldwin thought, then why not just try it? For Gervais, that initial meeting came as he was returning to the sports world after his first attempt to work with athletes a decade earlier had frustrated him. He had earned a Ph.D in sports psychology with the belief that all athletes could benefit from his work. But he became deflated when he felt like some of his athletes didn't fully believe in the correlation between mental skills training and performance, and even more so when they didn't match his investment. So instead, he spent time at Microsoft, helping high-performers develop mental skills and playing a crucial role in the Red Bull Stratos project, where he counseled Felix Baumgartner before his record-setting skydive from 128,000 feet. In 2011, Gervais had dinner with Carroll before his second season as the Seahawks' head coach. Carroll explained that he was looking to instill a culture built around training players' minds as much as their bodies, and he assured Gervais it would be different from his previous experiences. So Gervais decided to give pro sports another chance. Advertisement The first time Gervais worked with Baldwin was during a group session about basic breathing exercises. He started the session with box breathing. Baldwin and his teammates inhaled for five seconds, paused at the top for five seconds, exhaled for five seconds, then paused at the bottom for five seconds before breathing in again. Next, they switched to down-regulation breathing: inhaling for eight seconds, pausing, exhaling for 16 seconds, then pausing again. Before the session finished, Gervais asked the group to participate in a 'gratitude meditation.' 'It's completely attuning to one thing you're grateful for,' Gervais said. Afterward, as Gervais exchanged goodbyes with players, Baldwin slowly made his way to the front of the room. Gervais wasn't sure what Baldwin was going to say. When they were face to face, Baldwin just stood there, grinning and nodding his head up and down. 'OK,' Baldwin finally said. 'Yep. OK.' Gervais didn't have to say anything back. 'I knew and he knew what that stood for,' Gervais said. 'OK, I just went somewhere. I just felt something.' Baldwin's work with Gervais came at a time when athletes across sports started to more publicly consider their mental health and how it influenced their performance. Baldwin felt the stigma against showing signs of vulnerability. However, the revolution has continued and has changed how athletes discuss their struggles, with many more publicly acknowledging the ways they are seeking help. 'Being able to do that opened up a whole different realm for me,' Baldwin said. The first breath-work session had been a 'gate opener,' the first time that he felt like he could control his intense emotions. 'My body had never felt that type of stillness and that type of relaxation,' he said. Still, Baldwin's skepticism didn't vanish overnight. Gervais chipped away at it by painting a picture. As thoughts came into his mind, Gervais suggested viewing them as clouds: Just like a cloud, the thought is here right now, but it's simply passing through the sky. Just because a thought existed didn't mean Baldwin needed to have judgment of it. It's not a bad thought or a good thought. It's just a thought. And it floats by just as a cloud does. Advertisement He also connected with Baldwin on a personal level. It wasn't unusual for their check-ins to turn into hours-long conversations, or for shared meals in the lunchroom to extend into a long walk-and-talk session to practice. 'It was basically counseling sessions,' Baldwin said. 'It was about finding a deeper understanding of myself and what I'm capable of.' Gervais helped Baldwin understand his intense emotions and energy with an analogy: 'It's like you're trying to dictate which way a herd of mustangs is going. You're not going to be able to do that. What you can try to do is try to guide them in the general direction that you want to go.' Baldwin gained a deeper understanding of himself and his thought processes. Conversations with Gervais helped Baldwin connect many aspects of his mindset to the difficulties of his childhood and his insecurities, which gave him the awareness to make adjustments. By getting to the source and working to improve his thoughts, he began to see his relationships and life off the field improve as well. Baldwin began breath work twice a day, and the physical and mental benefits surprised him. He could stay calm under pressure moments on the football field, but he also felt more peaceful and relaxed in his regular life. Gervais helped him establish a pre-performance routine, a pregame routine and a pre-snap routine. Most importantly, from Gervais' perspective, each part of every routine put Baldwin in control. Baldwin could not control scoring touchdowns, for example, but he could control the way he caught the ball or moved his feet. This, Gervais explained, allowed Baldwin to 'put himself in the best position to be himself.' The purpose was to master how to stay calm under stress, generate confidence, envision performance excellence, let go of mistakes and be a better teammate. Advertisement 'Thoughts drive actions,' Gervais said. 'Thoughts impact emotions. Thoughts and emotions together impact behavior. And thoughts, emotions and behavior stacked up is what creates performance.' Baldwin incorporated visualization into his routine. He would imagine himself making specific plays to convince his mind that the moment had already happened — another way to give himself a sense of control. Baldwin's insecurity-fueled drive didn't disappear. He was always one of the Seahawks' most prepared players. He studied film for hours and prioritized going into games, confident that he had done everything to give himself the best chance to be successful. Still … 'No matter how hard you prepare,' Baldwin said, 'there's always something that comes up that you weren't prepared for or makes you question your preparation.' That's where the work with Gervais kicked in. During a big playoff game, Baldwin's heart pounded so rapidly that he began to feel anxious. 'Just get grounded,' he told himself. 'Get grounded.' As he pressed his thumbs to each of his fingertips, he continued to take deep breaths, reminding himself of where he was and the techniques he had learned from Gervais. 'I'm in control of my body, I'm connected to it,' he recited. Then the game started and Baldwin began to feel like himself. His training with Gervais didn't always yield immediate results. In 2016, when the Seahawks played the Green Bay Packers, Baldwin struggled. Nothing he tried was successful. He couldn't bring himself to be balanced and grounded. But he didn't give up. 'It's consistency and discipline with it, but then also persevering through those times where it may feel like it's not working,' he said. That paid off in a major way that year, when he had the most catches and most receiving yards of his career and made his first Pro Bowl. Advertisement 'It's somewhat similar to a muscle,' Baldwin said. 'You have to work it out in order to strengthen it, and there are going to be times where it fails because that's the only way that it grows and gets stronger.' After big games that season, he sat on the sideline and thought: Damn. He didn't feel tired; everything felt effortless. As his work with Gervais continued, Baldwin noticed changes off the field. He felt more confident and reliable as a friend, husband, brother and son. Baldwin retired at 30 after the 2018 season. He wanted to ensure that the adverse side effects of his many years playing football did not interfere with his kids and family. He and his wife, Tara, have three daughters, and he feeds his competitive side with pickup basketball games. Without football, he finds himself occasionally tempted to fall back into old habits because deep down they still feel safer to him, and more familiar. But he still relies on the blueprint Gervais gave him years ago to catch himself. On his phone, he has one of Gervais' guided meditation recordings. When he wakes up some mornings, he does breathing exercises and visualizes how his day is going to go — the same tools he used to catch passes and score touchdowns. 'And that's been profound in my life,' Baldwin said. Elise Devlin is a writer for Peak. She last wrote about the best ways to coach youth sports. Follow Peak here. (Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Otto Greule Jr / Getty Images)
Indianapolis Star
an hour ago
- Indianapolis Star
25 years later, Pacers back in NBA Finals: 'It's almost a replay of the way it felt in 2000'
INDIANAPOLIS – Waiting in the wings of the Staples Center 25 years ago was a 7-1, 345-pound behemoth who could dribble, drain a jump shot and shut down any opponent who came his way underneath the basket. Shaquille O'Neal was dubbed by sportswriters as "a wrecking ball in the paint." Alongside this Los Angeles Lakers giant who wore size 22 shoes, ready to battle the Indiana Pacers in the 2000 NBA Finals, was a 6-7, 215-pound, svelte, smooth-shooting guard who could slice and dice two and three players at a time. Kobe Bryant, media said, was "an artist in high tops." This Lakers team was indisputably one of the most lethal, powerful and successful in the franchise's rich history. That didn't faze the Pacers. They were in the NBA Finals for the first time in their franchise's history. The team was floating on what seemed to be an eternal high after beating their nemesis the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. The trash-talking Pacers superstar Reggie Miller was telling anyone who would listen the Lakers would choke just like the Knicks. Coach Larry Bird was ready to re-live his Boston Celtics era and trounce the franchise that had been his nemesis in his playing days. Looking back, Pacers center Rik Smits says it was beautiful oblivion as Game 1 of the Finals was set to begin. "We believed in ourselves," he told IndyStar this week. "That was the mindset back then." Even Pacers president Donnie Walsh, known for his no-nonsense, tell it like it is, realist persona, wasn't counting his team out. "I knew it was going to be difficult, let's put it that way," Walsh said. "Because Shaq, nobody had seen anything like him, unless you were around to see Wilt (Chamberlain). Not only gigantic, well-built, strong men, they were also great athletes. "Still, I thought we had a chance (to beat them)." Jalen Rose didn't think there was a chance. He knew the Pacers could beat the Lakers. His Game 1 attitude was confidence on steroids. He had no doubt his team was ready to take the leap into the glorious hall of NBA champions. "I felt like when we made it to the NBA Finals, not only were we going to win it, but our team and the franchise would continue to make it back," Rose told IndyStar. "I had no idea 25 years would pass." After the Pacers lost to the Lakers 4-2, squashing a basketball state's dreams to finally have an NBA title, a quarter of a century unfolded. And as the years passed, the city the Pacers called home transformed into an NFL city. The Indianapolis Colts, up to then a virtual non-player in the NFL, started winning. Then they won a Super Bowl. The Pacers became background noise in Indy's sports scene. "The Colts started really winning consistently and people really embraced the Colts," said Bart Peterson, who was Indianapolis mayor from 2000 to 2008. "And it's not like they weren't basketball fans anymore. Of course they were. But I think that the love got transferred a bit to the Colts." In those 25 years, the Pacers made it to the Eastern Conference Finals just four times (2004, 2013, 2014, 2024), but they could never get past the opponents. The Pistons in 2004, the LeBron James-led Heat in 2013 and 2014 and then being swept by the Celtics in 2024. Now, as the team heads to its first NBA Finals appearance since 2000 to face the Oklahoma City Thunder, they are considered by most, including the oddsmakers in Vegas, as heavy underdogs. Just like that roster in 2000 who had no idea they were underdogs — until O'Neal and Bryant emerged from the wings of the Staples Center surrounded by a solid cast of teammates and took the court in Game 1. "Well, you know, look, the joy of making it to the Finals is a big thing," said Walsh. "But you quickly come to the realization, now you've got to go play in the Finals." GOLD RUSH! How the Indiana Pacers claimed their first Eastern Conference title in 25 years As the bright lights shined inside the Staples Center June 7, 2000, in front of nearly 19,000 fans with throes of celebrities sitting courtside, Miller came out and gave an unbelievably unremarkable performance, going 1-of-16 and scoring seven points in Game 1. Miller didn't score a single point until a pair of free throws, four minutes into the third quarter. He hit his first field goal three minutes later and it would be his last. "He offered no excuses, regrets or apologies," IndyStar reported after talking to Miller about his dismal, career playoff low. "I couldn't put the ball in the basket," he said. "But I'll tell you what, if they continue to give me those looks, they're going to be in trouble." The Lakers didn't dispute that one bit. "You would think aliens would come down from outer space before Reggie Miller shoots 1-16 again," said Lakers forward Rick Fox. O'Neal, on the other hand, had no problem draining shots. His Game 1 attack included 43 points, 19 rebounds and three blocked shots, much to the delight of the likes of Jack Nicholson and Chris Rock and every other Lakers fan who roared and reveled in the 104-87 victory. The Pacers leading scorer was Mark Jackson with 18, followed by Austin Croshere with 16. Rose, who scored just 12, was called out by Bird, who simply said, "Jalen didn't play tonight." "We're a funny team. We can be a hard-nosed, good, steady, tough team like we were in Games 5 and 6 against New York, or we can be a soft team," Pacers assistant coach Dick Harter said. "Somehow, we have to find our toughness." Part of that toughness for Game 2 included a series of adjustments by the Pacers to try to contain O'Neal inside and take their chances dealing with Bryant's full court game. "If we need to pick our poison, we'd rather it be Kobe," Pacers' backup point guard Travis Best told IndyStar at the time. "You can always get help on Kobe." The strategy failed miserably. The Pacers lost Game 2, 111-104, with O'Neal scoring 40 points and shooting 39 free throws after Bryant left the game early with an ankle injury. The Pacers committed 38 fouls. O'Neal made 18-of-39 free throws. While Miller scored 21 points, he had zero in the fourth quarter. Rose, seemingly ready to prove himself to Bird, scored 30 points. It wasn't enough. As the team prepared for a trip home, 0-2 in the series, to see if the magic inside Conseco Fieldhouse and an absent Bryant in Game 3 would be the answer, Bird was calm but adamant. "We have to find a way to win one," Bird said. "It's up to us to make adjustments and get some scoring inside." Being down 0-2 didn't hamper the electricity permeating Indianapolis. Smits remembers arriving home to an indescribable "excitement in the air," which is still one of his favorite memories of being a Pacer. The love his team felt from the city. It was almost as if the basketball gods had planned this whole NBA Finals just for the Pacers, who were getting to host the next three games in a flashy, glitzy, brand new $183 million arena. Conseco Fieldhouse had just opened the winter before and was getting rave reviews from fans and opposing teams. "And Reggie was, you know, the hero of the city. And everybody in Indianapolis loved him," said Peterson. "And the rest of the team was full of a bunch of really likable players. And so the city was in love with the team exactly like it is today." Fans were on the edge of their seats with this NBA Finals, a culmination of years of playoff runs with the Knicks throughout the 1990s. This time, the Pacers had overcome their big-city nemesis, beating the Knicks in six games in front of a rowdy, New York-heavy crowd of nearly 20,000 people. Rose says it was his No. 1 moment of being a Pacer, sweet revenge for the season before when the the teams were in the exact same arena playing Game 6 and the Knicks beat the Pacers 90-82 taking the series 4-2. "As I look back at the journey and there's an image of us winning against the Knicks, who obviously at that time it was Hicks versus Knicks, there's an image of Reggie Miller and I hugging at half court at the Garden," Rose said. "We did it on the logo. This was our turn for redemption and it was only right that we did it against them." To win the Finals would simply be icing on the cake. And the Pacers had a sixth man on their side for Game 3 — the city of Indianapolis. "We got a lot of guys that feed off this crowd," Rose said, "and we get a lot more energy from that." With Bryant out for Game 3 with a sprained left ankle and O'Neal scoring just one basket in the first 11 minutes (dropping him from his previous two 40+ games to 33 points), Miller racked up his own 33 points, combined with Rose's 21 for a Pacers' 100-91 victory. There was a collective sigh of relief across the city. "If we were down 3-0," Miller said after the game, "you could have pretty much written us off." Instead, the Pacers returned to their home court three days later and proved they could compete with the Lakers in a thrilling overtime ... loss. But still, they were right there. Down two points with 5.9 seconds left in overtime, the Pacers walked back out on the court confident Miller would do what he usually does — be clutch. "The first thought is you just want to run him off the 3-point line," said Bryant, who returned from his ankle sprain for Game 4. "But then I saw Robert Horry with those long arms running toward him. If there was anyone who could get a piece of the ball, it was Robert." Coming out of the Pacers' timeout, Miller came off two double screens, cut the pass and turned to launch the 3-pointer. "It was an image burned into the mind of anyone who has ever watched the slender Pacers guard move to stage center at the end of close games with everything to win and everything to lose," IndyStar wrote. "As he turned, the fieldhouse crowd, already on its feet, seemed frozen in breath and thought as he let it fly." The ball arced toward the hoop, hit the rim and bounced high into the air. But as the final buzzer sounded, that ball didn't fall through the basket as it bounced onto the court. "It felt good," Miller said after the game. "What distracted me was when Robert Horry was running at me. I had to shoot it higher over his hand and when you do that, you've probably got to shoot it a little bit longer, which I didn't, but it was right on target. It was just short." The Pacers lost 120-118, but it didn't feel exactly like a loss. It felt like they had really competed and, if they continued to play the way they did in Game 4, they might be able to call themselves NBA champions. Inside Conseco Fieldhouse for Game 5, trailing 3-1, the Pacers went on a rampage to finish a contest that can best be described as an outright blowout, 120-87. The Pacers seemed virtually unstoppable from tipoff to the final buzzer, hitting six straight 3-pointers early, and giving the Lakers their worst Finals loss since 1985. O'Neal led his team again with 35 points and 11 rebounds but got little help from his supporting cast. Bryant shot 4-of-20 and the Pacers dominated the boards 46-34. Miller and Rose combined for 57 points — 32 of those belonging to Rose. "He was sensational against the Lakers," Walsh said this week. Those two players were exactly who his team had planned to tame going into the game, Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. Instead, they went wild. After the game, Jackson was asked if Indiana's performance may have pumped new life into the Pacers going into Game 6. "I guess that's an obvious," Jackson said. "Yes." As they headed back to L.A. for Game 6, the Pacers were smiling, now down a respectable and doable 3-2 in the series. "We have nothing to lose and everything to gain," Miller said at the time. "Everybody had written us off, so let's go out there and have some fun." There was just one thing that might put a glitch in that fun for the Pacers — they would have to win two games playing in the Lakers' kingdom. "I felt really good about our team," Walsh said. "Now, I also understood we were playing a powerhouse. I knew we were in for a tough thing and they had the homecourt advantage. So right there, that was the difference." The Pacers led much of Game 6, 26-24 after the first quarter, 56-53 at the half and 84-79 after three periods. They controlled the pace of the game, coming out aggressively from the outset and pushing back at the Lakers each time it seemed they were inching closer. The Pacers had three players with at least 20 points, led by Rose with 29, Miller with 25 and Dale Davis with 20 points and 14 rebounds. But a victory wasn't meant to be. "Monday night, reality dawned upon the Indiana Pacers that it would not be their championship, that their journey had gone as far as it would go, that they were one game short," the IndyStar wrote after the 116-111 loss. "A game in which they won the first three quarters only to have it all slip away in the last 12 minutes." O'Neal sealed the series with 41 points and 12 rebounds, but the Lakers' surge in the fourth quarter came with the help of Derek Fisher and Horry. As Walsh walked out of the Staples Center that night, he said he wasn't thinking about how long it would be until the Pacers made it back to the NBA Finals again. But then 25 long years passed and, when they clinched the spot last week, Walsh went back and watched some of those 2000 games. "We were competitive. I mean, we weren't just, you know, getting swept. But they were really good. They really had a powerful team," he said. "They just had one player after another so, you know, we got beat by a better team. That's the way I look at it now." The way he looks at it now is that his 2000 Pacers should have felt joy in just making it to the Finals, win or lose. "But once you get to the Finals and you lose, you don't feel good, you know, wanting to win," he said. "But when you really look back on it, yes we made the Finals. We're pretty damn good." Fast forward 25 years and there is only one person, one human common denominator, who was on both the Pacers teams that made it to the NBA Finals — coach Rick Carlisle, who was an assistant for the team in 2000. "He was just a good guy that everybody respected at the time. Everybody valued his opinion," Smits said. "And yeah, I'm assuming he's still that same way. The guys seem to like him and I know we did back then, too." Carlisle is a man of few words, getting right to the point, said Walsh. "The thing he does is he tells the players exactly what to do and continues that communication in every area in their game the whole time he's with them," he said. "So they understand everything he's saying. And he doesn't give long speeches and all that, he just gets out there and tells you." If there is anyone who can lead the Pacers to their first NBA title in history, its Carlisle, Walsh said, along with his players who seem to have that same chemistry the 2000 Pacers had. "These guys, you can tell they don't care who scores how many points," Smits said. "It's all about the win." Peterson said it feels like "a throwback," to 25 years ago, in many aspects. "Today, it's Tyrese Halliburton playing the part of Reggie Miller. If Halliburton played a game where he gave out 22 assists and scored no points, he might come away saying that was the greatest game of his life," Peterson said. "The team being unified and a bunch of good guys and likable, it's almost a replay of the way it felt in 2000." Except one thing. There is no wrecking ball in the paint or artist in high tops the Pacers have to overcome. The mountain to climb this time around isn't insurmountable, and this Pacers team of so-called underdogs aren't really underdogs at all, Walsh said. "I think they've got all the qualities of a champion," he said. "So, no matter what happens, they have that." Get IndyStar's Pacers coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Pacers Update newsletter
