In small-market sports cities all over the country, it’s not uncommon to see more fans chanting for the away team than the home team. But it’s atypical for players to call out their hometown “fans.”
After the Pacers fell to the visiting Lakers on Friday night, a game in which Kobe Bryant played 12 minutes and failed to record a single point, George Hill had some harsh words for the Indiana crowd.
“It sucks. It was 70 [percent Lakers fans], 30 [Pacers fans] out there,” Hill told Mike Wells of Indystar.com. “These are the same people that wants autographs after the game. We’re out there in the community. We’re doing our job, doing what we’re supposed to do on and off the court. Something has to change.
“I tip my hat to this team. We’ve been trouble free. Been out in the community shaking hands, we’re winning. It shouldn’t feel like an away game, especially with an important game like this. [Friday night], that’s what it felt like.”
Certainly winning isn’t the problem in Indiana, as the Pacers are currently ranked second in the Eastern Conference. Indiana’s front office might have to figure out a way to fill Bankers Life Fieldhouse with more of their own fans in the coming weeks — unless they want all of their playoff games to feel like road games.
Photo via Facebook/Pacers from B/R
