[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8630]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING THE INDIANA PACERS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LUKE MESSER

                              of indiania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 11, 2013

  Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments of 
the Indiana Pacers, my home-state NBA team.
  The Indiana Pacers reached Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, 
their first appearance in the Conference Finals since 2004. This 2013 
Pacers team embodied the best of Hoosier basketball with a toughness 
and energy that was exciting to watch. As a long-time fan of the 
Indiana Pacers, I am thrilled to see the level of competitiveness and 
talent in this young team.
  Led on the court by All-Stars Paul George and Roy Hibbert, the Pacers 
had one of the best defenses in the League, holding teams to only 90.7 
points per game. Joined by hometown-product George Hill, Lance 
Stephenson, and David West, the Pacers starting-five came together as a 
team to win the Central Division with a regular season record of 49-32. 
Credit for this outstanding player development goes to Head Coach Frank 
Vogel, a great ambassador of the game.
  Owner Herb Simon, President Jim Morris, and President of Basketball 
Operations Donnie Walsh deserve special recognition for their 
leadership of this franchise and for reconnecting it with Pacers fans 
from all over the State. We are lucky to have these leaders so highly 
invested in our community.
  I join the entire 6th District and Hoosiers across the State in 
congratulating the Indiana Pacers for a fantastic and thrilling 2012-
2013 season. Pacers fans statewide are looking forward to what this 
talented team will achieve next season.

                          ____________________