Lebron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers were pushed to the limit in the opening round of the NBA playoffs. The ‘Cavs’ took to the hardwood this afternoon (Sunday, April 29) for a nationally televised, win-or-go-home Game 7. For those that don’t know, harness racing played a very (very) small part of it all.

Standardbred enthusiasts that are also fans of James Naismith’s grand game are surely aware of the Indiana Pacers. The squad in blue, white and gold has made its presence felt across the association for decades. It is those Pacers that tangled with ‘King James’ on Sunday. The Pacers were within striking distance in the fourth quarter of the contest, but ultimately came up on the short end of a 105-101 decision, much due to the herculean 45-point effort from James.

A few things instantly come to mind when thinking of the Pacers, off the top of one’s head. Reggie Miller’s classic playoff performances against the New York Knicks in the mid 1990s probably tops the list – tilts which are, of course, forever linked with Miller’s ongoing verbal battles with the Knicks’ sideline trolling superfan, Spike Lee.

Other easily identifiable Pacers moments include the 2000 NBA Final, which ultimately saw the Midwestern ballers fall to the Los Angeles Lakers, who, unfortunately for Indiana, were in pure dynasty mode at the time. Some may remember the Pacers for a bit of a darker moment, which came four years later, in an incident more popularly known as ‘The Malice at the Palace.’

How about those lesser known Pacers tidbits, though? More specifically, how about the one that can actually justify this trip down memory lane in some sort of Standardbred sense?

If you’ve ever wondered if Indiana’s ‘Pacers’ moniker has something to do with Standardbreds, well, it does.

According to the NBA, professional basketball officially came to Indiana in 1967, albeit in the American Basketball Association. The team’s original ownership group had some differing interests and appreciations outside of the game, and therefore a somewhat challenging process ensued when it came time to name the squad.

According to Indianapolis attorney Richard D. Tinkham, who was one of the six co-founders of the team, the original investors collectively decided upon the ‘Pacers’ nickname, although it represents more than just Standardbreds.

Tinkham went on to explain that the nickname was a combination of Indiana's rich history with Standardbred pacers and the pace car used for the running of the Indianapolis 500.

One of the initial investors in the team was horse racing enthusiast Chuck Barnes, who was also the business manager of racecar drivers Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt and Rodger Ward. It is believed that Barnes' wife, Lois, suggested the name ‘Pacers’ over a dinner.

The team kept the name when it joined the NBA in 1976.

(With files from the NBA and sportscollectors.net)