Pacers-Rockets March 27 game a preview of Manila pre-season game on October 10

(Image courtesy of NBA Asia)

The Indiana Pacers-Houston Rockets game on March 27 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas could very well be a preview of what’s going to happen in Manila in October.

The Pacers—currently at the top of the Central Division—bring with them the smooth chemistry forged between their veterans and talented young players. Indiana has a firm grip on to the top spot with a full 5 games lead on the second place Chicago Bulls.

The Rockets—powered by The Beard and Linsanity—hope to fight all the way to the end of the regular season to clinch sixth or at least seventh spot in the playoffs.
It will be method and efficiency for the balanced Pacers against the emotional high that the Rockets bring to the table every time players as electric as James Harden, Jeremy Lin and Chandler Parsons take to the floor.

James Harden had previously been in Manila, playing with a group of NBA stars in October 2011. But since then, Harden has played in the 2012 NBA finals, won the Sixth Man of the Year Award, made his first NBA All Star and his aura has changed—especially after his awe-striking moves that made even his old Oklahoma City Thunder team quake in their high-performance athletic shoes.

(Image courtesy of NBA Asia)

The Pacers are more method-than-flash, but equally intriguing to watch and follow. Indiana—which last played in the NBA Finals in 2000 against the Los Angeles Lakers—will show what makes them division contenders again this year. Don’t forget the Pacers come from Indiana State, what is largely regarded as basketball country that produced NBA Legend Larry Bird. Bird did sit too as Pacers coach during the NBA Finals appearance against the Lakers—then its manager and President—before he resigned in late 2012.

When Indiana plays Houston on March 27, 8:00PM ET (March 28, 9:00AM Manila Time), be sure to catch it on NBA League Pass. Fans can purchase the individual game with NBA League pass, live or on-demand. There is now also a special discount on the full version of NBA League Pass. Learn more at nba.com/leaguepass.

It’s going to provide an early glimpse of what the future will be like on October 20.

Press release courtesy of NBA Asia and Larc&Assset PR.