One way or another, Bob Leonard has been telling the Pacers what they should be doing since the 1960s.
Initially as the club’s Hall of Fame coach. For the last three decades as a broadcast color commentator.
The first time around, the words issued were orders. In the broadcast world, they are suggestions.
"I’m missing it," Leonard said recently.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
Normally at this time of year, Leonard would be as ubiquitous on the air as American top 40 music; however, there is no normal across the United States at the moment. The COVID-19 coronavirus casts its insidious shadow over all activities and especially those that collect crowds of thousands of sports fans.
The Indiana Pacers fit that model and along with the rest of the NBA teams have had all of their 2019-20 games suspended, at least temporarily. Much like most of the rest of Indiana citizens, Leonard is sitting at home waiting for authorities to indicate it is safe to go out and breathe again.
Leonard, commonly known by the nickname "Slick," is stuck in the house listening to the radio instead of being on the radio, letting loose with his signature "Boom Baby!" calls when the Pacers make 3-point shots. He’s just like many basketball fans who are disappointed the Pacers’ going-well season has been interrupted.
At 87, Leonard has been involved in and around pro basketball as long as anyone across the league. He also is in the high-risk category of older Americans who also have experienced health problems. Over the years, Leonard has endured heart attacks that have sidelined him for parts of seasons.
That led Leonard to cut back to handling just home games rather than taking demanding road trips. Much like the Pacers pre-virus, Leonard was revving up for the NBA postseason.
Commissioner Adam Silver announced on the night of March 12 the season was being suspended as a public health measure. At the time, the Pacers resided in fifth place overall in the Eastern Conference with a record of 39-26.
"I’d like to have finished up and got in the playoffs," Leonard said.
The preseason take on the Pacers had fans wondering just how well the team would make out. Star Victor Oladipo was injured, and worry increased. But the Pacers bonded without Oladipo and played very well, providing fresh appeal to supporters.
"They added two or three guys that really helped," Leonard said.
He was particularly impressed by the play of T.J. Warren, a fifth-year 6-foot-8 forward out of North Carolina State who was averaging 18.7 points a game and four rebounds when the season was halted.
"T.J. Warren has been doing very well," Leonard said.
Leonard said 6-5 guard Malcolm Brogdon was making an impression, too, with his 16.3 points and 7.1 assists per game.
"Fans have taken to them," Leonard said.
He said he sensed the Pacers were poised for a major run to close the regular season, partially because Oladipo was rounding into form and the team was getting used to his presence again.
"He was starting to get into shape," Leonard said. "He was saying, ‘Oh, yeah, I’ll be ready to go.’"
A complete NBA regular season consists of 82 games. The Pacers had played 65 contests when the coronavirus forced the disruption of the season. Given the way the Pacers were playing, Leonard believes chances were high the team could have recorded a very solid final record.
"We may have gotten to 50," Leonard said of the win total.
If the NBA fulfills the complete schedule, the Pacers still could do that. But the general thinking is that the league will return whenever it can and play only a portion of missed games before embarking on a full playoff schedule.
Rather than the Pacers playing 17 more games, it seems more likely the league will lop off some of them. Perhaps a handful of games will be contested before the playoffs, almost like a spring training honing of skills resembling Major League Baseball’s methods.
"Everybody has to project when this thing is ending," Leonard said.
When it is deemed safe to resume playing basketball in front of large crowds, Leonard will be back in the booth doing what he does best, analyzing every play the Pacers call and erupting with those "Boom Baby!" declarations.