NBA Playoffs 2012: Up-and Coming Pacers, Sixers Make Postseason a Classic

The Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers just might do the unthinkable and ruin the NBA's dream Eastern Conference Finals matchup between the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics. 

You know what? 

That would be totally fine by me. 

I understand the intrinsic allure of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. The Heat are an up-tempo, fun-to-watch club that can score in bunches and load up the stat sheet with an assortment of high-flying dunks every game. 

The ragged but capable Celtics team, with point guard extraordinaire Rajon Rondo, crafty scorer Paul Pierce, passionate forward Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, who can still stroke it from deep, are surprisingly still a captivating bunch with NBA title potential. 

King James is eager to silence his critics with the one thing that's eluded him thus far in his brilliant career: an NBA championship. 

Boston wants to prove it's not "too old" to capture another Larry O'Brien trophy. 

However, if the opportunity presents itself, aren't you ready for a fresh crop of young and talented clubs vying for the right to play for the title? 

I am. 

Some, make that most, would likely be turned off by a 76ers-Pacers Eastern Conference Finals. 

I wouldn't. 

If they both exhibit the grit and perseverance to overcome two of the league's Goliaths, that's enough to get me to tune in. Add in the fact that they too have an assortment of skilled individuals who, together, play as a jelled team, and I'm hooked. 

Andre Iguodala has been criminally underrated his entire career, making his first appearance in the All-Star game this year. He certainly doesn't lack in the "high-flying" department.

Jrue Holiday doesn't have Derrick Rose-esque athleticism or a Rondo-like uniqueness on the court, but he's a steady and efficient point guard who's grown up considerably since joining the league in 2009. 

Louis Williams is the team's Jason Terry, an always energetic bench scorer. 

Thaddeous Young and Evan Turner are the versatile play-makers, and Elton Brand's the wily vet. 

They pride themselves on balanced scoring, as well as something that's become a lost art in professional basketball—lock-down defense. 

The Pacers are just as appealing. 

Danny Granger's the underrated pure scorer, as is George Hill. Darren Collison's the reliable and heady point guard. Paul George is the rim-rocker. Roy Hibbert's the maturing player with star potential. David West brings the veteran leadership. 

Both the 76ers and Pacers match up exquisitely with the Celtics and Heat, and thus far, they haven't surrendered to their opponents that carry vast NBA clout. 

I'm not dying for a Philadelphia vs. Indiana Eastern Conference Finals, but I'll be compelled to follow intently if that ultimately is the case.

If they do meet, that would mean they stuck to their gameplans, didn't back down and emerged victorious against two wildly talented and supremely experienced teams.

Semifinal feats of that magnitude alone would reel me in, that's for sure.  It would prove what everyone should have known all along—that the 76ers and Pacers are indeed great basketball clubs capable of doing the unthinkable.

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