Stephen A. Smith Pleads for Short Celtics-Pacers NBA Playoff Series in Exhausted Speech Live on ESPN

STEPHEN A. Smith wasn’t afraid to reveal his hopes for the Boston Celtics-Indiana Pacers NBA playoff series.

And Smith may be getting his wish by making the comments before the Boston Celtics’ 126-110 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals.

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Fiery personality Smith appeared on ESPN NBA Countdown On thursday.

The pregame show predicted the Celtics-Pacers matchup in Game 2, with Boston taking a 1-0 lead.

But Stephen A. told his colleagues, host Malika Andrews and analysts Michael Wilbon, Chris Paul and Bob Myers, that he wants the series to move quickly.

“You have been my partner on this network for years,” said the 56-year-old.

“You’ve never heard me say what I’m about to say.

“I’m not rooting for any long series.

“I need some time off. It’s going to be a long series – but I’m not rooting for it.”

Smith was alluding to his busy schedule, as the sports media star makes regular appearances on the pregame show as well as ESPN’s SportsCenter and First Take.

When he’s not on vacation, he usually works every day for the network.

And Stephen A. even has his own self-titled YouTube Show.

The Celtics listened to Smith’s request as they are already halfway to appearing in the NBA Finals.

Boston won 2–0 in the series, with Jaylen Brown scoring a career-high 40 points in the playoffs.

The Pacers allowed a 20-0 run in the first half and struggled without Tyrese Haliburton, who had just 10 points and eight assists before being eliminated in the third quarter with a sore left hamstring.

It’s the same injury that caused him to miss 10 games in January.

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Boston could be welcoming back big star Kristaps Porzingis, who is sidelined with a calf strain he suffered in late April.

One positive note for the Pacers is that they will return home to play in Game 3.

They have a 6-0 record at home in the playoffs.

Stephen A. Smith’s journey through the media

STEPHEN A. Smith is now the face of ESPN and executive producer of First Take, having initially started working for the company in 2003.

Smith has held numerous roles at the network, including radio show host, contributions to SportsCenter and appearance on NBA Countdown.

He was a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer from 1994 to 2010.

He started as an NBA writer before becoming a general sports columnist.

Prior to that, Smith worked as a reporter at the Winston-Salem Journal, the Greensboro News and the New York Daily News.

Saturday’s Game 3 will be on Saturday in Indiana at 8:30 pm ET.

Game 4 will be on Monday in Indiana at 8 p.m. ET.