Indiana Pacers News & Notes

[TheGeneral+]

Pacers hope Bird will fly with corporate partners. With club seat sales lagging and suite deals expiring at Conseco Fieldhouse, franchise is at critical juncture.

After watching average attendance climb from 12,618 to 18,345 per game through the 1990s, the Indiana Pacers have endured attendance declines each of the past three years.

The 2.3-percent drop last season was worse than the National Basketball Association's average half-point decline.

But with the rehiring of Larry Bird--this time as president of basketball operations--and a new marketing and advertising campaign, Pacers officials think they can turn the tide and add more sponsorship revenue to the bottom line.

"There's no doubt we've had a good response to our hiring Larry Bird," said Donnie Walsh, Pacers Sports and Entertainment CEO. "Larry has such a history with this state and I think his presence resonates on a lot of different levels. From a franchise standpoint, this is a great, great thing to happen to us."

With the sale of premium club seats lagging last year and with the lease on one-fourth of Conseco Fieldhouse's 69 luxury suites set to expire at the end of this season, the Pacers are looking for any kind of boost. Despite the attendance gains of the 1990s, the Pacers reported the team lost money six of the last seven seasons they called Market Square Arena home.

The opening of Conseco Fieldhouse in November 1999 paved the way to profitability, franchise officials said, but those profits have slipped since the inaugural season at the spiffy retro facility.

Pacers staffers said single-game and season-ticket sales, as well as interest in corporate sponsorships, have "significantly" increased since Bird was hired. Less clear is how hiring Rick Carlisle to replace Isiah Thomas as coach will affect sales.

Walsh said season-ticket renewals are at 95 percent with the Oct. 8 preseason and Oct. 31 home openers nearing. Season tickets hovered around 15,000 last season, down from more than 16,000 when the Fieldhouse opened. The fieldhouse seats 18,345.

A 5-percent drop in season tickets means another 40,000 or so single tickets to sell over the course of the season. With average ticket prices in the $50 range, the loss could top $2 million unless the difference is made up in single-game sales.

For the first time, Fieldhouse club seats --which cost $2,100 to $3,300 per season--didn't sell out to season-ticket holders last year.

"We had to try to make up for that during the year," Walsh said. "But it takes a lot of work. We're doing better at selling them as season tickets this year."

Pacers officials are already applying a full-court press to secure the 17 luxury-suite leases that expire after this season. With the 69 suites leasing for $89,000 to $175,000 annually, that's no small sum at risk. Most suites lease for more than $115,000.

"We realize the economy has been tough, but we feel that's beginning to turn," Walsh said. "The feedback we've gotten from all of our suite holders is that they really like them and we're confident we'll have a strong renewal rate."

Morris Wildey, Rosetta Advertising and Public Relations CEO, thinks Bird's hiring happened at an opportune time. Wildey's firm was hired by the Pacers earlier this year to handle advertising and PR for off-the-court matters.

"We plan on emphasizing in Indianapolis where we have run a streak of losing corporate headquarters and been beaten down, here's a guy who's come back home to revitalize something very important to many of us--basketball," Wildey said. "I think Larry Bird is very identifiable to a lot of Indiana businesses."

The allure of being associated with Bird, Wildey said, should help sell suites, which are primarily the domain of large corporations, as well as push corporate sponsorship packages.

"Look what happened when the [National Hockey League's] Phoenix Coyotes brought on Wayne Gretzke," said Becky Vallett, executive editor of Team Marketing Report, a Chicago-based sports marketing trade publication. "Phoenix got a big boost in ticket and sponsorship sales. So I think there will definitely be some positive results for the Pacers in bringing on Larry Bird."

But Bird alone won't be enough to sustain profitability, Vallett added. Winning will placate the basketball fans, but corporate partners will want more.

"Corporate interests involved in sports are looking more and more at the return on their investment," Vallett said. "I think the Pacers, and a lot of other professional teams, will have to become creative to generate the revenue needed to sustain operations and make a profit."

The Miami Dolphins, for instance, created a mini-Chamber of Commerce for suite holders, she said, with monthly meetings and other networking opportunities that often feature players and coaches as speakers.

The Pacers have shown a willingness to shake things up on and off the court. In May, the franchise ended its 14-year relationship with advertising and marketing firm Marc USA/Indianapolis. It hired Pearson McMahon Fletcher England to handle research, strategic planning, creative development and media buying.

In addition to Rosetta, it also brought aboard Promotus Advertising Co. as a consultant and adviser on reaching the urban market. The Pacers also have a national marketing agreement with Dan Klores & Associates of New York.

"There's a lot of newness to the franchise this year and we want to emphasize that," Walsh said. "Our advertising campaign is picking up steam now and I think you'll see a perceptible difference."

The Pacers revamped their sales staff during the off season and beefed up their telemarketing department to help with group, mini-season and single-ticket sales.

The average ticket price for a Pacers game was $42.33 last season, about $1.30 below the league average, according to Team Marketing Report. With no price increase for season and mini-season ticket holders, and only a small increase for single-game tickets, the Pacers are likely to be among the cheaper tickets in the league once again.

"The Pacers front office is showing it understands some of the market forces at play," Vallett said. "[Staff members will] have to continue to innovate as times change if they want to maintain profitability. But they're making some solid moves at an important time for this franchise."

http://www.ibj.com/topstories.asp?A=14798

 

[TheGeneral+]

INDIANAPOLIS - Ron Artest's place with the Indiana Pacers seems secure under the new leadership of Larry Bird and Rick Carlisle.

The young, quick-tempered forward was suspended for 12 games last season. That will change with maturity, said Bird, who was named the Pacers' team president in July and brought in Carlisle last week to replace fired coach Isiah Thomas.

"Ronnie is an incredibly hard worker," Bird said. "I told him I wish I had him working out in the summer with me when I played. It would have been fun. I know he's gone through tough times here and there, but he's got a ton of ability.

"When you sit down and talk to him, you just love the kid; it's incredible."

Bird has spoke with Artest, 23, several times and watched him work out at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Carlisle, fired as Detroit's coach in May, said he is "very optimistic about this kid."

Artest already has adapted to the chang es in the franchise.

"I'm just taking it day by day," he told The Indianapolis Star. "People get fired, people get traded. Things like that are going to happen. Nobody's job is safe."

Artest said he isn't concerned about reports that Carlisle had personality differences with his players in Detroit that might have led to his firing despite 50 wins in each of his two seasons as coach. In fact, he takes Carlisle's serious nature as a positive sign.

"If he's like that, he's kind of like me," Artest said. "I don't have a great relationship with my teammates or coaches. Everything goes by so fast, you don't have enough time to give to your family and your team.

"As long as you respect who you're working with and you respect the job they do, that's all that matters. I'm not in it for the relationships. I'm in it to win," he said.

Artest was suspended for seven games by the NBA and one game by Thomas. He also missed four games after exceeding the league limit for flagrant fouls. He finished the season with eight flagrant points, twice as many as any other player in the league.

Artest promised late last season he would never be suspended for another game. He made it through the final 12 regular-season games and all six playoff games without punishment. He plans to continue the streak.

"I told him, 'Our fans pay too much money to come in here and watch great players play, and you're a great player,' " Bird said. "I'm not going to harp on it, but we can't have that."

Artest agrees.

"Nobody has to tell me what happened," he said.

"If we're going to win games, I have to be on the court. You can't be suspended. You can't do that two years in a row. One year is more than enough."

http://www.myinky.com/ecp/pro_sports/article/0,1626,ECP_750_2247539,00.html

 

[TheGeneral+]

INDIANAPOLIS - Austin Croshere figured he'd be anywhere but Indiana when he started his seventh season in the NBA.

Croshere's playing time dwindled under former Pacers coach Isiah Thomas, and he expected to be traded.

But on Saturday, he was working out with familiar teammates, and energized by the changes within the Pacers' organization.

First, former coach Larry Bird, now the new president of basketball operations, fired Thomas. Then Bird hired his old friend, Rick Carlisle, to coach the Pacers.

"After that happened, things changed, obviously, and it's kinda up to everybody to make their impressions on Rick as to who's going to play," Croshere said. "I think everybody's on a clean slate. Everybody will get their opportunity to impress Rick, and Rick's going to make the decisions he feels are best for the team."

That's a far cry from the end of last season, when the Pacers were ousted from the first round of the playoffs by Boston.

In the final three games, Croshere saw just three minutes of playing time and was not used at all in two of the contests.

"I really assumed that it was just a matter of time until they traded me," he said. "I did not think I was going to be back here."

Croshere knew he was running out of options with Thomas as the Pacers' coach, but he was mystified when the trading deadline passed with no movement.

"I was looking forward to getting an opportunity to show what I could do," he said. "I never lost confidence in myself, but I questioned whether I would get that opportunity to show it when I wasn't traded. It was really disappointing."

When Carlisle was named coach, the 6-10 Croshere knew he had another shot to improve on his NBA averages of 7.6 points per game and 4.2 rebounds while playing small forward and power forward.

Croshere said he has as much of a shot as most of the players.

"Jermaine (O'Neal) and Reggie (Miller) are on a different scale," he said. "But to everybody else, it's Day One, and Rick will judge things accordingly.

"There are a lot of guys on the team. There's going to be a lot of competition for playing time, especially at the positions I play."

Carlisle speaks highly of Croshere.

"He does a lot of great things on the floor," Carlisle said. "Offensively, he's highly skilled for a guy that's 6-9 or 6-10. Defensively, he's a good team defender and he's a good rebounder, and he's not afraid to play physical and stick his nose in there. He's one of many weapons we have.

"Having said all that, he's going to have to earn his minutes, like everybody else."

---

STICKING WITH 18 Carlisle said right now, he's content with his 18-player roster. "It would be hard to cut anybody right now, because everybody's very capable, and everybody's making a great effort," he said. "We'll stay this way for the time being, and see where we are in a couple of days."

The Pacers open preseason play Wednesday, hosting the Chicago Bulls.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/6933881.htm

 

[TheGeneral+]

Omar Cook hobbled off the practice floor earlier this week in a pair of shoes he'd been wearing since July, the padding inside worn thin by countless hours of work.

He showed off the results of his labor Wednesday night in his preseason debut with the Indiana Pacers, but in a new pair of shoes.

Fighting for a roster spot on a team already stocked with point guards, Cook made a strong case with a nearly flawless performance in the Pacers' 96-82 win over Chicago before a Conseco Fieldhouse crowd announced at 11,580.

Cook made all four of his shots from the floor, including three 3-pointers, and sank both free throws he attempted. He finished with 13 points.

Perhaps even more impressive, however, was his careful handling of the ball. In just 19 minutes, Cook didn't have a turnover. His steady play in the second quarter helped the Pacers recover from a dismal first quarter that left them trailing by 12 points.

"I'm confident and I'm hungry," said Cook, who spent the past two seasons in the National Basketball Developmental League. "I'm comfortable around everybody here and I'm playing that way. I know I can play in this league, but I want to be here.

"I'm doing everything I can to be here. I like the team, I like the staff, I like the players. I like everything about this team right now. I want to be here. I don't just want to do good so somebody else can pick me up."

Cook might not have to worry about that if he continues to perform this way. He was a part of a second unit that outscored Chicago's reserves 50-26 as the Pacers managed a 34-point turnaround from that early 12-point deficit.

"There's just some guys you know are ready," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "You just sense they feel it's their time. Omar was here for a month before training camp started. We signed Kenny Anderson and his approach never changed.

"He just really believes he's going to be a player in this league. If he continues to play like he did tonight, it's hard to argue with him."

While Cook proved to be the steadying force in the second quarter, starter Jamaal Tinsley led the Pacers' defensive charge after halftime.

Tinsley's two steals and five forced turnovers sparked the Pacers' 29-15 third-quarter run that zapped the Bulls' momentum.

The run was fueled by a noticeable increase in chatter from the Pacers bench, encouragement and clapping that drowned out the crowd noise in several instances.

The Pacers scored 37 points off 25 Chicago turnovers, most of which were caused by relentless second-half defensive pressure.

"Defensively we weren't in it in the first quarter," Carlisle said. "Omar gave us some juice and energized that second group. I thought Jamaal set the tone defensively in the third quarter and the rest of the guys followed. We had an opportunity to hold them in the 70s but we got a little sloppy in the end. We're a work in progress, there's no doubt about that."

That's the way Cook views his status with the Pacers, even after Wednesday night.

He's with his fourth NBA team and yet to play in a regular-season game.

Cook cited his lack of confidence, and the fact that he was somewhat intimidated by the idea of barking orders at veterans in Denver, Dallas and Orlando, for his inability to stick in the league before now.

But that's in the past, particularly on a team with so many familiar faces from his days growing up in New York.

"I knew most of the guys growing up," he said of Pacers like Ron Artest, Tinsley and Al Harrington, who led the Pacers with a game-high 18 points.

"I'm so confident and humble now, it's easy to adjust to the situation," he continued. "I've learned the hard way that you have to keep working hard every minute you get. You never can get satisfied with yourself because when you do, the whole thing can blow up in your face."

http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/6/081772-5056-036.html

 

[TheGeneral+]

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">
NUM PLAYER POS HT WT DOB FROM YRS
13 Kenny Anderson G 6-1 168 10/09/70 Georgia Tech '93 12
23 Ron Artest F 6-7 246 11/13/79 St. John's '01 4
24 Jonathan Bender F 7-0 219 1/30/81 Picayune HS (MS) 4
2 Jamison Brewer G 6-4 184 11/19/80 Auburn '03 2
27 Primoz Brezec F 7-1 252 10/02/79 Slovenia 2
5 Omar Cook G 6-1 190 1/28/82 St. John's (N.Y.) '04 R
44 Austin Croshere F 6-10 242 5/01/75 Providence '97 6
22 Carl English G 6-5 205 2/02/81 Hawaii '04 R
10 Jeff Foster C-F 6-11 242 1/16/77 Southwest Texas State '99 4
3 Al Harrington F 6-9 250 2/17/80 St. Patrick's HS (NJ) 5
8 Anthony Johnson G 6-3 190 10/02/74 Charleston (SC) '97 6
20 Fred Jones G 6-2 218 3/11/79 Oregon '02 1
33 James Jones F 6-8 215 10/04/80 Miami (Fla.) '03 R
31 Reggie Miller G 6-7 195 8/24/65 UCLA '87 16
7 Jermaine O'Neal F-C 6-11 242 10/13/78 Eau Claire HS (SC) 7
62 Scot Pollard F-C 6-11 265 2/12/75 Kansas '97 6
43 Michael Smith F 6-8 240 3/28/72 Providence '94 7
11 Jamaal Tinsley G 6-3 195 2/28/78 Iowa State '01 2


</pre>

 

[GreenDoberman]

this is a solid team and wit Carlisle coaching I'm thinking about taking them over for wins.
Only thing that stands out is the hole in the middle with Miller gone.
Pollard is a serious downgrade, and we might be seeing some small ball from this team, if nobody else can play the center spot.

 

[TheGeneral+]

A new coach.

New player

An angry star.

An aging hall-of-famer.

Numerous unproven players.

The Pacers have more unknown variables than a Calculus equation and with that come the potential to be one of the best teams in the league, or to fall apart at the seams. On paper they have the management, the coaching, and the players to be an elite team, but they are also very combustible as we saw last year. After a 33-13 start the Pacers went into a tailspin and finished with a 15-21 record and an embarrassing first round lost. Some blamed it on the inexperience of the team, while other blamed it on the coach.

The Pacers seemingly fixed those problems as they replaced Isiah Thomas with Rick Carlisle, added Kenny Anderson and a healthy Reggie Miller, and gained a year of experience. But with a fiery Ron Artest, an upset Jermaine O'Neal, and the loss of All-Star Brad Miller, The Pacers are again the NBA's enigma wrapped inside of a puzzle. Here is a preview of the Pacers by position:

Small Forward

Key Additions: James Jones
Key Subtractions: None
Returning players: Ron Artest, Jonathan Bender, Al Harrington, Austin Croshere, James Jones

How it should breakdown:
Starter: Ron Artest/ Harrington
Backup: Croshere/ Bender


Artest
This is where things get really tricky for the Pacers. They have four very talented, very unique, players, each with his own pros and cons. Ron Artest is a great defender, but is a head case and can clog up the offense. Harrington also is a good defender and scorer but is injury prone and a ball hog. Bender is seven feet tall, has a 40 inch vertical, and can shoot the three ball with Reggie, yet is a madidor on D. Croshere was once thought to be great is now considered a bust, but will get second chance to play with Bird and Carlisle back in town. Confused yet? So am I.

Let's start with what we know. Both Bender and Croshere are sidelined with minor injuries for two to four weeks. Artest has already started to fight with Carlisle. Harrington fell out of favor with Carlisle when Carlisle was an assistant. So who starts?


Croshere
Both Croshere and Bender where suppose to get their chance at some serious playing time this season and now both are hurt. Neither injury is serious but they will both be out for the majority of training camp forcing them to play catch-up all season. So with Croshere and Bender unable to fight for the spot it will likely come down to Harrington and Artest. Artest is a better fit in Carlisle system than Harrington, but as I mentioned before Artest has already publicly stated he doesn't want to play for Carlisle. Harrington logically would win by default. Not so fast. Carlisle is known to bench players that don't work hard and shoot too much, two things Harrington has been criticized throughout his career for. Still confused? Don't worry so are the Pacers.

Trying to figure who out of these four will play where is pointless. It is like trying to figure out why there are 8 hot dogs buns in a package but only 6 hot dogs. Artest will likely get the start although the other three will get similar amounts of playing time at the first of the season. Artest can all three back court positions, while Bender can play everything but point and Croshere can play all three front court positions. Eventually they will separate themselves from each other. The Pacers can likely play three of them without complaint. What happens to the fourth? The Pacers will either trade him or he will become one of the first Charlotte Bobcats.



http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_5613.shtml

 

[TheGeneral+]

What's that saying? It's not the dog in the fight, it's the fight in the dog? The Indiana Pacers closed out Saturday's preseason game against Boston with reserves. Considering the Celtics were going with three starters, including their two leading scorers, it hardly seemed fair.

But Al Harrington, Omar Cook, Primoz Brezec, James Jones, Jeff Foster and Fred Jones overcame chaotic offense with rabid defense in a 91-90 victory at Conseco Fieldhouse that was as uplifting as an early preseason game can be.

"We decided early in the fourth we were going to go with this group, sink or swim," coach Rick Carlisle said. "They were going to get some experience and we were going to find out what they were made of. We were able to get it done -- on true grit in a lot of ways."

Certainly not on shooting. Aside from two outstanding stretches by the starters, one in the first quarter and one in the third, the Pacers struggled at the offensive end. They were outscored in every quarter but the first, shot just 31.4 percent in the second half and produced only three missed shots and two turnovers in the final 21/2 minutes.

The reserves hit just 11-of-31 shots, but that was better than Celtics' All-Stars Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker mustered. They combined to hit 10-of-35 shots, 1-of-13 in the final period.

"Every time they drove to the hole there were two or three guys there," Reggie Miller said. "That's what we've been working on, help defense."

The Pacers' win was assured when Pierce missed a 3-pointer over rookie James Jones with three seconds left. By then, Pacers fans and starters alike were standing and cheering the frenzy.

"I was psyched," Jones said. "I wanted to be in that position. I wanted to redeem myself because I hadn't been performing up to par. I got it done."

The Pacers shot 39.4 percent from the field overall. Carlisle hopes they don't make a habit of that, but it underscored the point he's been making since his introductory news conference. Teams can still win when they shoot poorly if they defend well.

Each of the starters contributed. Ron Artest led the scoring with 17 points. Jermaine O'Neal and Miller had 14 each. Scot Pollard had nine points and eight rebounds. Jamaal Tinsley had six points, five assists and three steals.

That group, showing improved chemistry from Wednesday's opener, jumped to a 16-4 lead by hitting five of its first six shots. That four-minute sequence included a balanced diet of three shots near the basket, two 3-pointers and four foul shots.

"We were abiding by the system," O'Neal said. "We did a lot better job of moving the ball and getting everybody involved. We picked up where we left off in the second half of the first game."

The starters pushed the lead to 21 points in the third period as they opened with a 14-2 run, but it gradually disappeared amid the reserves' lack of cohesion.

Boston took its first lead on Erik Williams' 3-pointer with five minutes left. The Pacers didn't get it back until Foster hit two free throws with 2:32 remaining. Those points completed the scoring.

The irony was that Harrington, the most proven player on the floor, struggled the most, hitting 2-of-10 shots. But everyone else found ways to win. Brezec had eight points and eight rebounds. Fred Jones had four assists and no turnovers. James Jones had four points and the defensive stop of Pierce. Foster hit the late foul shots, had five rebounds, forced a missed 3-pointer from Walker and took a charge.

"Make no mistake about it, Boston was trying to get a win," Harrington said. "But coach had a little bit of faith in us and our defense and that's how we got it done."



http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/2/082649-4122-036.html

 

[TheGeneral+]

Jamal Crawford scored seven of his 31 points in overtime as the Chicago Bulls defeated the Indiana Pacers 103-96 Tuesday night in an exhibition game.

Crawford made just six of 18 shots, but was 16-of-17 from the line and dished out eight assists.

The Bulls (2-2) dominated the extra session, scoring 10 of the first 12 points after the teams tied at 90 in regulation.

Indiana (2-1) tied the game with 4.7 seconds remaining on a three-point play by Michael Smith. His basket came on a putback of an airball by Carl English on a 3-point attempt. Roger Mason fouled Smith to put him at the line for the tying point.

Chicago, which blew an 11-point lead in the final 3 minutes of regulation, also got 17 points and six rebounds from Eddie Curry, and 12 points and 11 rebounds from Lonny Baxter.

Fred Jones led Indiana with 15 points, and Ron Artest and James Jones added 13 apiece. Jermaine O'Neal pulled down eight rebounds.

Donyell Marshall added 15 points and Mason 13 for Chicago, which trailed 50-40. But the Bulls moved ahead by outscoring the Pacers 30-14 to lead 70-64 after three quarters.

@

 

[TheGeneral+]

The Indiana Pacers' lineup for Wednesday's game was impressive. The one that didn't play, that is.

Jermaine O'Neal, Al Harrington, Austin Croshere, Kenny Anderson, Jonathan Bender and Anthony Johnson sat and watched while the rest of the roster failed to keep up with rejuvenated Denver in a 100-93 loss at Conseco Fieldhouse.

The Nuggets, 17-65 a year ago, improved to 3-0 in the preseason with a flashy new-look offense that matched their new uniforms. They outscored the Pacers 26-12 on fast-break points, 17-2 in the first half.

"Obviously our transition defense needed to be better tonight," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "I give Denver credit. They're playing a completely different style this year, and that's a sign of great coaching. That team is obviously much improved."

It's difficult to know what to make of the Pacers, who played with makeshift lineups that lacked chemistry, experience and scoring punch.

O'Neal sat out the game with a strained lower back that has been bothering him for the past week. He likely will sit out Friday's game with Minnesota at the fieldhouse and will be examined by Boston orthopedic specialist Dan Dyrek on Saturday, when the Pacers play the Celtics in Manchester, N.H.

Anderson is likely to make his preseason debut on Friday, and Harrington could return then as well.

Bender (arthroscopic surgery on left knee), Croshere (left hamstring) and Johnson (broken left ring finger) all hope to be back for the start of the regular season.

With reduced options, Carlisle started Ron Artest, Jeff Foster, Primoz Brezec, Jamaal Tinsley and Reggie Miller. That group fell behind at the outset and trailed by as many as 11 points in the first quarter, setting the tone for a game in which the Pacers never led.

Tinsley scored 12 of his 14 points in the third quarter, when the Pacers forced a tie at 61, but the Nuggets responded with a 13-0 run.

"We've got some guys playing out of position and there's confusion," Carlisle said. "What we need is practice time, but we're not going to get it for awhile."

When they do practice, they'll no doubt devote some time to foul shooting. After missing 19 free throws in Tuesday's loss at Chicago, they missed 16 against the Nuggets.

Brezec, who grabbed eight rebounds for the third time in four exhibition outings, hit just 1-of-6.

The Pacers had hit 10-of-12 shots when he stepped to the line and missed two early in the third quarter. They hit 22-of-36 the rest of the way.

He blamed himself for being a trend-setter.

"If you can't make free throws you can't play basketball," he said. "That's my philosophy. You've got to make free throws. I don't know what was going on."

Ron Artest, who led the Pacers with 28 points in 31 minutes, scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter to bring the Pacers within six points.

But he was pulled with 9:25 left and Brezec, Foster, Fred Jones and rookies James Jones and Omar Cook played most of the remaining minutes.

http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/2/083718-9212-036.html

 

[TheGeneral+]

Ron Artest had 30 points, seven rebounds and six assists to lead Indiana to a 96-93 preseason win over Minnesota on Friday night.

Fred Jones hit two free throws and rebounded Troy Hudson's missed 3-pointer with time winding down to seal the win for the Pacers (3-2).

Reggie Miller added 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting for Indiana.

Gary Trent led the Timberwolves (2-3) with 23 points and seven rebounds and Kevin Garnett added 20 points and 12 rebounds.

After trailing for most of the game, the Timberwolves made it 69-68, early in the fourth quarter, but Artest responded with 10 points in a 12-0 Pacers run to push the lead to 81-68.

Minnesota came back, tying the game at 90 on a three-point play by Trent with 1:31 to go.

Jones then hit a jumper, the two free throws and grabbed the key rebound to end the threat.

Both teams have been handcuffed by injuries all preseason and were without key players Friday night.

The Pacers were missing Jermaine O'Neal (back), Al Harrington (shin), Kenny Anderson (hamstring), Austin Croshere (hamstring), Jonathan Bender (knee) and Anthony Johnson (finger).

The Timberwolves were without Wally Szczerbiak (plantar fascia), Latrell Sprewell (Achilles), Michael Olowokandi (knee) and Fred Hoiberg (heel).

~!

 

[TheGeneral+]

Best Case Scenario
Three things need to happen for the Pacers to compete for the top seed in the Eastern Conference this season.

1. The team finally grows up. Isiah Thomas used the "we're the youngest team in the league" crutch until it got old. Anyone could see the potential. Their 37-15 start last season reminded everyone that the Pacers had arguably the most talent of any team in the East. Their 11-19 finish highlighted just how immature the team still was. One of the reasons Larry Bird and Rick Carlisle were brought in was to infuse some maturity and tough love in this team. If it works, there's no reason they can't sustain the clip they were on during the first half of last season.

2. Reggie Miller feels young again. He's 38 years old and for a time, toward the end of the season, it looked like it was time for Miller to hand over the sneakers. After the season, Miller revealed the extent of an ankle injury and had offseason surgery to fix it. He's supposedly healthy and ready to start bombing away from the land of three. If he can shoot the lights out for 25 minutes, things will get much easier for Jermaine O'Neal in the paint.

3. Al Harrington and Jonathan Bender take the next step. Harrington and Bender are the poster children (emphasis on children) for the Pacers' greatest hopes and darkest fears. Both of them have scary talent. Neither of them uses it on a consistent basis. Of the two, Harrington has shown the most improvement and maturity. He'll be the team's starting small forward if he just goes out and gives a consistent effort. Thirty-point games are great, but the Pacers would prefer to see a long string of 18-point, seven-rebound efforts. Bender is younger and is still waiting his turn. The plan is to give him big minutes backing up O'Neal when he moves to the middle. If these two are as good as the coaches claim they are, the Pacers will be tough to stop.

Worst Case Scenario
The Pacers will take a small step back if the following three things happen.

1. Ron Artest loses it again. The team and Artest are treading on eggshells. They want him to continue his ultra aggressive style on the court. But they also want him to recognize when he pushes it too far. So far, Artest has struggled to see the line clearly. If he keeps stumbling, he'll be a distraction. That's a shame. Next to O'Neal, he's their most important player. If he puts it all together, the Pacers will be scary. If he doesn't, the Pacers will just be scared.

2. Scot Pollard and Jeff Foster can't fill Brad Miller's shoes. Pollard and Foster are both better rebounder and defenders than Miller, but combined they don't come close to Miller's 13-point average last season. While Miller wasn't a whiz in the paint, he had a lethal 10-footer that made defenses respect him. With Pollard and Jamaal Tinsley on the floor together, will the Pacers be playing 3-on-5 on the offensive end?

3. Tinsley can't sink a jumper. Speaking of Tinsley, he's got to figure out a way to hit a couple of open shots. He's not Michael Curry just yet. But watch the defenses sag off him to double team O'Neal. If he could just shoot in the low 40s in field-goal percentage, people would have to respect him. The fact he plays matador defense doesn't help the situation. While Kenny Anderson and Anthony Johnson are decent backups, for the Pacers to reach their full potential, Tinsley has to step up.

Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN.com's ESPN Insider.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?id=1640853

 

[TheGeneral+]

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Those in attendance at the Verizon Wireless Arena were treated to a rare sight Saturday night, with the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics in town for a preseason game.

Unfortunately, it wasn't a rekindling of the rivalry that developed last season, when the Celtics eliminated the Pacers from the first round of the NBA playoffs.

There's no way to re-create that kind of atmosphere without Reggie Miller, Jermaine O'Neal and Ron Artest, all of whom sat out to rest sore muscles and bones.

Instead, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle started second-year guard Fred Jones and rookie James Jones along with veterans Jamaal Tinsley, Al Harrington and Scot Pollard.

That's a group that probably won't share many opening tips beyond this preseason after Saturday night's 84-80 loss before a raucous pro-Celtics crowd of 8,558.

But with seven veterans sidelined with an assortment of bumps and bruises, Carlisle has no other option but to mix and match his lineups.

"I thought we hung in considering," Carlisle said. "That last group showed some grit, the young guys. But we've obviously got to get some guys healthy. I think we're going to do that, but we've got to make sure that we do it in the right sort of time frame. We don't want to rush anyone back too soon."

Carlisle acknowledged before the game that his team is still a bit of a mystery because it hasn't played at full strength. When it will is a bigger question. The Pacers won't practice today, with the rest clearly needed for all involved.

Well, almost everybody. The reserves who've logged big minutes in the first six preseason games don't want the extended playing time to end.

"This is giving a lot of guys an opportunity to play, guys that are normally not playing," said Fred Jones, who scored 10 points on 3-of-11 shooting. "This is something we love to do, so every time out there's a lot of pride involved. We don't want anybody thinking they can walk over us, regardless of who's on the floor at the time."

That can be tough with Boston's Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker (who combined for 27 points) working against rookies and second-year players.

But the Celtics' All-Star duo was far from the Pacers' biggest problem. With Boston's defensive pressure extending beyond the 3-point line, the Pacers -- regardless of the five men on the floor -- repeatedly took the 24-second shot clock down to single digits before getting off a shot.

The Pacers shot just 34.3 percent from the floor and made just 7-of-21 3-pointers. Boston countered with a 47 percent performance from the floor and outscored the Pacers 38-22 in the paint.

"Look, we're going at it with basically half our team and we're still competing every night," said Pacers forward Al Harrington, who scored 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting. "The guys that are playing, we know each other's games. It just takes time to develop some continuity out there.

"We're rolling with it right now, but when we get everybody healthy we'll be special."

http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/2/084613-2232-036.html

 

[TheGeneral+]

Kenny Anderson has developed a rather unique perspective of the Indiana Pacers after six preseason games.

Sitting out all six of those games with a sore hamstring, the Pacers' veteran point guard has had plenty of time to study the play of his teammates.

His conclusion is that the Pacers are better than their 3-3 preseason record and paltry offensive numbers indicate.

"Oh man, we're pretty good," said Anderson, a veteran in his 13th NBA season playing with his sixth team. "We're big and physical at every position, and overall we're pretty skillful."

Sounds good for a team that hasn't had a full complement of players for any game. As many as eight veterans, including seven at once, have been sidelined during the past two weeks.

Anderson, fellow point guard Anthony Johnson and forward Jonathan Bender haven't played a second because of their injuries.

"It's hard for me to say I really have a feel on this team or can tell who we are because we've had so many guys who play key roles for this team out for the entire preseason," Jermaine O'Neal said.

He's missed the past three games with a sore lower back that's expected to keep him out for the remainder of the preseason.

Anderson, however, has seen enough from the men who have played to stand firm in his evaluation that the Pacers have the makings of one of the elite teams in the Eastern Conference, and perhaps the league.

"I think on paper most people would agree that we're arguably the deepest team in the East," Anderson said, "but we can't be good on paper and it not translate to the floor. Putting that all together and having a winning attitude and the right chemistry takes time.

"Personally, I think we have a pretty good group of guys who I hope understand that it falls on us to come together and get this thing right."

A healthy roster would aid that cause immensely. Point guard Jamaal Tinsley and center Scot Pollard are the only projected starters healthy enough to have played in all six preseason games.

O'Neal was joined in street clothes by Reggie Miller (sore legs) and Ron Artest (sore knee) for Saturday night's loss to Boston in New Hampshire.

That the Pacers' training room has been as crowded as a hospital emergency room the past three weeks is a concern for coach Rick Carlisle. That it's happening now, though, and "hopefully not later," provides some solace.

"I can't say who'll be back when because I'm not a doctor," said Carlisle, whose team wraps up the preseason this week with games at Minnesota on Thursday and Denver on Friday. "We hope to get guys back as soon as possible but we're not going to rush anybody back."

Rushing them back or not, there are issues that need to be cleared up before the Oct. 29 regular-season opener at Detroit.

The Pacers are averaging 92 points per game but allowing the same amount, defensive numbers that Carlisle simply can't live with.

The offensive continuity, without many of the players who will log the significant minutes during the regular season, remains a bone of contention for the coach.

"Obviously we have to clean some things up and we really need to add some things," Carlisle said. "We played four games in five days, so we didn't have a lot of practice time last week. This next few days will be the first extended practice time we've had in over a week. The last two preseason games are very important as we start to get ready for the 29th."

Considering most of the injured players are expected back for the opener, Carlisle is confident his team will start to take shape. Those who still may be sidelined for the opener include Jonathan Bender, who is recovering from knee surgery, Anthony Johnson (broken finger) and Austin Croshere (hamstring).

He expects his team's scoring average to stay in the 90s, while the defense allows fewer points. Carlisle envisions a team versatile enough to play an up-tempo style when needed, yet rugged enough to grind out games, as is often necessary in the East.

Anderson doesn't profess to be a clairvoyant, but he shares Carlisle's philosophy when it comes to an experienced team being ready when the regular season starts.

"I think we'll be fine because the guys that are out right now are all veterans," Anderson said. "Veterans know what it takes to get the job done. Normally, it's hard to overcome the time you've lost to work on your timing and chemistry. With the talent we have, though, I think we can get it done."

Anderson also suggested that the coaching staff's clear message that each man will play a specific role will make the transition much easier for the players who have missed games.

"I know a lot of NBA coaches don't like to use the phrase 'role players' or 'supporting cast' but people from one through 12 have to know what their job is," Anderson said. "They not only have to know what will be asked of them, they have to understand what we're doing, where we're going and how we're going to get to that next level.

"If guys can accept that and can be accountable when it comes time to do their job, we'll be fine."

http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/7/084889-1287-036.html

 

[TheGeneral+]

Point guard Jamaal Tinsley had a feeling the Indiana Pacers would exercise the fourth-year option on his contract.

Primoz Brezec spent his summer making sure the Pacers would do the same for him.

Wednesday, the Pacers ensured that the two third-year players don't have to test the market as restricted free agents at the end of this season.

"I know this is a business, and I know they didn't have to do anything right now if they didn't want to," said Tinsley, who's averaged 8.6 points and 7.8 assists in two seasons as the starting point guard. "I'm just glad they did it early because I realized that this would be a big year for me and I expect to have a big season for my team and for myself."

Brezec played sparingly during his first two seasons, but has been arguably the team's most improved player during training camp and the preseason.

He's averaging nearly 20 minutes, 14 more than his career average, and taking advantage of opportunities.

"I didn't play a lot the last couple of years, so this camp was very important to me," said Brezec, who's averaging 5.3 points and 5.8 rebounds this preseason. "I knew I had to play good and play hard. You know I really think I deserve it (the extra year), and I'm glad I'm going to stay in Indiana for another year, and maybe longer."

That both players have performed well during the preseason certainly made the decision an easier one to make for Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh.

"Primoz is playing well, and I think Jamaal is playing very well," Walsh said. "I think it was the logical thing to do."

Terms were not released.

Anderson to debut?

Point guard Kenny Anderson expects to make his Pacers debut tonight at Target Center against the Timberwolves.

He's been sidelined the first six preseason games with a sore hamstring. He resumed a full practice schedule Monday and said he's eager to shake the rust off before Wednesday's regular-season opener at Detroit.

"I plan on playing in both of these last two (preseason games)," Anderson said. "God forbid anything crazy happens (tonight), but I'm already behind the 8-ball trying to get up to speed on the plays and stuff. I need to play."

Full squad

For the first time in weeks the Pacers had virtually a full contingent of players on the floor at practice Wednesday.

Only Jonathan Bender (knee) and Anthony Johnson (finger) were held out of drills. But after practice ended, Johnson worked up a good sweat running through drills and Bender shot jumpers while front-office assistant Chuck Person and team president Larry Bird rebounded.

"Jonathan's a ways away, but he's back on his feet without crutches and he's taking some shots and so forth," coach Rick Carlisle said. "But other than Jonathan and Anthony, we had everybody going through some live stuff. Things are looking up a little bit in terms of our health situation.

"We do have some guys behind in terms of their reps, so we have to get them caught up. But I think we'll be fine."

Bender is the only player not making the trip, which culminates with a game Friday night at Denver. Carlisle didn't rule out the possibility of Austin Croshere and Jermaine O'Neal playing.

Croshere went down in the first preseason game with a hamstring injury and has been sidelined since. O'Neal has rested his sore lower back the past three games.

http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/5/085733-4425-036.html

 

[mgspooky]

Hey Mr. General, SIR


Your thoughts on the PACERS and respect to their OVER/UNDER totals this year?

Do you see them winning 50?
Hope all is well my friend and you are doing great!

 

[TheGeneral+]

Doing real well partner. I would only be guessing if I chose an O/U. 50 wins is tough in NBA. I want to say yes as a fan, but I could see where the chemistry may not be there.

 

[TheGeneral+]

MINNEAPOLIS -- Had the Indiana Pacers endured a 17-point road loss seven games into the regular season, there would be major cause for concern.

But that wasn't the case Thursday night at Target Center, where the lethargic Pacers were spanked 90-73 by the new-look Minnesota Timberwolves.

This was the seventh game of the preseason, games that count for nothing in the NBA standings.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle isn't buying that thinking. Never has, never will. If his team had been run out the building while playing at the frenetic defensive pace he prefers, the results might have been tolerable.

Instead, he watched his team slog through a grind-it-out affair, a game in which it trailed the entire way and by as many as 22 points late.

Minnesota cruised to a 34-20 first-quarter lead behind 15 of Kevin Garnett's game-high 29 points, and the Pacers never made it much a game after that.

"We didn't play at a high enough level of intensity to stay in the game," Carlisle said. "You give up 34 points in the first quarter, you're not getting it done. You can point out a lot of reasons, but you have to play at a higher level of intensity to compete.

"We've got to get better at both ends and pull everyone together. You can't just turn it on and turn it off in this league. I think our guys understand that tonight."

The Timberwolves imported a locker room full of quality players to aid Garnett in his quest for a season that extends beyond the first round of the playoffs.

It was a summer full of trades and free agent acquisitions. There's new point guard Sam Cassell and swingman Latrell Sprewell, center Michael Olowokandi and bruiser Mark Madsen.

The only one of them that didn't have his way with the Pacers was Olowokandi, who is recovering from knee surgery.

While the Pacers struggled to find continuity on offense, turning over the ball 21 times, the Timberwolves repeatedly worked the ball for good shots.

"I think we are an unselfish team," Sprewell said. "We are veteran guys with the same goals. We move the ball well. There's no reasons we can't have 20 assists a night with this team."

There's no doubt the Pacers' troubles were two-fold: their own sluggish play and the Timberwolves' inspired performance. Garnett and Co. were coming off of Wednesday night's 96-80 thumping at the hands of the Boston Celtics.

There were other extenuating circumstances. The Pacers started point guard Kenny Anderson, who made his Pacers debut after sitting out the first six games with a hamstring injury. He admitted that fatigue and his unfamiliarity with his new teammates caused problems.

"We have to come out with urgency," said Anderson, who dished out eight assists in 21 minutes. "We've got a tough game (tonight) and we have to come back with a vengeance. The effort has to be there every night. We have the guys to do it. We were just a little off because we've had so many guys missing time."

Carlisle was pleased to have so many bodies healthy after playing most of the preseason with half the roster, but showed no interest in accepting excuses for his team's lackluster performance.

"I thought Minnesota played great," he said. "They had a lot to do with how we played. The good news is we're getting some people back. The bad news is we're light years away from being able to compete with the better teams in the East. We have a lot of work to do."

http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/3/086022-8203-036.html

 

[TheGeneral+]

DENVER -- "Miller Time is over!" was scrawled across a sign during the Indiana Pacers' first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics last season.

With Reggie Miller dragging his right leg around like he was wearing a 20-pound ankle weight, the legions of fans who for years had paid the price for allowing Miller into their arenas were finally getting their revenge.

His shot wasn't falling like it used to. He wasn't able to come off screens and effortlessly knock down 3-pointers. Perhaps 16 seasons of running, jumping, banging and cutting had finally exacted its toll on the NBA's career leader in 3-point field goals.

Even the players who had grown up watching Miller stick daggers in those who foolishly underestimated him were starting to whisper. Antoine Walker didn't speak softly, calling Miller out during the series the Celtics won in six games.

Then came the summer and surgery to repair the cartilage damage in his ankle. After a month of training camp and preseason games, the last of which was a 109-92 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Friday night at the Pepsi Center, Miller seems to have regained his form.

He won't discuss his ankle, refusing to "use it as a crutch." But his teammates have noticed the difference. Not only in his play, but his demeanor.

"He's definitely back to normal," Pacers forward Ron Artest said. "He's so important to what we do. While he's out there, you know he's going to knock it down, because that's what he does."

Miller was a limited participant in training camp before last season and missed the first 12 games of the regular season while recovering from a severely sprained ankle, incurred Aug. 25, 2002, in preparation for the World Basketball Championship.

He struggled through perhaps his toughest season since his rookie year, averaging just 12.6 points during the regular season.

His struggles in the playoffs, though, overshadowed any of the problems he faced during the regular season. One of the NBA's all-time great postseason performers, he was a non-factor against the Celtics. He made just 15-of-53 shots in six playoff games, including a 4-of-25 (16 percent) showing from 3-point range.

His 9.2 points per game during that series were 13.6 points below his career playoff average.

"That wasn't him last year," Pacers point guard Jamaal Tinsley said. "People can say whatever they want about it, but he was hurt. He wasn't healthy."

He looks fine now. He finished off the preseason with a 16-point effort, making 5-of-10 shots from the floor and 3-of-6 from 3-point range, in 31 minutes against the Nuggets. He's the only Pacer to score at least 10 points in each of his preseason games (he sat out Saturday's game against Boston).

He made 25-of-40 shots from the floor in the last four preseason games.

"He obviously worked hard during the summer coming off the surgery," coach Rick Carlisle said. "He'll get to where he wants to be. Obviously he's not there yet, but the signs are good.

"It's essential that we have Reggie healthy. You can't replace what he gives us with his experience and his outside shooting."

Austin Croshere worked out with Miller some during the summer in Malibu, Calif. Croshere said he could tell then that Miller was in store for a big season.

"The offense we're running this year is going to be really good for him," said Croshere, who missed the final seven preseason games while nursing a hamstring injury. "We'll be able to get him some open looks and make the defense pay for double-teams.

"The fact is, there's a big difference when you miss an entire training camp, like he did last year, as opposed to coming in healthy and in shape."

And what of those early epitaphs, those calls for an end to Miller Time?

"I was getting the heat before (last season)," Miller said as he exited the locker room late Friday night. "Nothing's changed."

www.indystar.com

 

[TheGeneral+]

The Indiana Pacers have a new coaching staff with an offensive system that's significantly different from last season. They have a new starting center. They'll probably have a new starting point guard. Some of their key players are recovering from injuries.

And yet the NBA's schedule-makers insist they start the season on Wednesday in Detroit.

"I have concerns," coach Rick Carlisle said Sunday. "We're getting a little better, but we're light-years from being a really good basketball team."

That was obvious by their performance in the preseason, in which they lost five of their last six games and showed only hints of chemistry and consistency.

Carlisle's primary concerns are erratic defensive intensity and offensive carelessness. His team shot 40 percent from the field, allowed 45 percent shooting and averaged 19.3 turnovers per game.

The Pacers aren't alone in struggling to adapt to a new coach's system. The Pistons, who replaced Carlisle with Larry Brown after last season, averaged 18.9 turnovers in the preseason. Still, it's not acceptable for a possession-oriented coach who wants to limit turnovers to less than 14 per game.

That's why Carlisle appears to be leaning toward starting Kenny Anderson ahead of incumbent Jamaal Tinsley at point guard.

Anderson is a free agent signee who missed the first six exhibition games because of a pulled hamstring. But he has more history with Carlisle than Tinsley, and might bring a steadier hand to the offense.

Anderson averaged 6.5 assists and 1.5 turnovers in the preseason while shooting 45.5 percent. Tinsley averaged 4.4 assists and two turnovers while shooting 37.5 percent.

Carlisle said he has not decided who will start at Detroit, but Anderson has worked more with the starters than the reserves in practice and the assumption within the team is that he will get the call. If he starts, he'll join center Scot Pollard as new additions to the lineup.

"We want our point guards to be aggressive, but we need their decision-making to be sound," Carlisle said. "I showed Jamaal a tape a few days ago of him making plays off the move. Generally, when he got himself in the air he got in trouble, but when he stayed on the ground he made great plays. It's an adjustment for him to understand exactly what we're asking of him, because our system is significantly different than what they did last year. Everybody's going through an adjustment period."

Anderson, 33, has started every season of his 12-year career except last season, when he came off the bench for Seattle and New Orleans.

"I'll just do whatever, man," he said. "Whatever you want me to do."

Anderson and Carlisle have been together for five seasons during Carlisle's formative years as an assistant coach -- four in New Jersey and one in Portland. Tinsley started his first two seasons in the NBA under previous coach Isiah Thomas.

Still, Anderson is adapting to a new system like everyone else and learning the tendencies of his teammates.

"Everybody's trying to figure out the same stuff," he said. "You just have to play through it. It's going to be rough for us in Detroit. But whatever you do, you do it hard. Do it aggressively."

Brewer survives cut

Carlisle finalized his roster Sunday by waiving Omar Cook, Carl English and Michael Smith to reach the maximum limit of 15 players.

That means third-year veteran Jamison Brewer, who appeared in danger of losing his job early in training camp, is safe for now. He played 58 minutes in the eight preseason games, hitting 1-of-10 shots and scoring six points.

"Jamison Brewer grew on me because of his competitiveness and his professionalism," Carlisle said. "I took a real liking to him as a kid."

Brewer also had the advantage of a guaranteed contract. The Pacers would have to pay him if they release him.

Cook, however, seemed capable of unseating Brewer from the fourth point guard position early in training camp. Cook, a second-round pick two years ago when he left St. John's after his freshman season, had a strong first week of practice and then scored 13 points while hitting all four field-goal attempts in the opening preseason game against Chicago.

He quickly became a suitable subject for a whatever-happened-to story. He scored just seven points on 2-of-20 shooting in the remaining seven games.

"Sometimes success can be a form of adversity," Carlisle said. "It might have been better for him if he had gotten gradually better as the games went along. The fact he had a great game right away might have made it a little tough for him to live up to that.

"But this is a (21-year-old) youngster who's on the cusp of being ready for this league. It wouldn't surprise me if he got picked up right away. I know a lot of people saw that first game."

Notes

Austin Croshere, who sat out preseason play after pulling a hamstring in the opener, said he expects to be able to play on Wednesday. . . . Anthony Johnson, who broke his left ring finger in practice before exhibition play started, will be examined by team orthopedist Sanford Kunkel today. He's hopeful of being activated for Wednesday's game, but could start the season on the injured list. . . . Ron Artest missed Sunday's practice for personal reasons related to his family.

www.indystar.com