NBA: Pacers Place

2008-11-26T13:46:00.001-05:00

Okay, we've lost 3 in a row. I'm ready for the Pacers to try something new tonight against the Rockets. Full article here.

2008-10-30T09:52:00.000-04:00

Want your voice heard in the presidential election next Tuesday, November 4th? Then VOTE!

2008-10-16T15:20:00.000-04:00

In case my assistant needs an idea for an awesome Bosses' Day gift...

Even PETA's Impressed

2008-07-13T11:41:00.000-04:00

I was searching for the article on Tony Gonzalez saving that guy in the restaurant, and I came across this PETA blog about it. I'm all for vegetarianism, but the smugness of this post made me laugh. Hopefully the writer was being tongue-in-cheek. Then again, PETA folks wouldn't put a tongue in there. Too meaty.

Isn't it time yet to do some housecleaning?

2008-02-18T11:45:00.004-05:00

Seriously, when even Larry Bird is admitting that the fans are staying away due to all the off-court stuff going on, how much more do you need? At this point I'm seriously thinking losses are fine. At least we'd get a chance at the lottery.

Oh, and it's from an old game, but this photo makes me laugh.

Indiana Pacers get Travis Diener

2007-07-25T13:17:00.000-04:00

So we get Travis Diener as point guard, eh? He signed a contract with the pacers this week, so I guess we do. He wasn't used much in Orlando... maybe he's been waiting to show us what he can do now that he's here.

Let's hope so!

successful surgeries

2007-05-10T16:18:00.000-04:00

Both Jermaine O'Neal and David Harrison recently had successful arthroscopic surgeries. O'Neal had some torn cartilage in his left knee repaired, while Harrison had surgery on his collarbone to fix shoulder problems he has suffered for most of the season.

We Interrupt This NBA Season ...

2007-02-06T09:54:00.000-05:00

To say "Way to go, Colts!" Seems like it should have happened years ago, doesn't it? I never will think of Indiana as more football than basketball, but it is very cool to have the Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts right here in our midst!

Pacers are gonna get up there again one of these days, too. But just now we're all NFL fans.

2007-01-16T15:56:00.000-05:00

Pacers lose to the Net's; hope they play better against Miami.

Pacers Lose to Surging Jazz

2006-12-18T11:35:00.000-05:00

The Indiana Pacers lost to the Utah Jazz for the first time in 4 years last night, 104-94. The Pacers found themselves 21 points down in a hurry, but fought their way back to within 6 points before the Jazz started pulling away again. The Pacers are in the thick of things of the most competitive division in the dismal Eastern Conference. At .500 they're in 4th place of their division, but that same record would translate into first place in the Atlantic division which doesn't have a team over .500.

6 game road trip comes to an end with a loss

2006-12-06T10:45:00.000-05:00

The Indiana Pacers ended their six-game road trip with a 101-87 loss at the Staples Center. The Pacers have never won at the Staples Center, which opened during the 1999-2000 season.

In their game with the Los Angeles Lakers, the Pacers did not show much enthusiasm. The Pacers trailed by as many as 23 points in the first half and 18 at the end of the third quarter. In their defense they got as close as 7 points in the last 3 minutes.

Indiana Pacers Progress

2006-12-02T15:37:00.000-05:00

The Indiana Pacers will resume their six-game road trip tonight when they visit the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center.

Indiana is 2-2 so far. However the Indiana Pacers lost to the Seattle SuperSonics on Friday at Key Arena. Al Harrington, Danny Granger and Jermaine O'Neal contributed to the winning effort only to suffer a 105-103 loss.

Enough Turnovers to Open a Bakery

2006-10-27T12:58:00.000-04:00

If only the Pacers turnovers were the yummy, fruit-filled kind! Two games in a row, Indiana has racked up 30 turnovers or more. Painful!

Our opening game of the regular season will be against the Charlotte Bobcats. When we held our turnovers down to the single digits, we beat them. When we had thirty-one turnovers to their twenty-three, we didn't.

Pacers, and this means you, Sarunas and Jamaal, please get a good night's rest on Halloween.

Lucky It's Preseason

2006-10-15T23:30:00.000-04:00

Because the Pacers, especially on defense, evidently need some more seasoning. That game that ended up Utah Jazz 97 to Indiana's 84 had a very flat taste to it. Maybe even a little bitter to folks in the crowd who were less than enthusiastic about Stephen Jackson making his first appearance after the strip club incident...

Columnist Conrad Brunner pointed out that the performance by our oldest guy, Darrell Armstrong, 38, who had 12 points, 3 assists and 2 steals in his 16 minutes on the court, was the biggest plus of the game. In Brunner's words, the minuses were "pretty much everything and everyone else."

Luckily, this is preseason, so the players and the fans have a little time to clear their heads and get settled down for some serious basketball.

The End of Carlisle’s Final Season Contract and A Beautiful Beginning.

2006-10-05T17:56:00.000-04:00

Newly named Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Rick Carlisle has secured his position with the Pacers as head couch by signing a “multi-year” contract extension. Congratulations! Carlisle has had an impressive tenure and I am sure there is more to come.

training camp starts tomorrow

2006-10-02T19:09:00.000-04:00

Rick Carlisle begins his fourth training camp with the Pacers tomorrow at Conseco Fieldhouse, and this season’s camp promises to be an interesting one. With at least two new starters in the first five, Danny Granger and Al Harrington, and 11 of 18 team members gone since last season, nobody knows what to expect exactly. Tinsley, Jackson, and O’Neal will likely remain starters, and other positions will probably be selected game-by-game depending on the opponent. There is, of course, some concern about Tinsley because of his past injury record, so he remains on the starting roster for now based virtually on talent alone.

He might have one more in him guys!

2006-06-10T23:40:00.000-04:00

I have been hearing rumors that Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle is going to be standing in the unemployment line in the very near future. I also read on ESPN that he feels his job is secure. I’m sure the rumors are just the result of angry fans still steaming over our first round tanking in the Playoffs. I don’t think that this is all Carlisle’s fault. I also don’t think it should all be blamed on Artest’s pull-out. There were a few players left on this team and they did get us into the playoffs. I don’t see why we can’t give it at least one more season to see if Carlisle can pull this squad together and go further next year.

Get your act together boys!

2006-05-14T21:29:00.000-04:00

Larry Bird has some strong words to describe his attitude toward the players on this Indiana Pacers team. He feels like they had better shape up their bad attitudes and stop being selfish and lazy before next season or they aren’t going to be playing for this team. After dealing with Artest’s untimely departure and the resulting first round tanking in the playoffs, I am not surprised he doesn’t want to deal with any more nonsense.

A Photo Finish for the Pacers

2006-04-18T21:24:00.000-04:00

The Indiana Pacers are facing a big challenge on Wednesday. They are going up against the Orlando Magic who miraculously won 9 of their last ten games in a season finale like no other. The Magic haven’t won squat this season and are taking full advantage of the fact that a lot of teams are winding down to save energy for the playoffs. The Pacers need this win to achieve higher than eighth seed for the playoffs. Can we do it?

Can we make the playoffs or is it a lost cause?

2006-03-27T21:03:00.000-05:00

Finally, our crucial lineup is complete for the first time this season. With everyone healthy we should be able to salvage the season with some last minute wins. Stephen Jackson and Jeff Foster led the pack on Sunday in our 92-69 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Now we hit the road to redeem ourselves with a healthy lineup and something to prove. Will we make it to the post-season?

Fred Jones Pulls Out of Slump

2006-02-28T11:39:00.000-05:00

The Indiana Pacers ended their six game losing streak on the road with an impressive victory over the New Jersey Nets on Sunday night. Fred Jones scored 22 points; eleven of which were made in the fourth quarter surge that left the Nets with 91 and the Pacers with 101. It would be nice to see more of this type of play from Fred Jones who was in a serious slump prior to scoring 31 points in the Pacers loss to Atlanta on Friday.

A Different Team Plays Here

2006-02-12T23:41:00.000-05:00

The Indiana Pacers have been on a four game winning streak boasting a victory over the Detroit Pistons who hold the top spot in the NBA. We have been scoring 8-32 more points than our opponents thanks to our dominance on the defensive end of the court. Where has this skill and intensity been all season long?

Blue Skies are Back Again!

2006-01-30T12:32:00.000-05:00

The Indiana Pacers have finally relieved themselves of Ron Artest. I am surprised anyone would want such a whiney baby on their team, but I am sure the Sacramento Kings are thinking they’ll give it a trial run and just bench him if he gets naughty. Morale should be up now that Ron’s finally gone!

A Little More Spontaneity Please

2006-01-22T00:59:00.000-05:00

It is nice to see Jermaine O’Neal back on the court for the Indiana Pacers, but his homecoming could have been a lot sweeter. We’ve been on a bit of a roller coaster all season and are lucky we haven’t revisited the losing streak of late December. Stephen Jackson should seriously evaluate if he may be holding on to the ball a little too long these days. Lately it looks like he’s forgotten his talent lies in shooting on the fly.

Wizards put Pacers under Spell

2006-01-14T20:14:00.000-05:00

The Conseco Fieldhouse was the venue for the Indiana Pacers' embarrassing loss to Gilbert Arenas and the Washington Wizards. The Pacers were not capable of stopping Arenas and he took advantage of it scoring 37 points. Of the points, Arenas scored 18 in the fourth quarter and the Wizards outscored the Pacers 20-8 in the last six minutes of the game. The loss of Artest is still hurting this team and it shows in our win/loss record. We are about balanced with 19-15 wins to losses but will have to do better than that to become a playoff contender.

Pacers Stomp Warriors in California

2006-01-07T20:07:00.000-05:00

Stephen Jackson was a force to be reckoned with in our victory over the Golden State Warriors. He scored 27 points and stayed strong even as the Warriors started to come back from a 22 point deficit. He even got six rebounds and three assists. Austin Croshere produced 17 points and nine rebounds and was another key player in this much needed road win. The Indiana Pacers surged ahead in the final quarter and ended ten points up with the final score at 99-89. We won this game to end a losing steak of four games and send our overall record to 17-13. We really need some more games like that.

Artest Trade May Leave US Weak

2005-12-29T18:51:00.000-05:00

We are still having trouble getting rid of Artest because so many teams are interested. It’s hard to believe and although it will take time I am glad we are granting him the move. Management feels we have enough depth on the team to sacrifice him as a player but I am not sure if that is right. Our win loss record has been fluctuating because we have been winning and losing so sporadically and we have a 15-11 record. Our loss to the Dallas Mavericks was especially disappointing because we lost by eighteen points and were so fully dominated by their offense and defense.

Carlisle Reflects on Losing Artest

2005-12-23T20:31:00.000-05:00

I am glad that all the Ron Artest business is through. He has been deactivated and Stephen Jackson will be taking his place. Now losing a player like Artest can be hard on a team and it is going to take more than simply replacing him to make up for the points and defense an All-Star player can put forth. More than one player has to produce more to fill the void Artest has left behind and the Indiana Pacers have been doing it well. Coach Carlisle believes however, that the Pacers have lost their margin for error because all five players have to play at full capacity.

Artest Instigates Media Blitz

2005-12-16T17:55:00.000-05:00

The Indiana Pacers are at 12-8 and are 7-3 at home. We have been struggling lately and have had some player controversy of late. Ron Artest went public and demanded to be traded from the Pacers. President Donnie Walsh and team President Larry Bird are going to handle any deals for Artest’s relocation to another team. They haven’t suspended Artest, but due to his public appeal for a move and a sore right wrist he will not be playing or practicing in the time it takes to strike a deal with another team. I feel that he should have made his appeal privately instead of going straight to the public so he could get his name in the papers and on TV.

Pacers Under Mavs Thumb

2005-12-09T13:48:00.000-05:00

The Indiana Pacers lost to the Dallas Mavericks in an intense game that finished 77-84. The Mavs defense kept blocking shots and held us to under 80 points which no team has been able to do in the regular season. Dirk Nowitzki was unstoppable on defense and scored a lot of points for Dallas. Jermaine O’Neil had a good game offensively but really looked like the only Pacers player who had his head in the game. Every team in the NBA considers us a viable threat but to keep up that image and win the games we have to play as a team and it seemed to me that we were watching our team fall apart in that game.

Pacers Blown Out in Phoenix

2005-12-02T19:15:00.000-05:00

This second season with Rick Carlisle hasn’t been the same as the first. We are suffering with an inconsistent defense but seem to be pulling out most of the wins anyway. The Indiana Pacers got blown out in Phoenix by eighteen points and didn’t play aggressively at all. Our record belies the fact that we are letting our opponents dominate until the final quarter making our wins less satisfying because of the stress caused by allowing the other team to lead for too many minutes. We are tied for second best in the league, we have forced a great many turnovers this season and we have allowed an average of ninety points per game. The Pacers are doing great but could be doing better and it shows.

Pacers Squash Cavs Offense

2005-11-25T13:47:00.000-05:00

The Indiana Pacers totally smoked the Cleveland Cavaliers by using Ron Artest to completely shut down superstar LeBron James. Scoring 98-76 the Pacers dominated the boards. Jermaine O’Neal and Stephen Jackson scored in the teens. Jamaal Tinsley racked up seven assists. Cleveland couldn’t get within ten points of the Pacers in the second half. This was a victory over a good team and it seems that the better the opponent, the tighter the Indiana offense. This was a well executed game of basketball for the Pacers defense in addition.

Pacers Loss Lacks Defense

2005-11-20T16:56:00.000-05:00

The Indiana Pacers have been in a defensive slump. We were coming off a two game losing streak going into the game with the Charlotte Bobcats. Our shooting percentage was down and our defense was dismal. The Pacers committed almost 30 turnovers in the game. The Bobcats out scored us by thirty two points for a 122-90 win. Bobcat Kareem Rush went into this game shooting 34 percent and scored a career record 35 points against us. His partner in crime, Raymond Felton, scored 18 points and racked up 10 assists in his first start for Charlotte. The Bobcats broke a five game losing streak with their admirable effort against our dwindling defense.

Coach Rick Carlisle is adamant that defense is our number one priority, but can we get it together in time to face the Bobcats a second time is so many days. Our schedule is only going to get tougher from here.

Interesting Thought

2005-06-09T18:41:00.000-05:00

A new debate has aroused my thoughts, a debate that will probably continue for ages to come. The question being; who is better Shaquille O’Neal or Wilt Chamberlin? Now before anyone decides to answer this question, one should take time to think about it. To think about all the factors that comes into play.

For one I am not a big fan of Shaq but the man is very good at what he does and will some day join Wilt in the Basketball Hall of Fame. But consider it was two different eras and two different styles. It is almost like comparing Joe Montana to Brett Favre, both great players but two different eras. So what do you all think?

Almost

2005-06-01T15:00:00.000-05:00

Over in Cleveland there is a vacancy for a Team President and for a while it seemed that our very own David Morway, who is the Pacers vice president, was to be the front runner for the job. That has changed. Morway was in line to replace Jim Paxson before Larry Brown drew interest. Morway now taking a back seat just has to wait and see if Brown is going to take the job.

Passing the Torch

2005-05-26T13:03:00.000-05:00

In the last entry I talked about the departure of one the best NBA players of our time, Reggie Miller. The guy did everything that was asked of him. Miller was a true team player and most would agree.

Well now that Miller is gone, who is going to step up? Who will the torch pass down too as team leader on and off the field? Who will fill the void that Miller left behind? Well one name does come to mind, Jermaine O’ Neal, and team president Larry Bird feels the same way.

"I’ve got a lot of confidence in Jermaine and his ability to play ball, to come in next year and grab this team and take them in the direction they need to go..." - Larry Bird

Farwell Sir Miller

2005-05-23T14:28:00.000-05:00

Reggie Miller is a pretty classy player when you look back at his career. Even though his Pacers lost to the Pistons Reggie posted 27 points. Reggie and the Pacers have been eliminated from the playoffs, but the fact that they made it was surprising enough.

After the brawl with the Pistons, no one would have thought they would be playing in the Second round of the playoffs against the Pistons. In his last game Reggie had a great night, going 11-of-16 and 4-of-8 from downtown. I know for a fact Indiana will miss Reggie Miller. I just want to say good bye Reggie and thank you for the memories.

Not Impressive

2005-05-19T19:34:00.000-05:00

Jermaine O'Neal forgot to put on his game shoes once again for game 5. The Pacers weren't even in the game after halftime. O'Neal hit 6-of-14 shots with 14 points and managed just three rebounds in another sad, sad loss.

It is like hit or miss with this team. The Pacers had averaged just 37% shooting form the floor. It was so bad that in the third quarter the Pacers were out scored 30-4. The final score was 86 - 67. The Pistons now lead the series 3-2.

Can it Happen

2005-05-16T12:21:00.000-05:00

I dont think anyone thought the Pacers would make this series into one that is worth watching, but they did. The Pacers obviously do have something to prove. In this rivalry turned sour, it has been intense and the tension just floats around the court.

Then the is the disappearing act of talent from Ben Wallace since game one and then Jeff Foster followed this past game after having two outstanding performances in game 2 and 3.

The series is now tied at 2-2. The question is now; can the Pacer keep bring on their own 'heat' to upset the Pistons?

Pacer's with something to prove

2005-05-12T17:24:00.000-05:00

from Foxsports.com

Jeff Foster did his best Ben Wallace imitation tonight, finishing with 14 points and a career-high 20 boards as the Pacers beat the Pistons in game two. He hit 6-of-11 shots and added two blocks. His previous high in boards was 18, which he accomplished a couple times in December, when he was on fire

Jamaal Tinsley struggled from the floor tonight, hitting just 4-of-19 shots, but made up for it with dimes. He finished with 12 points, seven boards and 12 assists in the win. His foot is bothering him, but if his shot starts falling, looks out.

Reggie Miller had 19 points, 15 of them coming in the second half to help lead the Pacers to a big win in Detroit tonight. He had just six points in the opener, and hit 8-of-17 shots tonight, including three from downtown in the win.

Do the Pacers have a Chance?

2005-05-09T14:01:00.000-05:00

by Conrad Brunner/From the official site of the Indiana Pacers

It may not be fair, but it's a completely natural assumption, looking at it from a distance. From an analyst's perspective, you'd have to wonder how any team that got blown out by the profoundly mediocre Celtics twice could pose a serious threat to the defending world champions. There's also the relative measure of last year's Eastern Conference Finals, when the Pacers had Ron Artest but lost to Detroit in six games.

That said, I suspect this is going to be a much more competitive series than most expect. While the Pacers have been severely shorthanded most of the season, they aren't anymore. They don't have Artest, but they do have everybody else. There are some health issues, but they're relatively minor and should become less of a factor as the series moves along. The more Jamaal Tinsley plays, for example, the better he'll get. Jermaine O'Neal's shoulder is much less of a factor than at the beginning of the Boston series. If Fred Jones' Game 7 performance was any indication, either his broken finger is feeling much better or he's figured out a way to adjust.

Even without Artest, the Pacers are as close to full strength as they've been all season long. The current lineup of Tinsley, Reggie Miller, Stephen Jackson, O'Neal and Dale Davis played together for the first time in Game 5 of the Boston series. With Anthony Johnson back with the second unit, James Jones continuing to evolve, Fred Jones showing signs of returning to health and quality veteran big men in Jeff Foster, Austin Croshere and Scot Pollard, the Pacers appear to be significantly deeper than the Pistons.

To be sure, the Pistons should be the favorites in this series, and it's reasonable for the national media to expect Detroit to emerge for a much-anticipated showdown with Miami in the conference finals. They would be thoroughly shocked if the Pacers pulled the upset. Frankly, it wouldn't surprise me in the least.

Beaten Badly

2005-04-25T13:44:00.000-05:00

"We were beaten and we were beaten bad. It's a very humbling situation for everyone on the team."

Yes you were Jermaine O'Neal.

O’Neal came back after missing 22 games and showed everyone he had some rust to get rid of. For the most part O’Neal was not even a factor in game one. O’Neal finished with only seven buckets and five boards in the Pacers lost to the Boston Celtics 102-82.

Age Limit?

2005-04-12T15:10:00.000-05:00

from ESPN.com news services

Indiana Pacers forward Jermaine O'Neal said he thinks racism might have something to do with the NBA's desire to put an age limit in the next collective bargaining agreement.

"In the last two or three years, the rookie of the year has been a high school player. There were seven high school players in the All-Star Game, so why we even talking an age limit?" O'Neal said.

The past two rookies of the year were drafted out of high school: The Cavaliers' LeBron James was the 2003-04 rookie of the year, while the Suns' Amare Stoudemire won the award after the 2002-03 season.

Players currently have to be at least 18 to be drafted, but NBA commissioner David Stern would like to see the age raised to 20.

"We are seeking to raise that to 20 or two years out of high school. The NFL's minimum age is 3 years after high school. I'm optimistic the union will agree to some raise in the minimum age in the current collective bargaining," Stern said in a recent ESPN.com chat.

The NBA's seven-year labor agreement expires after the season. The union originally opposed raising the current age limit of 18, but has begun to waver.
O'Neal doesn't agree with Stern's agenda, however.

"As a black guy, you kind of think [race is] the reason why it's coming up.

"You don't hear about it in baseball or hockey. To say you have to be 20, 21 to get in the league, it's unconstitutional. If I can go to the U.S. Army and fight the war at 18 why can't you play basketball for 48 minutes?" O'Neal said.

If the NBA had the age limit Stern is proposing in 1996, O'Neal would have had to postpone the start of his NBA career.

O'Neal went to the NBA straight out of high school in 1996 and was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers, who made him the 17th overall selection.

O'Neal didn't blossom into the star he is today until he was dealt to the Pacers during the 2000 off-season. He has made the past three Eastern Conference All-Star teams

Pistons host Pacers...

2005-03-24T19:47:00.000-05:00

by the Associated Press, from Foxsports.com

It'll be just another game, the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers insist, when they play Friday night.

The last time they met - exactly 18 weeks ago - at The Palace, one of the worst brawls in U.S. sports history broke out, and the ugly spectacle transcended sports.

"After all the consequences that were paid by players and fans, I don't expect to see anybody acting up," Detroit's Antonio McDyess said.

The Pacers have been reeling since the Nov. 19 melee. The defending NBA champion Pistons suffered a setback from it, but have since bounced back to be one of the top teams in the league.

Indiana's Ron Artest was suspended by commissioner David Stern for the season for his role in the fracas, which started on the court before spilling into the crowd and back onto the court. Indiana's Stephen Jackson was suspended for 30 games and Jermaine O'Neal for 15, and his comeback was derailed by a shoulder injury expected to keep him out for the rest of the regular season.

Detroit's Ben Wallace was suspended for six games, and one of his brothers was among the spectators charged with playing a part in the brawl.

In total, five Pacers and eight fans have been charged in the brawl.

The players - Artest, Jackson, O'Neal, Anthony Johnson and David Harrison - and three of the fans appeared in court two months ago and were released on bond. They all are charged with misdemeanor assault and battery and face up to 93 days in jail and $500 fines if convicted.

The next court date in the case is not until April 8, but the players facing charges may take a detour Friday to the Auburn Hills Police Department for mandatory fingerprinting. Lt. James Manning said Thursday that the department was trying to arrange for them to come in, but nothing had been scheduled yet.

Another fan, Bryant Jackson, is charged with felonious assault for allegedly tossing a chair toward the Pacers as they were leaving the court. He is expected in court for a pretrial hearing on Tuesday.

Last week, three other fans were sentenced to probation and community service for walking onto the court and throwing objects.

"Because of you, this community has received an undeserved, unjust, big black eye that still leaves us smarting," District Judge Lisa Asadoorian said. "You will forever be known - as has been put to me so often - as 'one of those idiots at The Palace."'

Artest, Jackson, O'Neal, Johnson and the Pacers organization are all facing lawsuits from fans. An usher filed a lawsuit against O'Neal and Indiana's Jamaal Tinsley and Green.

The brawl even inspired an episode last month of NBC-TV's fictional "Law & Order."
The Pistons plan to have "playoff-type security" on hand for the game Friday night, meaning they'll have about 20 police officers and about 25 percent more unarmed security personnel in the arena.

"Because it's the first time the Pacers will be back, everybody is going to be watching, so we don't want one fan to ruin it for everybody," Pistons spokesman Matt Dobek said.

The NBA playoffs start April 23. If they started now, Detroit (42-25) would play Indiana (34-33) in the first round, one season after the Pistons beat the Pacers in the conference finals before winning the title.

Since the brawl, Detroit has played at Indiana on Dec. 25 and Jan. 27.

"If that Christmas game was at Detroit, it probably would have been a big deal," Indiana's Austin Croshere said. "We've got our own problems to worry about right now. We're battling for a playoff spot."

Larry Brown hasn't coached the Pistons since March 13 because he needed a procedure related to the hip surgery that caused him to miss six games in November.

"I'm doing OK, but I still don't know when I'll be back," Brown said Thursday in an interview with The Associated Press.

The brawl started with just 45.9 seconds left in the game, with Indiana leading 98-82, when Artest fouled Wallace.

Wallace then delivered a hard, two-handed shove to Artest's chin, which led to pushing and shoving with several players near midcourt and Artest lying on his back on the scorer's table.

Just when the situation seemed to calm down, Artest was hit with a cup and he stormed into the stands to pounce on the fan he thought hurled the object at him.

The scene wrapped up when Tinsley unsuccessfully tried to go back on the court, wielding a dust pan over his head, as his teammates headed to their locker room.

Though the melee seemed to last a long time, the whole series of events lasted just five minutes.

"Yeah, but five minutes in a blender is a long time," said Jerry Hendon, director of Pistons security.

The Push

2005-03-06T14:32:00.000-05:00

It was this past Thursday night when the Pacers dropped a 96-87 contest to the up and rising Denver Nuggets. It was in that same game the Pacers would once again lose Jermaine O’Neal, but this time it was due injury (sprained right shoulder) and not to personal conduct.

The Pacers went into last night’s game with out O’Neal, but with Fred Jones who take advantage of his playing time. Jones was honored earlier in the day at his old high school in Portland. Jones also gave way for the go head 3 pointer, which pushed the Pacers over the Portland Trial Blazers 106-97.

Not Good

2005-02-08T19:43:00.000-05:00

"He's been lighting everybody up the first half of the year. He is a guy that we talked a lot about, and he is one of those guys that can make plays, Arenas will be in the All-Star game. I believe Jamison will be in it as well. I think both those guys are deserving, especially considering their record."

That is what Indiana coach Rick Carlisle had to say about the play of Arenas, as he watched him set a career high with 43 points to put the Washington Wizards on top over the Pacers 108-104.

Come on Indy!

Trying to make Sense

2005-01-30T17:12:00.000-05:00

The Pacers are now (2-6) in there last eight games and have lost 4 consecutives home games in that stretch.

It just doesn’t make sense, last season the Pacers won 61 games in regular season play, which happened to be the best record last year.

I remember now…the brawl with those fans in Detroit early this season might have had something to do with the downfall of the Pacer’s play. After all, it led to three very important players being suspended, and now the Pacers are two games under the .500 percent tile.

End Result

2005-01-20T13:34:00.000-05:00

from Pacers.com

On a night when everything seemed just slightly out of whack for the Pacers, the ending

was painfully fitting. Jermaine O'Neal inadvertently tipped in a missed free throw by

New Orleans' Dan Dickau with 3.7 seconds left, giving the Hornets a three-point lead

that held up as Indiana was stung by the NBA's worst team, 90-87, Wednesday night in

New Orleans Arena.

At a Pace

2005-01-10T17:06:00.000-05:00

After beating the Milwaukee Bucks, the Pacers have dropped three strait against the San Antonio Spurs, the Dallas Mavericks, and the last nights route handed to the Pacers by the "hot" Phoenix Suns who are 30-4(wow).

Now the Pacers are at 16-16, but despite being at .500 the pacers are only four games behind the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Central Division standings. Not to shabby, still a lot of season left to be played.

Pacers beat Nets

2005-01-03T13:55:00.000-05:00

Several hours after O'Neal suspension was ended 10 games premature, he went on to score 31 points to help lead the Pacers to a 96-83 victory over the Nets.

"It was somewhat a relief," O'Neal said after his long day that started with an appearance in a New York City federal courthouse and ended in an arena in New Jersey.

Pacers vs. 76ers Preview

2004-12-22T16:28:00.000-05:00

from the official site of the Indiana Pacers

NOTEWORTHY
The Pacers are opening a three-game holiday homestand, while the 76ers are beginning an eight-game road trip. ... Austin Croshere (out the last three games with a sprained ankle) and Anthony Johnson (who missed the last game with a hamstring strain) are both expected to return, but Scot Pollard (back) will remain on the injured list. ... Indiana is coming off an 85-71 loss in Chicago Saturday night that snapped a two-game losing streak despite a career-high 33 points from Jamaal Tinsley. ... The Pacers are 5-9 since the suspensions, 12-11 overall, 7-4 at home. ... Philadelphia is 10-14 overall, 3-8 on the road.

TRENDS
Tinsley has averaged 23.3 points, 6.9 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 2.78 steals in his last nine games. ... Jeff Foster has four consecutive double-doubles, averaging 10.8 points and 16.3 rebounds. ... Reggie Miller is 4-of-29 from the arc (.138) in the last five. ... Eddie Gill has missed all nine of his shots in his last five appearances. ... Sixers guard Allen Iverson has scored at least 50 points in his last two games, the first NBA player to do so since Antawn Jamison for Golden State in 2000. ... Marc Jackson is 8-of-30 from the field (.267) in the last three games. ... Kyle Korver ranks second in the NBA in 3-pointers made (66). ... Kenny Thomas has averaged 23.0 points and 12.0 rebounds in the last two. ... Andre Iguodala has averaged 12.8 points in the last four. ... Aaron McKie has gone scoreless for three straight games.

SERIES
Philadelphia won the first meeting 106-104 in overtime at home on Nov. 12. The Pacers blew leads of 17 in the third quarter and eight with 1:59 left in regulation. Korver hit a 3-pointer to force overtime and Iverson, who was 4-of-22 to that point, hit a 14-footer in the lane at the buzzer to win the game. It was the first game-winning buzzer-beater of his career. The Pacers lost despite a career-high 39 from Jermaine O'Neal. Korver scored 23 and Jackson had 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Sixers.

KEY MATCHUP
Point Guard - Tinsley and Iverson have been taking this position literally of late, racking up the points. Iverson always has been a scorer prone to major eruptions, while Tinsley is in uncharted territory. The goal, defensively, is to give Iverson plenty of room to take jump shots in order to deter him from driving to the basket. If his jumper is on, things like the last two games (54 against Milwaukee and 51 against Utah) happen. If not, Iverson and the Sixers are vulnerable.

INJURIES
Pacers - F Austin Croshere (ankle) and G Anthony Johnson (hamstring) are probable; C David Harrison (back) is day-to-day; C Scot Pollard (back) and F Jonathan Bender (knee) are on the injured list; F Ron Artest, G-F Stephen Jackson and F Jermaine O'Neal are on the suspended list.

Sixers - G Allen Iverson (finger, knee) is probable; F Brian Skinner (flu) is questionable; F-G John Salmons (bronchitis) is out; F Josh Davis (elbow), F Kedrick Brown (back) and F Glenn Robinson (ankle) are on the injured list.

Hearing scheduled for Thursday

2004-12-22T16:20:00.000-05:00

by the Associated Press, from ESPN.com

Jermaine O'Neal won a 10-game reduction Wednesday in his suspension for fighting with fans during the Nov. 19 Pacers-Pistons brawl, but an arbitrator also upheld NBA commissioner David Stern's bans on Ron Artest and two other Indiana players.

The league said it would go to federal court to challenge arbitrator Roger Kaplan's decision, which could make O'Neal eligible to return Saturday when the Pacers host the Detroit Pistons in the teams' first matchup since one of the most violent melees in NBA history.

"We have consistently maintained that the arbitrator has no legitimate role in this matter," NBA deputy commissioner Russ Granik said. "While we obviously agree with Mr. Kaplan's decision upholding virtually all of the suspensions, we don't agree with his conclusion that the conduct did not occur on the playing court, and we have no choice other than to challenge it in federal court."

A hearing was set for 10 a.m. Thursday in U.S. District Court.

In a 28-page decision, Kaplan upheld Artest's season-long suspension and the penalties given to Stephen Jackson (30 games) and Anthony Johnson (five games).

O'Neal's ban was reduced from 25 games to 15. Kaplan cited O'Neal's "character, community involvement and citizenship" in deeming Stern's suspension "excessive."

"This should not be viewed as condoning what O'Neal did. He did punch a fan. The 15-game suspension is a significant penalty. The NBA cannot tolerate such conduct," Kaplan wrote in his decision, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press.

The union had asked for substantial reductions in the penalties during a six-hour arbitration hearing at a Manhattan law office. The NBA declined to participate, saying Kaplan had no jurisdiction to arbitrate penalties for on-court behavior -- an area in which the league contends the commissioner has sole discretion.

"We're extremely pleased that Jermaine will have the opportunity to play, although we respectfully disagree with the decision on the other three players," players' union director Billy Hunter said. "We are also pleased that the arbitrator has affirmed the right of players to appeal disciplinary measures."

Kaplan ruled that he had jurisdiction to hear the case, and that Stern had just cause to issue the suspensions he gave to Artest, Jackson and Johnson.

The arbitrator pointed out that O'Neal did not enter the stands and was trying to protect a teammate during the fracas.

"O'Neal's previous conduct in the NBA is vastly different from Artest's," Kaplan wrote. "He is the recipient of a couple of awards attesting to his character, community involvement and citizenship. His one punch of a spectator, while excessive, was clearly out of character."

O'Neal's agent, Arn Tellem, said: "We're gratified that the arbitrator ruled in our favor. Jermaine is anxious to put this matter behind him."

The NBA has already filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court challenging Kaplan's authority to hear the grievance, a complaint that remains pending before U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels.

Each of the players testified before Kaplan during the hearing, and union attorneys submitted three lines of argument on the issue of jurisdiction.

The union cited a 1995 modification to the collective bargaining agreement allowing for appeals in cases where the financial penalty to the disciplined played exceeds $25,000. The union also argued the definitions of what constitutes "reasonable" punishment and "on-court behavior."

The arbitrator also reviewed videotape of the entire 12-minute brawl, in which Artest sprinted into the stands and confronted a fan he believed had thrown a drink at him. Jackson also went into the stands and exchanged punches with fans, while O'Neal and Johnson punched fans who came onto the court.

Five Pacers players and seven fans face criminal charges.

Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said he had no immediate comment on the ruling. Team spokesman David Benner said the Pacers would not comment until the league responded to the ruling.

Indiana has lost nine of 14 games since the brawl, using patchwork lineups in an effort to make up for the loss of three of the team's five leading scorers. O'Neal, a three-time All-Star and eight-year veteran, was to serve the 15th game of his suspension Wednesday night when the Pacers played Philadelphia.

"We need him. We've been going through a tough stretch here, short-handed every night, guys banged up, not knowing who is going to be in the lineup," Pacers guard Jamaal Tinsley said. "We've got a couple of games coming up that we need him."

It Miller time

2004-12-07T20:00:00.000-05:00

By Conrad Brunner, from NBA.com

Practice had a much more familiar look Monday afternoon. Reggie Miller and Jeff Foster both were on the court. So was Jermaine O'Neal.

The good news is Miller and Foster will be able to play when the Pacers face Milwaukee on Tuesday night in Conseco Fieldhouse. Unless his 25-game NBA suspension is reduced on appeal, O'Neal will have to wait until Jan. 15.

Miller hit the ground running, scoring 23 points in his season debut on Saturday night in a 104-96 loss at Golden State. He played 32 minutes and hit 8-of-12 shots, including 4-of-6 from the 3-point line.

"I’m impressed, honestly," said Austin Croshere. "For Reggie to come out there and do what he did is a great sign for us."

While O'Neal and Stephen Jackson are out, Miller will be able to assume a larger share of the scoring load than the past two seasons, when he averaged 11.2 points. But at 39, he no longer is consistently cast in the role of go-to scorer – at least not until the final few minutes of a close game.

"We need him to be aggressive. He knows that," said Coach Rick Carlisle. "I'm not saying we need him to score 20 a game because I don't think it's fair to him to say that. I think he's very much aware of our situation and he'll make the necessary adjustments."

Though Miller and Foster will both be in the lineup, point guard Jamaal Tinsley will miss the game with a sprained right ankle suffered in Oakland, so the Pacers will have just two original starters available. When Tinsley returns, they'll have three – the most since Nov. 19.

"We're just starting to get guys healthy and guys are slowly but surely coming off the injured list and getting a chance to play," Miller said. "I think the team is starting to take another shape and form once we get everyone out on the court."
Foster Not Sure What to Expect.By Conrad Brunner

Scouting Report

2004-12-01T15:22:00.000-05:00

from Pacers.com

If there is an unusual sense of foreboding about a game with the Clippers, consider the circumstances. When last the teams met, Nov. 10 in Conseco Fieldhouse, the Clippers handed the Pacers a humiliating 102-68 defeat, their worst-ever home loss. And that was with Jermaine O'Neal and Stephen Jackson in the lineup; Ron Artest was serving out his two-game benching.

Since then, the Pacers have lost their top three scorers to NBA suspensions, while the Clippers suddenly have become one of the NBA's hottest teams. So, while Indiana is looking for payback, it remains to be seen if there is enough in the account to complete the transaction.

Though the roster has been bolstered somewhat by the additions of free agents Britton Johnsen and Tremaine Fowlkes, a disproportionate load of playing time has been carried by the starters in the five games since the suspensions. In that span, the starters have played an average of 38.6 minutes per man, or 80.5 percent of the total available minutes. The opponents' starters, in contrast, have averaged 31.7 minutes apiece, or 66 percent.

Fred Jones has averaged 44.2 minutes; current league leader Kobe Bryant averages 42.7. James Jones (41.0), Jamaal Tinsley (40.8) and Austin Croshere (39.4) all have played iron-man roles. Those four all played at least 42 minutes in Seattle on Sunday night, a 103-95 loss. Tinsley and Croshere both are feeling the burden. Tinsley sat out Monday's practice with a bruised thigh. Croshere practiced despite a bruised rib.

There is some relief around the corner. Marcus Haislip, a 6-10, 230-pound power forward who was drafted No. 13 overall by Milwaukee in 2002, reportedly will sign in time to be in uniform for the game. Anthony Johnson will serve the final game of his NBA suspension in Los Angeles and join the team for Friday night's game in Sacramento, bolstering the backcourt. Reggie Miller will serve a one-game NBA suspension when activated from the injured list, a move that could come this week. Jeff Foster hopes to return next week, which would provide much-needed help for a beleaguered front line. Scot Pollard, who has missed eight games with a variety of back problems, may be back in the lineup against the Clippers.

Things have been much brighter than usual lately for the Clippers, who have ridden their four-game win streak to a 9-6 record, their best start since the 1992-93 season, Larry Brown's last in L.A.

“I’m not trying to think about our great start," said point guard Marko Jaric, whose play has been a catalyst in the streak. "I’m trying to focus on getting the wins we need to. Only a small team would be satisfied with something like this, but not us. We need to continue to win against the teams we need to win against."

The Clippers' last two victories over the Pacers both have been of epic proportions. In addition to the 34-point rout on Nov. 10, they won 103-72 at home on Feb. 2, 2001. So while the Pacers have won seven of the last nine meetings, their two losses have come by an average margin of 32.5 points.

Not Necessary

2004-11-20T17:36:00.000-05:00

ESPN.com news services

The NBA suspended Ron Artest, Jermaine O'Neal and Stephen Jackson of Indiana and Ben Wallace of Detroit on Saturday for taking part in one of the ugliest brawls in U.S. sports history.

The suspensions were indefinite, and the league was still investigating Friday night's melee, which commissioner David Stern called "shocking, repulsive and inexcusable -- a humiliation for everyone associated with the NBA."

The league issued a statement saying it was reviewing rules and security
procedures "so that fans can continue to attend our games unthreatened by events such as the ones that occurred last night."

Artest, O'Neal and Jackson -- all of whom threw punches at fans during the fight at the end of Friday night's nationally televised Pacers-Pistons game -- were to begin serving their suspensions Saturday night, when the Pacers played a home game against Orlando.

"We recognize that responsibility for Friday night's actions can be shared by many," Pacers president Donnie Walsh said in a statement released Saturday. "It is up to all of us to make sure that a situation such as this doesn't happen again."

Due to the suspensions, the Pacers likely will have to put injured players in uniform in order to meet the league's rule of dressing at least eight players, ESPN.com's Marc Stein reports.

Indianapolis had dressed only 10 players for the pistions game, and only has seven healthy players available to face the Magic on Saturday. Reggie Miller, Jeff Foster and Anthony Johnson are on the injured list.

The Pacers will likely have to put Scot Pollard and/or Jonathan Bender in uniform against Orlando, even though they are both hurt and won't play, anticipates Stein.

Wallace's suspension will begin with the Pistons' next home game, Sunday night against the Charlotte Bobcats. Pistons spokesman Tom Wilson said Saturday that the team plans to use "playoff-level security" starting with that game, doubling the number of armed police and increasing arena security by about 25 percent, though he couldn't say how many police and security that would be.

"Our investigation is ongoing, and I expect it to be completed by tomorrow evening," Stern said in his statement.

Police identified most of the people in video footage of the brawl, but said Saturday the investigation into possible criminal charges could take weeks.

"Obviously we know which Indiana players were in the stands, but it looked like there were a lot of fisticuffs being thrown other places too. We're going to have to interview the Pistons personnel, probably the press corps, since the table was right there and it was a national game, and all the other witnesses," Oakland County Prosecutor David Gorcyca said Saturday.

"The whole fiasco could take weeks to decide."

Auburn Hills police said they hoped to pass the case to prosecutors by Thanksgiving. Prosecutors will determine whether to file charges after the police finish the investigation.

Gorcyca said detectives must collect and analyze video footage, interview hundreds of witnesses, examine medical records and determine if anyone emerges as clear victims or suspects.

Gorcyca said it appeared fans were photographing the melee from the stands, and he asked them to come forward with pictures that might prove helpful in the investigation.

The brawl was shocking, with Artest and Jackson bolting into the stands near center court and throwing punches at fans after debris was thrown at the players. Later, fans who came onto the court were punched in the face by Artest and O'Neal.

Wallace began the fracas by delivering a hard two-handed shove to Artest after Wallace was fouled on a drive to the basket with 45.9 seconds remaining. After the melee broke out, the referees called off the remainder of the game.

"This demonstrates why our players must not enter the stands, whatever the provocation or poisonous behavior of people attending the games," Stern said.

Scouting Report

2004-11-09T18:02:00.000-05:00

from NBA.com

The Pacers (3-0) are beginning to look like themselves again. Jermaine O'Neal expects to return to the starting lineup against Minnesota (2-1), where he'll square off with friendly rival Kevin Garnett. O'Neal sat out the first regular-season game with a sore foot and came off the bench in the last two.

"I don't think I'm going to come off the bench this time," O'Neal said. "I really look forward to playing Kevin Garnett because he brings so much to the table. It's a huge obstacle for me because I haven't really played that much this season but I'm up for the challenge and my teammates are up for it and we're going to try to go 4-0 and be undefeated on the road so far."

Center Scot Pollard returned to practice Monday and is expected to be back in the lineup, as well. Pollard sat out Saturday night's victory over Chicago with a stiff back.

An interesting and unexpected trend showed signs of developing in the last two victories. In both games, team rallied in the absence of both All-Star forwards, O'Neal and Ron Artest. In Boston on Friday night, the Pacers trailed 77-71 when both went to the bench, and a comeback began immediately. Against Chicago on Saturday night, the role-players finished the third period on a 21-10 run that put the game out of reach. In those two victories, the Pacers outscored their opponents 31-17 when both Artest and O'Neal were out of the game.

"I think we've got a professional group of guys and a veteran group of guys that don't panic because those guys aren't out there," said Austin Croshere. "Guys aren't necessarily trying to prove themselves, they're out there trying to do the things we've done as a team all along: play hard and execute our offense."

A central figure in both games was Fred Jones, who figured to play sparingly this season but, with Reggie Miller injured, suddenly is the sixth man. Jones had career highs of eight rebounds against Boston and four 3-pointers against Chicago and is averaging 12.0 points thus far.

"Since we've had a couple of guys out, we've really realized it has to be a team effort," Jones said. "There's no individuals that can carry the load right now. Everybody has to be accountable."

Patience, Determination, Paying Off for J. Jones

2004-10-26T16:32:00.000-05:00

ESPN.com, By Conrad Brunner

James Jones couldn't be blamed for developing a bit of a forgotten-man complex.

He was a high school star in Miami, FL, where prep basketball comes up less at the office water coolers than Jai Alai results. He then spent his college career at the University of Miami, not exactly a basketball school. He entered the NBA as a second-round pick, once again devoid of hype, and spent most of his rookie season glued to the end of the bench, re-inventing his game from the post to the perimeter.

Then, the one big offseason move his team made in the offseason was to acquire a player, Stephen Jackson, who would only bury Jones deeper in the depth chart.

And yet, through it all, Jones managed not only to avoid developing a complex, but increased his confidence level. This time last year, he may have had some doubts he belonged in the NBA. Now, he has none. He is visibly more confident in stride and voice, and there is no more hesitation in his game.

"I've always felt I was the underdog in every situation, even dating back to college," Jones said. "It's an underdog's mentality where you're just itching to get out there against the guys that are supposedly better and show them that they're not much better, if better than you at all."

Jones has been something of a revelation in the preseason. Taking full advantage of opportunities presented by injuries to players ahead of him in the rotation, he has averaged 9.7 points in just 19.7 minutes per game. He has made five of his eight 3-point attempts and is shooting .533 overall from the field. His best game came Saturday night in a 106-104 victory over Minnesota in Bismarck, ND, when he scored 16 points.

He aggravated a shoulder sprain in that game and did not play in Denver Sunday. He is listed as doubtful for Tuesday night's game against Memphis in Conseco Fieldhouse.

"James Jones is what I call a pro," said Coach Rick Carlisle. "And that's a high compliment for a second-year guy. The guy says absolutely nothing, he works, he gets better. … He's a guy that's going to be in this league a while because he conducts himself in an exemplary way and he's always improving. He has a game. He shoots the ball well and he plays two or three positions.

"There's always going to be questions, until people in the league see him on a consistent basis. Unfortunately for him, our roster situation is such that he hasn't gotten a lot of opportunities in games – regular season or exhibition. But if you go back and look, when he has played he has stepped in and played very well. He never hesitates on his shot. He plays the game as it comes to him and he's a great team guy. All the guys on the team have great respect for him."

Jones' teammates, in fact, may have recognized his talent before he became fully aware. Ron Artest and Al Harrington frequently would stay after practice last season for one-on-one or two-on-two games with Jones included. When there was no game, Jones spent his post-practice time with assistant coach Chad Forcier.

Somewhere along the way, Jones began to realize that he belonged.

"I'd just watch Ron in the games and Al in the games and just how they would abuse people," Jones said. "After practice, I'd come here and play one-on-one or two-on-two with them and slowly I was able to come up to speed and handle my own. That really showed me something. If I can play against Ron and be successful against him, I can be successful against anyone in the league."

For the time being, Jones will have to continue to remain patient, while maximizing the time he gets on the court during practice. The rotation at shooting guard and small forward is stacked. Reggie Miller and Artest start, with Jackson backing up at both positions. Fred Jones and Jonathan Bender also figure prominently into the team's plans.

Thanks in part to his performance this preseason, so does James Jones, though more in the long term than the immediate.

"That's not really a problem," he said. "I'm a professional athlete. My job is to play basketball and get better. If I'm not playing basketball, my job is still to get better. That's how I look at every day, to go out and get better. In the long run, things will pay off and I'll get my opportunities. But in the meantime, all I can do is keep working so that when my opportunities come up, I can make the most of them."

Howdy!

2004-08-19T17:06:00.000-05:00

Hey folks, thanks for stopping by! I'm just getting started here, so come back and see me soon for more!