pooh
03-26-2005, 04:48 AM
Link (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylc=X3oDMTBqNzlzc2dtBF9TAzI1NjY0ODI1BHNlYwNs dG4-?slug=ap-pacersatthepalace&prov=ap&type=lgns)
Pacers have another bizarre night at Palace
By LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer
March 26, 2005
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP)
The Indiana Pacers had another harrowing visit to Detroit.
One of the worst brawls in U.S. sports history broke out the first time the Pacers played the Pistons at The Palace this season. On Friday night, Indiana returned to suburban Detroit and a bomb threat was made that delayed the game for 1 hour, 25 minutes.
How tough was it for the Pacers to focus on the game?
"It was very difficult when you have your lives threatened,'' Indiana's Reggie Miller said.
The Pacers managed, though, getting 14 points from Miller and beating the defending world champions 94-81.
Detroit has lost three straight and had its 12-game winning streak at home snapped.
Austin Croshere added 15 points for the Pacers, who aren't schedule to play the Pistons again in the regular season. But they could meet in the playoffs, and if they started now -- instead of on April 23 -- Detroit would play Indiana in the first round. The Central Division rivals met in last season's Eastern Conference finals.
"With everything we've been through, making the playoffs would be a big step, even if we have to come back here,'' Stephen Jackson said. "A lot of people thought we would come in here to start another massacre, but we came here to play basketball because our concern is to get in the playoffs.''
Miller lashed out at the NBA and commissioner David Stern, who came down hard on the Pacers for their roles in the melee 4 1/2 months ago, suspending All-Star Ron Artest for the season and Jackson for 30 games for fighting fans in the stands.
"The league ought to be ashamed of themselves to let security be as lax as it is around here,'' Miller said. "We're always going to get the brunt of it as players, especially this year for this organization.
"David Stern has to take a hard look in the mirror every morning when he wakes up on his decision, the way he penalized us and the way he penalized the Pistons.''
The Pistons had what they called "playoff-level security'' in place for Indiana's first game at The Palace since the Nov. 19 brawl.
Several Pacers mingled with the crowd before the game, signing autographs, and Jermaine O'Neal even took pictures with fans on his way to the court at halftime. O'Neal, out for the rest of the regular season with a shoulder injury, was suspended for 15 games for his role in the infamous fracas.
"There's always one or two who make the whole place look bad, but I'm fine with Detroit,'' O'Neal said.
Jackson had 12 points and was booed every time he touched the ball.
After the pregame drama, the game was dull -- until a confrontation with 5:50 left.
Detroit's Ben Wallace fouled Scot Pollard at the top of the key, then Pollard lightly swung an elbow at Wallace's chest. Wallace responded with harsh words and the two were face to face before being separated. Pollard was called for a technical.
The fight in November started when Artest fouled Wallace, and Wallace reacted with a hard, two-handed shove to Artest's chin. Artest charged into the stands after being hit with a full cup tossed by a fan. Wallace was suspended for six games.
With 1:59 left in the game Friday night, fans were fighting each other in the upper section of the lower level and one man was carried out of the seating area by several security guards.
Fans were permitted to buy alcohol until after the third quarter, following the usual policy.
The 22,076 spectators in the arena were never told why there was a delay.
Shortly before the scheduled 8:10 p.m. start, the public address announcer told the fans ``due to unforeseen circumstances,'' the game would be delayed.
Auburn Hills chief of police Doreen Olko said The Palace switchboard received a call about an hour before the scheduled start with a very specific threat that there was a bomb in the locker room.
The room had been searched in the morning with dogs, and was searched again later in the afternoon. At no point was anything found, and the building was not evacuated.
The Pacers went on and off their bus about three times, according to their driver, and once left the loading dock and drove to a far end of the parking lot. Olko said it was the team's decision to board the bus.
Indiana coach Rick Carlisle left it up to players to decide whether to play.
"After what we've been through earlier in the year, we need to be concerned about safety,'' Carlisle said.
Pacers have another bizarre night at Palace
By LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer
March 26, 2005
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP)
The Indiana Pacers had another harrowing visit to Detroit.
One of the worst brawls in U.S. sports history broke out the first time the Pacers played the Pistons at The Palace this season. On Friday night, Indiana returned to suburban Detroit and a bomb threat was made that delayed the game for 1 hour, 25 minutes.
How tough was it for the Pacers to focus on the game?
"It was very difficult when you have your lives threatened,'' Indiana's Reggie Miller said.
The Pacers managed, though, getting 14 points from Miller and beating the defending world champions 94-81.
Detroit has lost three straight and had its 12-game winning streak at home snapped.
Austin Croshere added 15 points for the Pacers, who aren't schedule to play the Pistons again in the regular season. But they could meet in the playoffs, and if they started now -- instead of on April 23 -- Detroit would play Indiana in the first round. The Central Division rivals met in last season's Eastern Conference finals.
"With everything we've been through, making the playoffs would be a big step, even if we have to come back here,'' Stephen Jackson said. "A lot of people thought we would come in here to start another massacre, but we came here to play basketball because our concern is to get in the playoffs.''
Miller lashed out at the NBA and commissioner David Stern, who came down hard on the Pacers for their roles in the melee 4 1/2 months ago, suspending All-Star Ron Artest for the season and Jackson for 30 games for fighting fans in the stands.
"The league ought to be ashamed of themselves to let security be as lax as it is around here,'' Miller said. "We're always going to get the brunt of it as players, especially this year for this organization.
"David Stern has to take a hard look in the mirror every morning when he wakes up on his decision, the way he penalized us and the way he penalized the Pistons.''
The Pistons had what they called "playoff-level security'' in place for Indiana's first game at The Palace since the Nov. 19 brawl.
Several Pacers mingled with the crowd before the game, signing autographs, and Jermaine O'Neal even took pictures with fans on his way to the court at halftime. O'Neal, out for the rest of the regular season with a shoulder injury, was suspended for 15 games for his role in the infamous fracas.
"There's always one or two who make the whole place look bad, but I'm fine with Detroit,'' O'Neal said.
Jackson had 12 points and was booed every time he touched the ball.
After the pregame drama, the game was dull -- until a confrontation with 5:50 left.
Detroit's Ben Wallace fouled Scot Pollard at the top of the key, then Pollard lightly swung an elbow at Wallace's chest. Wallace responded with harsh words and the two were face to face before being separated. Pollard was called for a technical.
The fight in November started when Artest fouled Wallace, and Wallace reacted with a hard, two-handed shove to Artest's chin. Artest charged into the stands after being hit with a full cup tossed by a fan. Wallace was suspended for six games.
With 1:59 left in the game Friday night, fans were fighting each other in the upper section of the lower level and one man was carried out of the seating area by several security guards.
Fans were permitted to buy alcohol until after the third quarter, following the usual policy.
The 22,076 spectators in the arena were never told why there was a delay.
Shortly before the scheduled 8:10 p.m. start, the public address announcer told the fans ``due to unforeseen circumstances,'' the game would be delayed.
Auburn Hills chief of police Doreen Olko said The Palace switchboard received a call about an hour before the scheduled start with a very specific threat that there was a bomb in the locker room.
The room had been searched in the morning with dogs, and was searched again later in the afternoon. At no point was anything found, and the building was not evacuated.
The Pacers went on and off their bus about three times, according to their driver, and once left the loading dock and drove to a far end of the parking lot. Olko said it was the team's decision to board the bus.
Indiana coach Rick Carlisle left it up to players to decide whether to play.
"After what we've been through earlier in the year, we need to be concerned about safety,'' Carlisle said.