Pacers find way to overcome player losses

By MICHAEL MAROT, AP Sports Writer
April 14, 2005
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Suspensions and injuries threatened to derail every goal the Indiana Pacers set this season.

The team that had the NBA's best record and reached the Eastern Conference finals last season refused to let this season slip away.

The Pacers banded together and defied the odds by using an improbable backup plan that has them in the playoffs for an eighth straight year.

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``No matter what happens in the playoffs from here on out, this franchise, this organization and myself will be champions,'' Reggie Miller said after Wednesday night's playoff-clinching victory over the New Jersey Nets. ``Truthfully, I feel like I've won the lottery.''

Five months ago, all this seemed more a distant hope than a real possibility.

Commissioner David Stern appeared to strip away the heart of the Pacers lineup after suspending All-Star Ron Artest for the rest of the season, starter Stephen Jackson for 30 games and All-Star Jermaine O'Neal for 25, a penalty later reduced to 15, for their roles in the Nov. 19 brawl with fans in Detroit.

Then came the injuries.

O'Neal has missed the last 21 games with a sprained right shoulder, starting point guard Jamaal Tinsley hasn't played since late February because of a bruised left foot and Jonathan Bender, expected to be a key reserve, has played in just seven games all season because of a sore right knee.

In all, Pacers players have missed more than 410 games -- the equivalent of losing five players for an entire season. Of the team's 28 starting combinations this season, the projected top unit of Tinsley, Miller, Artest, O'Neal and Jeff Foster was never used.

How did they overcome such obstacles? With a resurgent Miller, key contributions from virtual unknowns such as Anthony Johnson and Eddie Gill and masterful coaching by Rick Carlisle.

``It's a miracle they've held it together,'' Detroit coach Larry Brown said. ``You have to give Carlisle and the coaching staff credit, and Reggie and the leadership he brings, and all the guys that had to step up.''

The Pacers never doubted themselves.

One day after the brawl, which could have been this season's defining moment, the depleted Pacers became the professional version of ``Hoosiers'' by nearly beating Orlando with a roster of just six. The home crowd then prodded them on to three straight wins.

That was followed by seven straight losses. Most figured the Pacers were starting to fall apart and by the All-Star break, Indiana was 25-26 and fighting to stay in the playoff hunt.

But over the past six weeks, the Pacers have played like contenders.

They have won eight of their last nine, 14 of their last 18 at home and need two more road wins to finish with a winning record away from home for only the fourth time in franchise history.

The 39-year-old Miller has returned to his more youthful form, averaging 20.2 points since O'Neal's injury and willing the Pacers to victories. Dale Davis, a 36-year-old power forward signed as a free agent, has given Indiana some inside punch, and Johnson, another reserve pressed into a starting job, has averaged 6.8 assists in the past 30 games.

Few expected the Pacers to be in this position -- fighting for homecourt advantage in the first round -- and most figured they would be hard-pressed to make the playoffs at all.

``There is no question that their last six weeks have been 'Wow,''' Denver coach George Karl said. ``They are very stable and getting better and stronger. They get Jermaine back soon, and then they I think they can challenge Detroit and Miami.''

O'Neal could return for the playoffs -- an ominous sign for opponents who have already struggled against Indiana's depleted lineup.

Miami, the Eastern Conference's top seed, has lost all three games to Indiana this season and will try to avoid a sweep when they meet Sunday. The defending champion Pistons have split their four games with Indiana.

Just a couple weeks ago, the Pacers were still fighting just to get in the playoffs. Now, they want to complete their comeback by winning an NBA le in Miller's final season.

``We're here, we overcame everything,'' Jackson said. ``It definitely feels good to be in the playoffs. Sending Reggie off on a good note is definitely on my mind.''