Pacers Hope to Silence Skeptics

By John Clayton
Indianapolis, Feb. 18, 2004


The second stanza of the NBA season started with a listless performance by the Eastern Conference-leading Pacers, who were dominated by visiting New Orleans, 89-75 Tuesday night at Conseco Fieldhouse.

It was hardly the way the Pacers wanted to begin life after the All-Star break and did nothing to silence skeptics awaiting another stretch-run collapse. But Pacers players say there is no reason to panic, that Tuesday's lopsided loss will quickly be proven an aberration. With 28 games remaining on the schedule, beginning Friday with a visit to Washington, the Pacers realize that every loss could revive the ghosts of last season.

“We’re anxious to disprove all the negative talk about what happened last year after the All-Star break,” said Anthony Johnson. “We want to get back and continue our winning ways and prove that what happened last year was a fluke and we’re a team to be reckoned with and considered when you’re talking about the elite teams in the NBA.”

The Pacers were 34-15 at the 2003 All-Star break, but 14-20 afterward during the regular season. A first-round playoff loss to Boston followed.

“Our guys know the situation,” said Coach Rick Carlisle. “They know the questions that continue to be asked. We got a lot of questions at the All-Star break about would we be able to hold up. My answer is, time will tell. I believe that we will. We’re going to have to be blessed with good health and we’re going to have to continue to improve, both offensively and defensively, to maintain and to get better at this point.”

Injuries, family tragedies and general discord were all factors in the Pacers' second-half performance last season. Even a schedule that sent them into the teeth of the Western Conference soon after the break is seen now as another reason behind the Pacers' troubles. At a time when the Pacers couldn't catch a break, even the schedule broke against them. This year, the Pacers play four of their first six games after the break at home.

"At this point last year, we went on a four-game road trip out West and I think we lost two or three, which kind of resulted in us heading down the road we did head down," said Jeff Foster.

Last year's collapse eventually led to Carlisle’s hiring and, to a large degree, the Pacers start to the season has mirrored their red-hot beginning of a year ago. At 39-15, the Pacers lead the Eastern Conference by 6.5 games over second-place Detroit with surging New Jersey, which has won 10 straight games, and New Orleans trailing by 7.0 and 10.5 games, respectively.

“It’s good to be in a position we’re in,” said Carlisle. “The challenge, though, is to continue to improve and to understand that every night, we’re going to get everybody’s best game, particularly in the Eastern Conference. ... Those are strong challenges that we’re going to have to meet if we’re going to stay where we are.”

The break came just in time for Pacers sixth-man Al Harrington, whose bruised and sore knee sidelined him for the two games prior to the break. Jonathan Bender, who also has been battling knee soreness, also should benefit from the time off.

While some players may have been rejuvenated by the All-Star break, 38-year-old Reggie Miller seemed rejuvenated – and healthy – long before the break arrived. Miller, the NBA’s all-time leader in 3-point field goals, has connected on 24 of 49 (51 percent) of his 3-point attempts over his last 12 games. He has also raised his scoring average to 10.4 points per game, while still averaging less than 30 minutes per contest. Miller’s age-defying play has given the Pacers a needed presence on the perimeter.

“This is a big second half for us,” said Miller. “We’ve done a lot of good things in the first half, but obviously, this is what really counts – what you do in the second half and in the playoffs. We’re looking forward to it.”