Wednesday's news of Ron Artest's four-game suspension didn't sit well with his teammates. In fact, some of the Pacers believe it is unacceptable.

"You've got idiots in the office running things; that's the problem," Reggie Miller told The Indianapolis Star on Wednesday after Indiana's 106-97 loss -- their second of the season at home.

Artest was suspended for his run-in with Heat coach Pat Riley and flashing an obscene gesture toward the crowd. Artest also committed a flagrant foul on Heat guard Caron Butler by pushing him into the stands in Monday night's game in Miami.

The four-game suspension was handed down by the NBA and announced by NBA senior vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson. It will cost Artest about $84,000 in pay, and the suspension started with Wednesday night's home game against the San Antonio Spurs at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Pacers president Donnie Walsh, coach Isiah Thomas and other players also made reference to the impact of Jackson's last-minute announcement.

"We got the information so late," Thomas told the newspaper. "That knocked the emotion and energy right out of our team. That was a tough situation."

"It doesn't take all day to decide how long you're going to suspend a player," Jermaine O'Neal added Wednesday. "There's only one tape to look at.

"It's the Indiana Pacers against the world."