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| Saturday, November 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Special to ESPN.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Pacers were one of four teams to enter the NBA from the defunct ABA in 1976 (the New York Nets, Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs were the others) and struggled to find the success they had enjoyed in the ABA. They made the playoffs only twice in the first 13 years of NBA competition, and didn't win two playoff games in any year until their 15th season. That scenario gradually improved and in 1995, the Pacers won their first division title under coach Larry Brown. Things got even better when former Celtic superstar Larry Bird became coach in 1997. The Pacers (58-24) finished second to Chicago in the Central Division that year, and reached the conference finals before losing to the Bulls in seven hard-fought games. Last season, Indiana won the division title for a second time, but lost to New York in six games, again in the conference finals.
Trades, Free Agents and Draft Picks
Analysis The trades that brought Mark Jackson, Jalen Rose (current starters), Chris Mullin and Derrick McKey (former starters) have turned out well; and free agent signings (only Sam Perkins and Zan Tabak remain) provide insurance against injury.
Strengths and weaknesses The Pacers possess several players -- Miller, Smits and Jackson in that order -- who love to make big offensive plays down the stretch. Miller has made a career of knocking down game-winners. Jackson is excellent at setting his team up and finding the open man in traffic, and Smits has great shooting touch from 17-feet in. But Bird isn't reluctant to use other players when he feels it's necessary. Starters and reserves appear to accept the coach's decisions willingly and there's a high level of camaraderie on the team. The Pacers are well-poised and confident in the pressure moments of a game, and won three of four overtime games last season; but were strangely only 7-8 in games decided by 3 points or less. I attribute the latter shortcoming to a gradual softening of the Pacers' defense, which was among the league's best in the coaching staff's first year together. Now, even if the Pacers get a critical score, they're not able consistently to stop their opponent from retaliating. In 1998, the Pacers ranked sixth in field goal percentage allowed (.432); in '99 they ranked 10th (.434); and this year they rank 16th in that category (.447). This weakness is noticeable in both the interior, where opposing big men drive at Smits, and at the perimeter, where point guards go at Jackson. The team feels the loss of Antonio Davis, whom it gave up to get Bender. For all of his inconsistencies, Davis was a pretty good defender of big men and a consistent rebounder. The Pacers miss both of those qualities. Bird is left with Smits, Dale Davis, Perkins and Croshere. That's not good enough. In the Pacers' loss to Miami this year, Smits was in early foul trouble defending Alonzo Mourning and P.J. Brown, played only 23 minutes, and was 5-for-13 from the field. Best takes over for Jackson when the Pacers need defense at the point. Travis is tough, a quick and determined penetrator, who will also make crucial shots. But he doesn't have Jackson's instincts for playmaking, and his decision-making in traffic isn't as good. It will be interesting to observe what impact, if any, Bender has on this team. He's only 18 years old, but he's 6-11, with 205 pounds spread sparingly over a reed-like frame. He has startling quickness for a big man, can put the ball on the floor, and is an excellent shooter. After hearing how great a prospect Bird thinks he is, I asked the coach if he would play him when Jonathan's wrist healed. The Birdman smiled and said, "I'll play him if he shows he knows how to play." Bender has watched from the wings, listened in at team meetings and practices, and is now starting to work out with the team. He needs a crash course on the NBA game, and then some hands-on minutes in real games. It's an enormous challenge for so young a player with no college playing experience. My hunch is that the Pacers will need him, and that Bird will play him. Then it's up to Jonathan.
The Future | ALSO SEE Dr. Jack's Team Spotlight: Hawks
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