Great stories of the 2003 NBA season -- Indiana Pacers
This is part three of the great stories in the NBA so far in the 2003 season. Two years ago, the Indiana Pacers were in the NBA Finals, then fell short last year. Now with some smart moves, they have worked their way back to being one of the best teams in the East. Here's how they did it.
The Indiana Pacers are enjoying success this year. Sure they made it to the finals a few years back, but last year they hit a bump in the road. This season, they're back!
The Pacers are first in the Eastern Conference with a record of 16-5, and they owe much of that to their players and their development.
One of the most important additions to the Pacers since their trip to the finals has been Ron Artest. Coming in a trade with Chicago last year, he was known as a defensive stopper. He even said he could, and maybe would, lead the league in steals. Who would have thought he would have started to be such a scoring threat?
In a recent interview in SLAM magazine he said "my biggest strength and weakness... is my intensity."
Sure he gets himself in trouble when he tries too hard, but so far the Pacers are reaping the benefits of the good side!
Although Reggie Miller has continued to feel the affects of his growing older, he is still one of the biggest sources of inspiration on the team. His stats have taken a huge dip and he might be missing a lot of games because of his worn out body, but he still pushes the team and the youngster's everyday.
The youngsters include budding post-man Jermaine O'Neal and one of the best rookies of last year, Jamaal Tinsley.
O'Neal has pushed himself into potential All-Star status because of his continuous hard work and overpowering gift of athleticism, while Tinsley has continued his success from his rookie season by averaging 8.1 assists per game. He should improve his scoring average in the coming years, helping fill the hole Miller will leave when it's his time to leave.
Along with these individual players, the team has also improved because of its ability to score off the bench. The reserves, led by Ron Mercer with 10 points per game, score an average of 31.6 points a game. That is a lot of points by non-starters.
The Pacers did manage to shoot themselves to the top of the weak East, but can they stay there when Miller-Time is gone? I think that it is definitely a possibility.
Rookie Fred Jones should develop well and the team, if kept intact, could make waves in the East for years to come.
The Pacers are first in the Eastern Conference with a record of 16-5, and they owe much of that to their players and their development.
One of the most important additions to the Pacers since their trip to the finals has been Ron Artest. Coming in a trade with Chicago last year, he was known as a defensive stopper. He even said he could, and maybe would, lead the league in steals. Who would have thought he would have started to be such a scoring threat?
In a recent interview in SLAM magazine he said "my biggest strength and weakness... is my intensity."
Sure he gets himself in trouble when he tries too hard, but so far the Pacers are reaping the benefits of the good side!
Although Reggie Miller has continued to feel the affects of his growing older, he is still one of the biggest sources of inspiration on the team. His stats have taken a huge dip and he might be missing a lot of games because of his worn out body, but he still pushes the team and the youngster's everyday.
The youngsters include budding post-man Jermaine O'Neal and one of the best rookies of last year, Jamaal Tinsley.
O'Neal has pushed himself into potential All-Star status because of his continuous hard work and overpowering gift of athleticism, while Tinsley has continued his success from his rookie season by averaging 8.1 assists per game. He should improve his scoring average in the coming years, helping fill the hole Miller will leave when it's his time to leave.
Along with these individual players, the team has also improved because of its ability to score off the bench. The reserves, led by Ron Mercer with 10 points per game, score an average of 31.6 points a game. That is a lot of points by non-starters.
The Pacers did manage to shoot themselves to the top of the weak East, but can they stay there when Miller-Time is gone? I think that it is definitely a possibility.
Rookie Fred Jones should develop well and the team, if kept intact, could make waves in the East for years to come.
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