J.O and Al do take the most charges, although Jeff takes quit a few. Artest never takes charges, mainly because he is always guarding the guy one-on-one.
Good to read that all the players stayed in Sunday night, shows commitment. If they want to party on South Beach, they can do that after the playoffs
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/b...la-sports-heat
Pacers willing to take charge
By Steve Gorten
Staff Writer
Posted May 11 2004
MIAMI -- Standing firm and drawing an offensive foul is often a thankless job that goes unrecognized, but the Pacers reward players for taking charges.
"It's actually a team competition," forward Jermaine O'Neal said. "At the end of the month or the end of the series, they take the numbers down. Whoever wins gets a special prize. I can't tell you what we get. It's something good."
It's money, forward Al Harrington blurted out as he dressed at the locker next to O'Neal's before Monday's Game 3. The frontcourt duo has cleaned up in the competition.
"Those two guys have been, I believe, the only two winners on our team," coach Rick Carlisle said.
Said O'Neal: "It's close. [Harrington's] probably leading now because he had like 20 [in Game 2]."
The Pacers' willingness to take a charge has led to foul trouble for Miami in this series. The Heat was called for four offensive fouls in the first quarter of Game 3.
LEARNING EXPERIENCE
The Pacers entered Game 3 having easily won their first six playoff games, but their success has come only after years of disappointment. Indiana was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs the past three seasons.
"It taught us how to win," Harrington said.
"We've been through three tough years and now we feel we know what it takes," O'Neal said. "If you look at the history of the NBA, every team has to go through a funk for a couple of years to get to that position. You look at what Michael Jordan went through with Detroit. You look at what Detroit went through with the Lakers and then with Boston. It's just an ongoing thing that's going to happen year after year. You have to keep a core of guys together for a period of time to be successful."
Harrington said the young Heat compare to the Pacers in their playoff season three years ago.
"We've been through all the storms, all the struggles and now everything's sailing smooth," Harrington said. "We took our bumps and bruises, our lumps, got knocked on our butts and got back up. If they keep their core guys together, the same thing could happen for them. In a couple of years, they could be one of the top contenders in the East."
SOUTH BEACH COMFORT
After "pounding" his mind by studying game film for two days to figure out his offensive struggles, O'Neal spent Sunday relaxing at his house in Miami and lying on the beach. He plans to do more of the same today.
"I'll spend as much time on South Beach as possible, by the ocean," O'Neal said. "It's good therapy for me. It gets my mind clear and gets me prepared for the game."
O'Neal said he left his house around 11 p.m. Sunday and spent the night at the team's hotel. He planned to stay at his house Monday night.
His teammates also have taken a low-key approach.
"I saw the concierge [Monday] at the hotel and he said he was shocked that none of our guys were even interested in going out [Sunday] night and he said it sincerely," Carlisle said.BRIGHT FUTURE
Former Hurricanes standout James Jones is one of three inactive players on the Pacers' roster, but the rookie forward figures in future plans.
"It's amazing to me a guy with his abilities could slip as low as he did in the draft," Carlisle said. "We think he's a guy that can be a two or three man and be in the league for a number of years."
Jones was the 49th overall pick.
INJURED PLAY
Center Jeff Foster started despite a hip injury and reserve guard Fred Jones (shoulder) also saw action. ... Point guard Jamaal Tinsley sprained his left ankle in the third quarter, but remained in the game.
Good to read that all the players stayed in Sunday night, shows commitment. If they want to party on South Beach, they can do that after the playoffs
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/b...la-sports-heat
Pacers willing to take charge
By Steve Gorten
Staff Writer
Posted May 11 2004
MIAMI -- Standing firm and drawing an offensive foul is often a thankless job that goes unrecognized, but the Pacers reward players for taking charges.
"It's actually a team competition," forward Jermaine O'Neal said. "At the end of the month or the end of the series, they take the numbers down. Whoever wins gets a special prize. I can't tell you what we get. It's something good."
It's money, forward Al Harrington blurted out as he dressed at the locker next to O'Neal's before Monday's Game 3. The frontcourt duo has cleaned up in the competition.
"Those two guys have been, I believe, the only two winners on our team," coach Rick Carlisle said.
Said O'Neal: "It's close. [Harrington's] probably leading now because he had like 20 [in Game 2]."
The Pacers' willingness to take a charge has led to foul trouble for Miami in this series. The Heat was called for four offensive fouls in the first quarter of Game 3.
LEARNING EXPERIENCE
The Pacers entered Game 3 having easily won their first six playoff games, but their success has come only after years of disappointment. Indiana was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs the past three seasons.
"It taught us how to win," Harrington said.
"We've been through three tough years and now we feel we know what it takes," O'Neal said. "If you look at the history of the NBA, every team has to go through a funk for a couple of years to get to that position. You look at what Michael Jordan went through with Detroit. You look at what Detroit went through with the Lakers and then with Boston. It's just an ongoing thing that's going to happen year after year. You have to keep a core of guys together for a period of time to be successful."
Harrington said the young Heat compare to the Pacers in their playoff season three years ago.
"We've been through all the storms, all the struggles and now everything's sailing smooth," Harrington said. "We took our bumps and bruises, our lumps, got knocked on our butts and got back up. If they keep their core guys together, the same thing could happen for them. In a couple of years, they could be one of the top contenders in the East."
SOUTH BEACH COMFORT
After "pounding" his mind by studying game film for two days to figure out his offensive struggles, O'Neal spent Sunday relaxing at his house in Miami and lying on the beach. He plans to do more of the same today.
"I'll spend as much time on South Beach as possible, by the ocean," O'Neal said. "It's good therapy for me. It gets my mind clear and gets me prepared for the game."
O'Neal said he left his house around 11 p.m. Sunday and spent the night at the team's hotel. He planned to stay at his house Monday night.
His teammates also have taken a low-key approach.
"I saw the concierge [Monday] at the hotel and he said he was shocked that none of our guys were even interested in going out [Sunday] night and he said it sincerely," Carlisle said.BRIGHT FUTURE
Former Hurricanes standout James Jones is one of three inactive players on the Pacers' roster, but the rookie forward figures in future plans.
"It's amazing to me a guy with his abilities could slip as low as he did in the draft," Carlisle said. "We think he's a guy that can be a two or three man and be in the league for a number of years."
Jones was the 49th overall pick.
INJURED PLAY
Center Jeff Foster started despite a hip injury and reserve guard Fred Jones (shoulder) also saw action. ... Point guard Jamaal Tinsley sprained his left ankle in the third quarter, but remained in the game.
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