Hey, I'm new posting here. I am interested in creating a history summary of each Pacers season. I know most about the history the past 10 years, so I was going to start with 1993-1994 and work my way up to the present season. I am hoping that the final draft of this can make its way to the History section of this website. The Pacer.com history sections are very short, and I think that we could add a little more. Well, here is 1993-1994, and feel free to add anything you want to this.
1993-1994 Indiana Pacers Season
The Indiana Pacers came into 1993-1994 with a new look. The franchise was coming off the 1992-1993 season which saw the team get a record of 41-41. The Pacers had what seemed to be the annual first round elimination, loosing to the Knicks in 4 games. After this season though, changes were to be made in the coaching staff, and trades were to be made. Bob Hill, who had coached the team since 1990, was out there. In his time with the Pacers, Hill had composed a 113-108 record with the team. That was slightly better than .500, but Hill failed to get the Pacers out of the first round, with an overall 3-9 playoff record. The Pacers also never finished higher than fourth in the division.
The Pacers decided to bring in Larry Brown, who was one of the most respected coaches in the league. Brown was coming off coaching the Los Angeles Clippers. In the 1993 NBA draft, the Pacers chose Scott Haskin, out of the University of Oregon State. Haskin played 27 games for the Pacers in 93-94, but never appeared in another regular season Pacer game, despite remaining on the roster through 1996. The Pacers made a minor trade on October 11, trading Sean Green, who had on the Pacers since 1991, to the Sixers in exchange for a 1994 second round pick. If that move didn't excite Pacer fans, then the one made on November 1, 1993, four days before the season started would. The Pacers traded away two time sixth man, and 1993 NBA All Star Detlef Schrempf to the Seattle Supersonics for Derrick McKey and Gerald Paddio. The front office felt that McKey could bring the Pacers the outstanding defense that he had played in Seattle, and sure enough, he did.
The Pacers tipped the season off on November 5th at Atlanta, who would eventually win the division title. Atlanta won the game by a score of 116-110. The Pacers fell to a 1-6 record, and by the end of November, had a record of 4-8. They looked like the Pacers of the previous years, who could never get over the hump. THen on December 6, the Pacers brought in Byron Scott, who had won championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. Scott was a great player to have motivate in the locker room, and was a favorite of coach Larry Brown. Still, by the end of December, the club was 10-16, going on a 5 game losing streak to Phoenix, Seattle, Portland, Cleveland, and San Antonio to end the month.
January wasn't much better, by the end of the month, the club had a 16-23 record. Another 5 game losing streak was endured. On January 23, Reggie Miller hit a shot to put the Pacers up 95-94, with just a few tenths of a second left. There was practically no time left, and Miller "bowed" to the crowd, drawing boos from the fans at old Chicago Stadium. However, Toni Kucoc sank a shot at the buzzer, bam...Bulls win 96-95. Scottie Pippen and Pete Myers of Chicago then came up and "bowed" to Miller. The bad thing was, the Pacers hosted the Bulls at Market Square Arena the next night, and Chicago won easily, 90-81. The Pacers then lost to Milwaukee, the Lakers, and Denver.
However, starting on January 29th, the Pacers started a 7 game win streak. The season had turned around. The Pacers beat the Rockets in Houston, the Wizards, the Hornets, The Wolves, The Hornets again, Golden State, and Miami. The streak was followed by a loss in San Antonio, but then the Pacers won 7 of their next 8 games extending to March. Larry Brown was named NBA coach of the month in February. March was a decent month, as the Pacers went 9-7. THe Pacers ended the month of March with a record of 37-32. The Pacers then went 10-3 in the month of April, including an 8 game winning streak to close the month out.
Reggie Miller would later say that the win at Houston on January 29th turned the season around. The Pacers ended up with a 47-35 record, which at the time, was the best in the NBA franchise history. Reggie Miller again led the club in scoring, averaging 19.9 points.
The Pacers earned the 6th seed in the playoffs and were faced against Shaquille O'neal and the heavily favored Orlando Magic in the first round. Game 1 was close the whole way, and Byron Scott sank a game winning three to win the game 89-88 in "the shot heard around Indianapolis." Game 1 at the O-Rena was close too, but the Pacers prevailed 103-101. The close losses in Orlando were devastating to the young Magic squad, and the Pacers rode their momentum into a wild crowd at Market Square Arena to sweep the series with a 99-86 win in game 3. It was the first playoff series win in franchise history.
The Pacers then faced the Atlanta Hawks, who had won the central division. The Pacers won game one in Atlanta with a score of 96-85, but were beat bad by the Hawks in game 2 by a score of 92-69. THe Pacers then tooks games 3 and 4 in Indianapolis by scores of 101-81 and 102-86. Pacers lost game 5 in Atlanta by a score of 88-76 and clinched the series infront of another wild crowd at MSA in game 6 by a score of 97-79.
The Pacers were in the Eastern COnference finals against the Beast of the East, the New York Knicks. The Knicks took the first 2 games in Madison Square Garden easily, winning 100-89 in game 1 and 89-78 in game 2. However, the Pacers tied the series up in Indianapolis, winning game 3 88-68, and game 2 83-77. THe Pacers then headed back to New York for game 5. Reggie Miller had one of the greatest playoff performances ever in game 5, delivering 25 points in the fourth quarter, 39 in the game. The Pacers won the game 93-86, and were once again in the posistion to close a team out at Market Square Arena. The Knicks spoiled the Pacers party, winning game 6 at Indy by a score of 98-91. Game 7 headed back to Indy, the first game 7 in franchise history. the game was close, but New York prevailed by a score of 94-90. The Knicks then went on to the NBA finals and lost to the Rockets in 7 games. Reggie Miller led the Pacers in PPG for the playoffs with an average of 23.2 points. THis was the greatest season in franchise history, and fans hoped for a possible finals appearance for 1994-1995
1993-1994 Indiana Pacers Season
The Indiana Pacers came into 1993-1994 with a new look. The franchise was coming off the 1992-1993 season which saw the team get a record of 41-41. The Pacers had what seemed to be the annual first round elimination, loosing to the Knicks in 4 games. After this season though, changes were to be made in the coaching staff, and trades were to be made. Bob Hill, who had coached the team since 1990, was out there. In his time with the Pacers, Hill had composed a 113-108 record with the team. That was slightly better than .500, but Hill failed to get the Pacers out of the first round, with an overall 3-9 playoff record. The Pacers also never finished higher than fourth in the division.
The Pacers decided to bring in Larry Brown, who was one of the most respected coaches in the league. Brown was coming off coaching the Los Angeles Clippers. In the 1993 NBA draft, the Pacers chose Scott Haskin, out of the University of Oregon State. Haskin played 27 games for the Pacers in 93-94, but never appeared in another regular season Pacer game, despite remaining on the roster through 1996. The Pacers made a minor trade on October 11, trading Sean Green, who had on the Pacers since 1991, to the Sixers in exchange for a 1994 second round pick. If that move didn't excite Pacer fans, then the one made on November 1, 1993, four days before the season started would. The Pacers traded away two time sixth man, and 1993 NBA All Star Detlef Schrempf to the Seattle Supersonics for Derrick McKey and Gerald Paddio. The front office felt that McKey could bring the Pacers the outstanding defense that he had played in Seattle, and sure enough, he did.
The Pacers tipped the season off on November 5th at Atlanta, who would eventually win the division title. Atlanta won the game by a score of 116-110. The Pacers fell to a 1-6 record, and by the end of November, had a record of 4-8. They looked like the Pacers of the previous years, who could never get over the hump. THen on December 6, the Pacers brought in Byron Scott, who had won championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. Scott was a great player to have motivate in the locker room, and was a favorite of coach Larry Brown. Still, by the end of December, the club was 10-16, going on a 5 game losing streak to Phoenix, Seattle, Portland, Cleveland, and San Antonio to end the month.
January wasn't much better, by the end of the month, the club had a 16-23 record. Another 5 game losing streak was endured. On January 23, Reggie Miller hit a shot to put the Pacers up 95-94, with just a few tenths of a second left. There was practically no time left, and Miller "bowed" to the crowd, drawing boos from the fans at old Chicago Stadium. However, Toni Kucoc sank a shot at the buzzer, bam...Bulls win 96-95. Scottie Pippen and Pete Myers of Chicago then came up and "bowed" to Miller. The bad thing was, the Pacers hosted the Bulls at Market Square Arena the next night, and Chicago won easily, 90-81. The Pacers then lost to Milwaukee, the Lakers, and Denver.
However, starting on January 29th, the Pacers started a 7 game win streak. The season had turned around. The Pacers beat the Rockets in Houston, the Wizards, the Hornets, The Wolves, The Hornets again, Golden State, and Miami. The streak was followed by a loss in San Antonio, but then the Pacers won 7 of their next 8 games extending to March. Larry Brown was named NBA coach of the month in February. March was a decent month, as the Pacers went 9-7. THe Pacers ended the month of March with a record of 37-32. The Pacers then went 10-3 in the month of April, including an 8 game winning streak to close the month out.
Reggie Miller would later say that the win at Houston on January 29th turned the season around. The Pacers ended up with a 47-35 record, which at the time, was the best in the NBA franchise history. Reggie Miller again led the club in scoring, averaging 19.9 points.
The Pacers earned the 6th seed in the playoffs and were faced against Shaquille O'neal and the heavily favored Orlando Magic in the first round. Game 1 was close the whole way, and Byron Scott sank a game winning three to win the game 89-88 in "the shot heard around Indianapolis." Game 1 at the O-Rena was close too, but the Pacers prevailed 103-101. The close losses in Orlando were devastating to the young Magic squad, and the Pacers rode their momentum into a wild crowd at Market Square Arena to sweep the series with a 99-86 win in game 3. It was the first playoff series win in franchise history.
The Pacers then faced the Atlanta Hawks, who had won the central division. The Pacers won game one in Atlanta with a score of 96-85, but were beat bad by the Hawks in game 2 by a score of 92-69. THe Pacers then tooks games 3 and 4 in Indianapolis by scores of 101-81 and 102-86. Pacers lost game 5 in Atlanta by a score of 88-76 and clinched the series infront of another wild crowd at MSA in game 6 by a score of 97-79.
The Pacers were in the Eastern COnference finals against the Beast of the East, the New York Knicks. The Knicks took the first 2 games in Madison Square Garden easily, winning 100-89 in game 1 and 89-78 in game 2. However, the Pacers tied the series up in Indianapolis, winning game 3 88-68, and game 2 83-77. THe Pacers then headed back to New York for game 5. Reggie Miller had one of the greatest playoff performances ever in game 5, delivering 25 points in the fourth quarter, 39 in the game. The Pacers won the game 93-86, and were once again in the posistion to close a team out at Market Square Arena. The Knicks spoiled the Pacers party, winning game 6 at Indy by a score of 98-91. Game 7 headed back to Indy, the first game 7 in franchise history. the game was close, but New York prevailed by a score of 94-90. The Knicks then went on to the NBA finals and lost to the Rockets in 7 games. Reggie Miller led the Pacers in PPG for the playoffs with an average of 23.2 points. THis was the greatest season in franchise history, and fans hoped for a possible finals appearance for 1994-1995
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