I was talking with Kstat about this earlier, and I'm surprised it never reached PD.
http://www.detnews.com/2004/pistons/...p05-317673.htm
Thursday, October 28, 2004
Can Pacers end playoff failures?
Indiana must find a way to overcome its lack of depth and size on the front-line
By Terry Foster / The Detroit News
The Indiana Pacers should be the biggest threat to the Pistons for best record in the Eastern Conference and home-court advantage in the playoffs.
But can their coach lead them to a NBA title?
That is the question that will dog Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle until he proves his playoff game is as sound as his regular-season game.
Consider these facts: In three seasons as a head coach with the Pistons and Pacers, Carlisle has won three Central Division titles and compiled a 161-85 record (.654).
The Pistons improved by 18 victories under Carlisle during his first season in Detroit. He guided the Pacers to a 13-victory improvement last season after taking over for Isiah Thomas.
Despite all that regular-season success, Carlisle is a mediocre 22-21 in the playoffs. He guided the Pacers to the Eastern Conference finals, but in a bit of irony, he was ousted by Larry Brown, the man who replaced him in Detroit.
However, if the Pacers fall to the Pistons again this season, factors other than Carlisle’s coaching ability will be involved. Their problem is that they are inadequate on the front line against the deep Pistons.
Center Jermaine O’Neal (20.1 points and 10.0 rebounds in 2003-04) is one of the most talented big men in the league. You could argue that he was the best in the East before Miami acquired Shaquille O’Neal.
But will O’Neal be able to hold off the Pistons’ avalanche of big men, led by Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess, Elden Campbell and Derrick Coleman?
The Pacers are secretly hoping the Pistons trade one of their big men for point guard help. But right now they have no answers for the Pistons’ front line.
“They don’t have a legitimate center,” Fox Sports Net analyst Marcus Johnson said. “Jermaine is more of a perimeter player. He would rather not go in there and mix it up. He is fighting that center tag, and you ask yourself, who else is there?”
But the Pacers believe their future is bright.
“I’m excited that we’re in a situation where we’ve been with these guys for about a year,” Carlisle said. “Hopefully, we’ll have a better feel for what our strengths are. We would like to get the ball moving more. We would like to have great balance.”
The Pacers attempted to get 6-foot-11 free agent Erick Dampier but were not willing to pay as much as Dallas.
Center Jeff Foster (6-11) and forward Ron Artest (6-7) have the hustle but lack the muscle to match the Pistons. It could force Artest to guard Ben Wallace instead of chasing Rip Hamilton or Tayshaun Prince.
The Pacers might be a tad closer to the Pistons in the backcourt, although Detroit held a clear advantage during the playoffs. Point guard Jamaal Tinsley is in the best shape of his career and wants to see how his hard work stacks up against Chauncey Billups.
The Pacers will start Reggie Miller, 39, out of respect for what he’s done for the organization. He is the team’s all-time leading scorer, but his legs are not what they used to be. Do you really think Prince makes that dramatic block against a younger and more mobile Miller in the Eastern Conference finals?
---
Close, but . . .
Since their last losing season in 1996-97, the Pacers have been to the NBA Finals once and the Eastern Conference finals three times, but have yet to win the title.
* 1997-98: 58-24, lost in seven games in Eastern finals to Chicago.
* 1998-99: 33-17 (strike-shortened season), lost in six games in Eastern finals to New York.
* 1999-00: 56-26, lost in NBA Finals in six games to Lakers.
* 2000-01: 41-41, did not make playoffs.
* 2001-02: 42-40, lost in first round in five games to New Jersey.
* 2002-03: 48-34, lost in first round in six games to Boston.
* 2003-04: 61-21, lost in six games in Eastern finals to Detroit.
---
Many criticized the Pacers for trading Al Harrington to Atlanta for 6-8 guard Stephen Jackson, who won a title with San Antonio in 2003. But did the Pacers have much of a choice? Tired of reserve time, Harrington demanded a trade to a team that could give him prime-time minutes.
Jackson is a long-range shooter who could give the Pistons’ backcourt players fits. He is likely to come off the bench until Miller retires. Jackson has looked strong and athletic in practices and is eager to play the Pistons.
The key to this team could be Artest, a talented scorer and defender who sometimes allows emotions to drag him and his team down. He played terribly against the Pistons in the playoffs as he went through one of his mood swings.
Artest also knows that Pacers president Larry Bird attempted to trade him in the off-season. Does Artest forgive and forget, or does he hold a grudge the remainder of the season? He already sent a dagger toward Auburn Hills by saying the Pistons were not that good last season.
Those words might come back to haunt him.
http://www.detnews.com/2004/pistons/...p05-317673.htm
Thursday, October 28, 2004
Can Pacers end playoff failures?
Indiana must find a way to overcome its lack of depth and size on the front-line
By Terry Foster / The Detroit News
The Indiana Pacers should be the biggest threat to the Pistons for best record in the Eastern Conference and home-court advantage in the playoffs.
But can their coach lead them to a NBA title?
That is the question that will dog Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle until he proves his playoff game is as sound as his regular-season game.
Consider these facts: In three seasons as a head coach with the Pistons and Pacers, Carlisle has won three Central Division titles and compiled a 161-85 record (.654).
The Pistons improved by 18 victories under Carlisle during his first season in Detroit. He guided the Pacers to a 13-victory improvement last season after taking over for Isiah Thomas.
Despite all that regular-season success, Carlisle is a mediocre 22-21 in the playoffs. He guided the Pacers to the Eastern Conference finals, but in a bit of irony, he was ousted by Larry Brown, the man who replaced him in Detroit.
However, if the Pacers fall to the Pistons again this season, factors other than Carlisle’s coaching ability will be involved. Their problem is that they are inadequate on the front line against the deep Pistons.
Center Jermaine O’Neal (20.1 points and 10.0 rebounds in 2003-04) is one of the most talented big men in the league. You could argue that he was the best in the East before Miami acquired Shaquille O’Neal.
But will O’Neal be able to hold off the Pistons’ avalanche of big men, led by Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess, Elden Campbell and Derrick Coleman?
The Pacers are secretly hoping the Pistons trade one of their big men for point guard help. But right now they have no answers for the Pistons’ front line.
“They don’t have a legitimate center,” Fox Sports Net analyst Marcus Johnson said. “Jermaine is more of a perimeter player. He would rather not go in there and mix it up. He is fighting that center tag, and you ask yourself, who else is there?”
But the Pacers believe their future is bright.
“I’m excited that we’re in a situation where we’ve been with these guys for about a year,” Carlisle said. “Hopefully, we’ll have a better feel for what our strengths are. We would like to get the ball moving more. We would like to have great balance.”
The Pacers attempted to get 6-foot-11 free agent Erick Dampier but were not willing to pay as much as Dallas.
Center Jeff Foster (6-11) and forward Ron Artest (6-7) have the hustle but lack the muscle to match the Pistons. It could force Artest to guard Ben Wallace instead of chasing Rip Hamilton or Tayshaun Prince.
The Pacers might be a tad closer to the Pistons in the backcourt, although Detroit held a clear advantage during the playoffs. Point guard Jamaal Tinsley is in the best shape of his career and wants to see how his hard work stacks up against Chauncey Billups.
The Pacers will start Reggie Miller, 39, out of respect for what he’s done for the organization. He is the team’s all-time leading scorer, but his legs are not what they used to be. Do you really think Prince makes that dramatic block against a younger and more mobile Miller in the Eastern Conference finals?
---
Close, but . . .
Since their last losing season in 1996-97, the Pacers have been to the NBA Finals once and the Eastern Conference finals three times, but have yet to win the title.
* 1997-98: 58-24, lost in seven games in Eastern finals to Chicago.
* 1998-99: 33-17 (strike-shortened season), lost in six games in Eastern finals to New York.
* 1999-00: 56-26, lost in NBA Finals in six games to Lakers.
* 2000-01: 41-41, did not make playoffs.
* 2001-02: 42-40, lost in first round in five games to New Jersey.
* 2002-03: 48-34, lost in first round in six games to Boston.
* 2003-04: 61-21, lost in six games in Eastern finals to Detroit.
---
Many criticized the Pacers for trading Al Harrington to Atlanta for 6-8 guard Stephen Jackson, who won a title with San Antonio in 2003. But did the Pacers have much of a choice? Tired of reserve time, Harrington demanded a trade to a team that could give him prime-time minutes.
Jackson is a long-range shooter who could give the Pistons’ backcourt players fits. He is likely to come off the bench until Miller retires. Jackson has looked strong and athletic in practices and is eager to play the Pistons.
The key to this team could be Artest, a talented scorer and defender who sometimes allows emotions to drag him and his team down. He played terribly against the Pistons in the playoffs as he went through one of his mood swings.
Artest also knows that Pacers president Larry Bird attempted to trade him in the off-season. Does Artest forgive and forget, or does he hold a grudge the remainder of the season? He already sent a dagger toward Auburn Hills by saying the Pistons were not that good last season.
Those words might come back to haunt him.
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