"The NBA lockout looming Friday would come at a bad time for the Indiana Pacers, who seem to be headed in the right direction after years of struggles on and off the court.

The Pacers made the playoffs for the first time in five years last season and were competitive in four of their five playoff games against the Chicago Bulls, who had finished with the league's best record during the regular season.

They acquired Indianapolis native and possible starting guard George Hill through a draft-night trade as a crowd of 7,000 watched at Conseco Fieldhouse, up about 2,000 from a similar event in 2010.

The franchise has seen a significant increase in full-season ticket packages, partial packages and group sales since the end of the season and the addition of Hill, said Pacers Sports and Entertainment Chief Operating Officer Rick Fuson, who would not provide specifics.

The Pacers saw a 35 percent jump in television ratings this season on Fox Sports Indiana, their best showing since the 2005-06 season.

And in the next few days, the Pacers are expected to remove the "interim" description from coach Frank Vogel's title and officially make him their head coach.

Now, all that momentum will come to a screeching halt for the foreseeable future if the NBA has its first work stoppage since 1998 when the current collective bargaining agreement expires at midnight tonight. Negotiations are scheduled to resume today in New York, with the sides still far apart.

Analysts predict a lockout could wipe out part or all of the 2011-12 season, so it could be a long time before fans are able to see Hill play his first game in a Pacers uniform or get a glimpse of how much progress players such as Roy Hibbert and Paul George have made this summer."