Pacers News

"Jim O'Brien said his relationship with Jamaal Tinsley is fine, but the Indiana Pacers coach isn't sure he can depend on the point guard to be his floor leader any longer. "To say as a coach we're going to go with him as our point guard despite the injuries, you can't do that," O'Brien said during a phone interview Wednesday. "I would love to see him healthy, but that has not been the track record. It's very, very difficult to depend on him when, physically, he's been undependable."

"The Indiana Pacers are preparing for the June draft just like they did a year ago. They've scouted players in person and watched them on video. This year, however, the Pacers will determine whether they use or trade their pick; last year, they had no pick. They had given it to Atlanta to complete a trade involving Al Harrington. The Pacers are slotted to pick 11th if lottery seeds hold, their earliest selection since picking Erick Dampier 10th in 1996. They believe the draft is the first step to improving."

"Herb Simon, co-owner of the Indiana Pacers and chairman emeritus of Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group, will be honored with the Indiana Pathfinder Award at the Pathfinder Awards Banquet on June 29 at Conseco Fieldhouse."

"Several point guards should be available for the Indiana Pacers with the No. 11 pick, several NBA mock drafts have indicated. Kansas' Mario Chalmers and Texas' D.J. Augustin decided Wednesday to enter the draft. Neither has hired an agent, meaning both could return to college. Point guard and the post are areas the Pacers want to address."

"He told his family to go home and not wait up. He had more work to do. Less than one hour after struggling through a 2-of-9 shooting performance in early January, Danny Granger spent about 90 minutes, alone, shooting jump shots in an empty gym."

"You've heard their words before. The Indiana Pacers, in particular president Larry Bird, say they know they have to get better, and despite salary cap limitations, have to upgrade the roster to contend again. Coach Jim O'Brien says they need to do something else, too: get tougher. "Overall, the team needs to build on our mental toughness and our physical toughness at both ends of the court," O'Brien said. "In order to be a contender in the East, you need -- for a lack of a better word -- reliable toughness in every practice, every game that plays like you're in the foxhole.""

"Herb Simon has never been a meddling, look-over-the-shoulder executive in 25 years as co-owner of the Indiana Pacers. That's about to change. Simon, 73, sticking to his word that he would make managerial changes to fix a franchise that has fallen on hard times, announced Wednesday he will become chairman and chief executive officer of Pacers Sports and Entertainment and consult with Larry Bird on basketball decisions."

"The Knicks closed out a disastrous season Wednesday, with Thomas on the bench and Walsh in the stands and a sense of finality in the air. Walsh, who recently left the Pacers to run the Knicks, was honored before tip-off. Then Thomas presided over what was, almost certainly, the final game of his checkered Knicks tenure — a 132-123 loss."

"But all of the front-office shuffling will be rendered meaningless if the guy running the basketball operation, Larry Bird, doesn't accomplish two things this summer: He must get rid of Jamaal Tinsley. Trade, buyout, set him adrift on an Arctic ice floe. Whatever. He must trade Jermaine O'Neal."

"Transition was everywhere at Conseco Fieldhouse on Wednesday. More off the court than on, however... The most memorable action of the day occurred before tipoff. Pacers co-owner Herb Simon, who announced a heightened level of involvement for himself at an afternoon news conference, addressed the fans before the game."

"New York Knicks president Donnie Walsh doesn't know what to expect when he gets off the team bus and enters the visitors' tunnel tonight at Conseco Fieldhouse."

"The Pacers waited until the final minutes to show they cared about their slim postseason hopes. By then, it was too late and the Washington Wizards had already assured them of a second straight disappointing season in a 117-110 loss."

"Moments after Roger Mason Jr. wrapped up a 117-110 victory over the Indiana Pacers with a pair of free throws last night, the Wizards guard walked into the locker room believing that he had just helped his team remain in contention for the fourth seed and home-court advantage in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs."

"The Wizards did their part, beating the visiting Pacers 117-110 last night at Verizon Center. But they couldn't get the help they needed from the Philadelphia 76ers, who lost to the Cavaliers 91-90 last night in Cleveland."

"Dunleavy, more than a year removed from a rough four-plus years with the Golden State Warriors, is having a career season and is getting some mention for Most Improved Player."

"All the Indiana Pacers need to do to get into the playoffs is find a way to rebound mentally for letting draft lottery-bound Charlotte come into Conseco Fieldhouse and overwhelm them. They also have to find a way to beat a team tonight, the Washington Wizards, that will have at least two All-Stars on the court."

"While Atlanta was losing to Boston, the Pacers ran out of time and energy in their 107-103 loss to the Bobcats at Conseco Fieldhouse."

"With a 107-103 victory against Indiana in Conseco Fieldhouse, the Bobcats allowed the Atlanta Hawks to move one step closer to a spot in the playoffs and shoved the Pacers a little further away."

"Doesn't it figure? Just when you think the Pacers have finally done what they need to do -- lose to the Bobcats 107-103 and earn a spot in the NBA draft lottery May 20 -- here comes the score out of Atlanta: Boston Celtics backups 99, Atlanta Hawks 89. Does the misery ever end?"

"This is the bad part: having to depend on other teams to help you get to the playoffs. The good news is the Indiana Pacers did their part to remain in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt by beating the Philadelphia 76ers 85-76 Friday night."

"This was one game the 76ers said they would like to throw out the window, but if they did, they probably would miss the window. Marksmanship took several steps backward last night as the Sixers suffered an 85-76 loss to the hungry Indiana Pacers at the Wachovia Center."

"The face of the Indiana Pacers changed within the last month when CEO and president Donnie Walsh resigned and then accepted the position of president of basketball operations with the New York Knicks. One person who wasn't surprised by the development was Pacers first-year head coach Jim O'Brien, the former Sixers head coach."

"Flip Murray can score. That's been a given for all five of his NBA seasons, with all five of his teams. But can he distribute the ball in a half-court offense? Is he willing to defend? Those questions could determine if Murray's time with the Indiana Pacers is just one more pit stop on what is becoming a tour of the league, or the foundation of something more stable."

"Both players believe the streak has to end eventually. When is anybody's guess. Troy Murphy and Mike Dunleavy have played a combined 949 NBA games. Not one has been in the playoffs. The teammates have the dubious title of being the longest tenured current Indiana Pacers never to reach the playoffs."

"The Pacers avoided elimination from playoff contention when they beat the Hawks 112-98 Tuesday at Conseco Fieldhouse."

"The Hawks couldn't even keep up with the Pacers on Tuesday night at Conseco Fieldhouse, trailing by as many 29 points, and eventually getting blown out in a deflating 112-98 loss with huge postseason implications."

"Sunday, it was Travis Diener coming off the bench to contribute 18 points and five assists without a turnover. Tuesday, it was starter Flip Murray contributing 20 points and 10 assists in 30 minutes against Atlanta in the Indiana Pacers' 112-98 victory at Conseco Fieldhouse."

"Missing practice Monday and shootaround Tuesday turned out to be worth it for Indiana Pacers guard Kareem Rush. Rush sat close to the court in the Alamodome in San Antonio on Monday watching his younger brother Brandon win a national championship with the Kansas Jayhawks. The Jayhawks beat Memphis 75-68 in overtime."

"The Indiana Pacers' situation tonight couldn't be simpler. Beat Atlanta, and the Pacers keep their slim playoff hopes alive."

"Josh Smith's memory of what transpired Jan. 4 in Indianapolis is clear. The Hawks showed up at Conseco Fieldhouse feeling good about their season. They'd won five of their past seven games. They were thinking about the playoffs and could make a statement by beating up the wounded Indiana Pacers."

"Diener led a 19-1 run at the start of the fourth quarter to help the Pacers pull off a 105-97 come-from-behind victory over the Milwaukee Bucks and keep their slim playoff hopes alive."

"The Indiana Pacers fired in 7 three-point baskets in the fourth quarter - five by reserve guard Travis Diener - to overcome a 10-point deficit and roll to a 105-97 victory over the Bucks on Sunday at Conseco Fieldhouse."

"Jermaine O'Neal knew it was time but didn't want to go. The Indiana Pacers forward saw Jeff Foster at the scorer's table waiting to check in. O'Neal looked over at coach Jim O'Brien and said, "Coach, let me stay in.""

"While it's too early to tell whether an All-Star will hit the market, the Indiana Pacers' Jermaine O'Neal, the Washington Wizards' Gilbert Arenas and perhaps even the Houston Rockets' Tracy McGrady might be trade possibilities. If no deal materializes, Paxson should remain patient. The prudent approach then probably would be going after a true point guard and keeping the current roster mostly intact."

"He needed a coach who recognized his potential, someone who could fit the basketball skills honed on driveways in Fond du Lac and later at Marquette University into the framework of the pro game. Travis Diener, meet Jim O'Brien."

"Travis Diener has a lot to be excited about these days. He has emerged into a key player for the Indiana Pacers, he has job security and his team is in the playoff hunt. "

"But the Pacers got a 3-pointer from Mike Dunleavy and a layup from Jermaine O'Neal and did just enough the rest of the way to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 105-101 at the Bradley Center. The teams meet again Sunday at Conseco Fieldhouse."

"The Bucks never led Friday night in their 105-101 loss to the Indiana Pacers at the Bradley Center. They came close, but never led."

"The Pacers' lone national television appearance of the season turned out to be less than memorable, a 92-77 loss to the Celtics at the TD Banknorth Garden."

"The Celtics have won 60 games for the first time since the hallowed season of 1985-86. Cool. Their 92-77 victory last night against the Indiana Pacers also pulled them into a tie with the 1997-98 Spurs for greatest turnaround in NBA history at 36 games."

"Donnie Walsh, once the backbone of the Indiana Pacers, overnight became a rival. Walsh, a fixture with the Pacers for 24 years, was named president of basketball operations of the New York Knicks on Wednesday. He replaces former Pacers coach and IU standout Isiah Thomas as president."

"If they took time to dream a little during their desperate playoff push, the Indiana Pacers might wonder where they would be if Jermaine O'Neal hadn't missed 40 games this season. "We wouldn't be 12 games under .500, I can assure you of that," coach Jim O'Brien said after O'Neal's return helped the Pacers to a 105-85 victory over Miami on Monday. "

"Another game, another chance for former NBA Development League players Kasib Powell, Blake Ahearn and Stephane Lasme to try to extend their stay with the Heat. Miami signed Ahearn and Lasme to second 10-day contracts Monday before the team lost 105-85 to the Indiana Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse."

"The Indiana Pacers don't want much from Danny Granger. Everything will do just fine."

"Jermaine O'Neal's return to the Indiana Pacers' lineup isn't just the start of a nine-game sprint to the season's finish line. It's the birth of what he views as a new phase in his NBA career, one he hopes is more productive and less painful than the past few seasons."

"Take a charge or go for the blocked shot? The Indiana Pacers' Danny Granger is more inclined to try the latter because that's his aggressive nature."

"It's enough to make you wonder if it's best for Jermaine O'Neal, currently the world's biggest fashion model, to even bother returning down the stretch. On the one hand, it's important for future trade partners to see that O'Neal is healthy and productive. On the other hand, if he's healthy and productive, the Pacers might just follow up this latest 6-4 stretch with another nice run of 10 games."

"O'Brien's tune changed a couple hours later when his team played quite possibly its best defense of the season in the final 12 minutes of the game to pull out a much-needed 123-115 victory over the Nets."

"When they needed a stop they didn't get it. So the result was a 123-115 defeat to the Pacers that could have crippling effects on their playoff hopes. Coupled with Atlanta's win, the Nets fell 11/2 games behind the eighth and final Eastern playoff spot with nine games left."

"After missing eight of their first nine fourth-quarter shots, the Nets lost to the Pacers, 123-115, to further damage their playoff chances. With the eighth-place Hawks' victory over the Bulls last night, the Nets (31-42) fell a game and a half behind Atlanta."