The Indiana Pacers will be without their best playmaker for at least a week.

After watching Jamaal Tinsley try to play through the pain in his left hamstring, the Pacers have decided to shut the point guard down for now.

"Unfortunately, I have allowed him to play at less than his best over the last five games," Pacers' Coach Jim O'Brien said. "To his credit, he wants to play, will play injured, but it's really hampering his ability to play at his best...If it takes seven-to-10 days to get that right, that's what we'll do."

Tinsley first injured his leg when he tried to split a double team late in a Dec. 15 game against Miami. He sat out the Dec. 19 game against Philadelphia but played the next four games. Tinsley is averaging 13.8 points and a career-high 8.7 assists.

Indiana Pacers' forward Jermaine O?Neal is doubtful for tonight?s game against the Detroit Pistons because of a sore left knee.

O?Neal, who didn?t take part in the team?s shootaround at the Palace of Auburn Hills today, has dealt with knee problems on and off since the start of training camp. He?s missed six games this season with knee and calf problems.

O?Neal appeared to be grimacing at times as he ran up the court during Wednesday?s game at Atlanta. He?s fourth on the team in scoring at 15.9 points and leads them in rebounding at 7.4.

Indiana Pacers' point guard Jamaal Tinsley will be in the lineup for tonight's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Tinsley missed Wednesday's game, his first of the season, against Philadelphia with a deep thigh bruise.

Tinsley is averaging 14.8 points and 8.7 assists for the Pacers, who are seeking a season-high fourth consecutive victory tonight.

Jamaal Tinsley's personal transformation has been evident in his improved play this season. Sometimes, it's even more obvious when he isn't playing.

Sitting out the Indiana Pacers' victory over Philadelphia on Wednesday because of a deep thigh bruise, Tinsley played the role of assistant coach. He wore a yellow tie, sat next to the staff, and took teammates aside during timeouts to lend advice and encouragement. He might have the same role tonight in Minnesota.

That picture was a distinct contrast from recent seasons, when he often dressed sloppily when on the bench with an injury or stayed on the bench during timeouts, ignoring the huddle when he was in uniform but out of the game.

Several things are different now, most notably a coaching change, a style of play more suited to his skills, improved health, a more satisfying personal life and simple maturity.
"I'm just happy," he said.

"My six years (with the Pacers) have been frustrating . . . injury stuff, losing my mother, other people that I love. It means a lot when you've got coaches and teammates you've been around for a while who want to see you do good, and I finally get to show people what I'm capable of doing."

Tonight on the RealGM Hoops Show, Pacers' superstar Jermaine O'Neal speaks candidly about the NBA age limit, his past trade requests, the situation with Jamaal Tinsley and much more.

As always, Jerome Williams will be joining us for his "Make it Hot" segment and RealGM.com's Patrick J. Austin will discuss the recent success of the Portland Trailblazers, how they're doing without Greg Oden and how deadly they are at home.

The show will air tonight from 9:00 to 10:00 PM ET.

Feel free to call the show at 1-888-942-7326.

The Indiana Pacers announced Wednesday they waived center Courtney Sims.

The Knicks are even being burned by erroneous guarantees attributed to them. The Pacers were pumped by an inaccurate rumor that center Eddy Curry guaranteed a Knicks' victory during yesterday's morning shoot-around.

A reporter who missed a deathly boring Curry interview was told jokingly that Curry had guaranteed a victory over the Pacers. Though the group of journalists laughed, somebody present apparently told the Pacers that Curry had guaranteed a win. And they apparently used it as motivation.

"We did talk about it," Pacers' center Jermaine O'Neal said. "You know I'm not gonna lie. We all thought it as strange especially being so early in the season and especially the team struggling, but I'm not going to knock him because they may need that type of spark."

Memo to Pacers: Curry didn't say anything close.

Indiana Pacers' forward Jermaine O?Neal will be a game-time decision for tonight?s game against the New York Knicks.

O?Neal said today that he suffered a mild concussion in Saturday?s game at Miami.

He met with the Knicks neurologist this morning and will meet with them again before the game tonight.

?I?ve probably slept six hours since the (Miami) game,? O?Neal said. ?I?m getting better. The headaches aren?t as bad as they were (Sunday) night. I don?t have any dizziness, just headaches.?

O?Neal suffered a head and neck injury when he was hit across the head by Heat center Shaquille O'Neal late in Saturday?s game at Miami. Jermaine O?Neal snapped his neck back on the next possession when he drew a charge on Miami?s Dwyane Wade. O?Neal checked out the game and immediately went to the locker room.

Jermaine O'Neal blames the Knicks' 7-16 record on the players and not Isiah Thomas, the man responsible for assembling and coaching those players.

"I think the players have to put up a little bit more effort for the coach," O'Neal told the Indianapolis Star. "They have to figure it out because they have a lot of athletes. Isiah is a great coach, but it's up to the players to want to win, too. If the players don't put out the effort they need to put out then it's going to be a tough road for him."

O'Neal's support dates back to the days when Thomas coached him with the Pacers for three years. The two have remained close. In fact, O'Neal's high school coach and mentor, Knicks assistant coach George Glymph, followed Thomas from Indiana to Knicks.

Thomas has tried on several occasions to acquire the power forward, a former All-Star whose play has declined in recent years.

Jamaal Tinsley's latest off-the-court trouble has convinced the Pacers' forward to heed his team's advice and hire a security guard.

"It was mine and the team's decision to do it," Tinsley told the Indianapolis Star. "They've been trying to make me do it for the last two years. It's something I needed to do."

The security guard will travel with Tinsley when he's on the road and when he goes out in Indianapolis, the newspaper reported.