RealGM: From The Rafters - The Pacers' Season Of Misfortune

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The Pacers' Season Of Misfortune

Authored by Christopher Reina - 16th March, 2005 - 4:42 am

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Before the season began, this column predicted the Indiana Pacers to defeat the Denver Nuggets to win the NBA Championship, as Reggie Miller rode off into the sunset.

The Indiana organization now goes about their daily routine in a place that is light years away from where they were when I made that rosy prediction back in November.

After the first few weeks of the season, the Pacers were a team that was set to runaway with the Eastern Conference.

With the Pacers less than a minute away from a double-digit win over the defending champion Detroit Pistons , which improved their record to 7-2 and dropped their rivals to 4-4, the infamous brawl happened and everything changed and it has now been regurgitated endlessly ever since.

Suspensions were given, one was even reduced but a special core led by a consistent Fred Jones has managed to keep the Pacers? heads above water, holding the 8th and final spot in the playoffs.

Lesser organizations would have collapsed into a tailspin of self-pity, but Donnie Walsh, Larry Bird, Rick Carlisle and all their players have conducted themselves with dignity and professionalism.

Hope has been held that David Stern would decide to reinstate Ron Artest for the playoffs, who has been practicing with the club for some time now and they could get their team back for a Cinderella playoff run.

Hope of a playoff run is now all but over with the news that Jermaine O?Neal will likely be out for the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury. Without O?Neal?s 24.8 points per game and 9 rebounds, the Pacers may now not even make the playoffs and if they do, they are likely looking at a sweep at the hands of the Heat.

Important decisions await the Pacers this offseason. Trading Artest might be a necessity for both player and team. It appears unlikely as Walsh has a great fondness and care for the often troubled player and getting equal value for him would be nearly impossible.

Fully replacing Miller will be difficult, but the Pacers did that last offseason by trading for Stephen Jackson.

Standing firm with a healed O'Neal and a reinstated Artest may actually just make the Pacers the preseason favorites again next season.

The columnust can be reached at Christopher.Reina@realGM.com