It is hard to get a clear read from this distance, but it sure seems like there is a rift in Indiana between Coach Isiah Thomas and Jalen Rose.

  Chris McKosky of the Detroit News says the most recent evidence came last Thursday. Rose scored the Pacers' first 10 points against Houston and made six of his first seven shots.

  He got promptly benched for his troubles. He sat out most of the second and third quarters and ended up playing 28 minutes of an overtime victory.

  Thomas would say only that he wanted his best defenders and rebounders on the floor. And Jalen Rose is neither of those?

  What appears to be happening is, Thomas is trying to break down his young star, trying to get him to play more within the structure of the team. Thomas continually points out that the real star of the team is Reggie Miller, and that Rose, after Thursday, had fired up 150 more shots than Miller.