If an 82-game NBA season can be compared to a marathon, then Jamaal Tinsley, the Indiana Pacers rookie point guard, has hit what runners call "the wall."

After 31 games, the finish line is nowhere in sight and some adversity has crept alongside Tinsley. But he knows dropping out is not an option.

 




Tinsley, who received Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors for November, has been slowed recently by a combination of fatigue, nagging injuries and the inevitable adjustments opposing teams make to deal with an early pace-setter.