http://www.nba.com/preview2003/ind.html 2003-04 NBA Season Preview -- Indiana Pacers COACH: Rick Carlisle | 2002-03: 48-34 FANTASY STOCK WATCH Scot Pollard : Will get more opportunities than in Sacramento. Reggie Miller : At 38 years old, will be more of a role player than ever before. SCOUNTING REPORT "I've always thought the Pacers had the most wide-range of talent in the league, but they didn't play with a spark ... I think Carlisle will bring that out in them ... Jermaine O'Neal is a top-line player in the East ... I think Reggie Miller has another good year left in him... Hopefully, they can get Ron Artest under control ... Point guard is a question mark ... I don't know if Jamaal Tinsley is the type of guy to get a team to the Eastern Conference Finals ... I wouldn't be surprised if Kenny Anderson is starting some time if Tinsley doesn't give them what they want ... Scot Pollard plays hard and does the dirty work, a perfect fit for them ... Maybe Austin Croshere will flourish now that Larry Bird is back ... This team should have homecourt advantage in the playoffs ... The Pacers have the best fans in the Eastern Conference, they really know basketball... It's a basketball state." -- NBA scout MAN ON THE POST Testing the Waters One of the few players in the NBA who can change a game with his defense alone, forward Ron Artest also emerged as a consistent scorer for the Pacers in 2002-03, averaging 15.5 points to go along with his 2.30 steals (No. 2 in the league). But his season was fraught with controversy as well; Artest earned a reputation for trouble, missing 12 games due to suspensions for flagrant fouls and bad behavior. Now it's up to Artest to keep his composure on the court. Many point to New Jersey Nets forward Kenyon Martin as a positive example of a player who overcame a flagrant-foul plagued season and earned the respect of officials without losing any of his defensive toughness. Having Artest in control and on the floor won't only help the Pacers win games, but will also limit distractions and improve team chemistry both on the court and in the locker room. SEASON OUTLOOK The Pacers accomplished their biggest goal of the offseason when they re-signed All-Star free agent Jermaine O'Neal to a long-term deal, but there were changes to make as well following the team's first-round playoff exit. Larry Bird came aboard as team president, then hired former Pistons coach and Pacers assistant Rick Carlisle to replace Isiah Thomas. The team also acquired Scot Pollard from the Kings in a three-team deal that sent All-Star center Brad Miller to Sacramento. Besides Pollard, the starting lineup remains intact. Entering his third season, point guard Jamaal Tinsley ranked sixth in the league in assists last year (7.5 apg), but shot less than 40 percent from the field. The team is hoping veteran Kenny Anderson can aid Tinsley's development into a more consistent playmaker. Artest, O'Neal and Pollard form a tough, versatile frontcourt, while guard Reggie Miller returns for his 17th season in Indiana. Miller's scoring average (12.5 ppg) in 2002-03 was the lowest since his rookie season, but he remains one of the most dangerous outside threats in the NBA and will provide leadership for a young squad that has the potential to go deep into the postseason. PROJECTED ROTATION PLAYER/2002-03 STATS PPG RPG APG --------------------------------- PG Jamaal Tinsley 7.8 3.6 7.5 SG Reggie Miller 12.6 2.5 2.4 SF Ron Artest 15.5 5.2 2.9 PF Jermaine O'Neal 20.8 10.3 2.0 C Scot Pollard 4.5 4.6 0.3 --------------------------------- G Kenny Anderson 6.1 2.2 3.2 F Jonathan Bender 6.6 2.9 0.9 F Austin Croshere 5.1 3.2 1.1 CF Jeff Foster 2.1 3.6 0.7 F Al Harrington 12.2 6.2 1.5 --------------------------------- --

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