indiana pacers history
indiana pacers history
On dreadful night last November, the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons turned what was a showdown of Eastern Conference heavyweights to an all-out brawl that would even make the hair on Don King’s neck stand up. Unfortunately for the Pacers tickets holders, the controversial fight sidetracked the basketball season for Indiana, created a slew of bad publicity, distractions, suspensions and threw a wet towel over what could have been a historic year in Pacers history. But yesterday’s gone, the past is the past, and hopefully the painful lessons learned will do Ron Artest and crew some good in 2005-2006.
The Pacers started building a playoff caliber team with a legitimate shot at an NBA Championship in the midst of the 2001-2002 season. A mega trade with the Chicago Bulls brought a crew of fresh faces and young bodies to inhabit the court at Conseco Fieldhouse. Battling for a playoff berth, the Indiana Pacers brain trust packed up Jalen Rose, Travis Best, and a draft choice to acquire Chicago’s Brad Miller Ron Mercer and Kevin Ollie in return. The move paid off and ignited a 16-13 finish, including a five-game winning streak to end the season. Pacers ticket buyers were thrilled to see their team snag the eighth-seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. The Pacers pushed the Nets to the limits in a double-overtime game, but Indiana’s season came to a screeching halt in the first round. The year gave an indication of things to come, with All-Star status and an NBA Most Improved Player Award for Jermaine O’Neal and two Rookie of the Month honors for Jamal Tinsley.
Pacers tickets looked even better than ever in 2002-2003, Indiana got off to a fast start, posting a 13-2 record over 15 games. Things cooled off over the course of the season though, with the team finishing at 48 wins. At the All- Star break Indiana was 34-15, but watched an 11-19 slide send them tumbling to mediocrity and an early first-round playoff exit to a Celtics team most felt was highly beatable.
For Pacers ticket holders 2003-2004, was the year that could have been. Larry Bird returned as team president and promptly named Rick Carlisle as head coach. Jermaine O’Neal and Reggie Miller were locked up with new contracts. Ron Artest snagged his first All-Star spot, and Indiana notched another division title to their belts. Then came a sweep of Boston in the playoffs, and a six-game series victory over Miami that had Pacers ticket holders lining up to get their Eastern Conference Finals seats. Detroit, the eventual NBA Champs, sent the Pacers packing, but the strong finish to the Pacers season left fans with high hopes for next year.
Heading into the 2004-2205 season, everyone knew the Pacers would be a contender, but no one knew it would be in boxing. Ron Artest heads into the stands, a melee breaks out, and suddenly the Pacers roster is depleted by suspensions. Making it to the second round of the playoffs was a major feat, but it left Pacers fans wondering “What if?”
Indiana Pacers tickets still may be tickets to watch the next NBA Champions in action. If they stay focused and concentrate on basketball this Pacers team can make 2005-2006 Indiana Pacers tickets collectors items. If Conseco Fieldhouse stays an NBA arena and not a boxing ring, the best sports entertainment in Indianapolis may be Indiana Pacers tickets.
