Indiana insists it's on pace for big season

The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Pacers are thinking big. They believe they're the best team in the Eastern Conference, if not the entire NBA.

"We control our own destiny," forward Jermaine O'Neal said.

The Pacers are 9-1, tying the 1969-70 ABA team for the best start in franchise history. They've also won eight straight games, matching the team record set in 1994.

O'Neal is predicting 65 wins. Even if the Pacers go .500 the rest of the season, they'll still win more games than they did in either of the past two seasons. Dallas -- which visits Indiana Nov. 28 -- is the only other team with fewer than two losses.

"Right now, we just want to have the best record in the conference," forward Al Harrington said. "We're on our way."

And they're doing it with a new offense. And without Reggie Miller and Austin Croshere.

"It's old-fashioned basketball," third-year coach Isiah Thomas said. "It's five men out on the floor working together, sharing the basketball. No one is really concerned with how many points they get, assists or rebounds."

O'Neal leads five Pacers in double-figure scoring with 19.2 points, and he also averages a team-high 11 rebounds. The combination of Ron Artest at shooting guard and Harrington at small forward has made the Pacers a better defensive team, holding opponents to 40 percent shooting.

For all their success, the Pacers haven't quite made believers of their fans. Conseco Fieldhouse, Indiana's 4-year-old home and one of the NBA's finest arenas, hasn't sold out yet.

The Pacers slashed ticket prices for their home opener against Cleveland but still drew only 14,877 fans, the fewest for the Pacers at Conseco.

"There are still a lot of nonbelievers here," O'Neal said. "We have to continue to win games and continue to get the crowd going behind us."

Perhaps Miller's return will provide a boost. He hasn't played because of a deep bone bruise to his right ankle, and Croshere has been out with a broken right foot.

When Miller returns, Artest most likely will shift to small forward, and Harrington will become a reserve, where he thrived last year.

"When Reggie comes back, he's going to make us a much better team," Artest said. "I can't wait until Reggie comes back. No matter what happens, we need him."

Miller won't be eased in off the bench.

"As long as I'm coaching here, Reggie will start for the Indiana Pacers," Thomas said. "At home, he'll be the last one announced, the crowd will go crazy, and we'll start the game."

Both players are listed as day to day, though Croshere could return as early as next week. Miller is expected back early next month.

Thomas said both players will benefit from the offense he calls The Quick. It's a read-and-react offense that stresses movement and equal opportunity.

"It's got so much movement, everybody's getting open," O'Neal said. "It keeps the offense honest. That's really one of the reasons we've been playing well."

Croshere, who fell out of the rotation last season, could thrive in an offense that already has produced five different scoring leaders.

"He sees it's advantageous to him to move around the floor now as opposed to being locked in one position," Thomas said.

That is, of course, if he can crack the rotation.

The Pacers still commit too many turnovers and have a habit of blowing big leads. They've led by double digits in each of the last eight games but won only one of those by 10 or more points.

"I think that's the only downside that I really see," O'Neal said.

Said Artest: "When we're up by 20, we've got to realize we're up by 20 for a reason and stick to the same plan."

Thomas had a simpler answer.

"You're not going to beat teams by 20 points in this league," he said.

The challenge now is to sustain the defensive toughness and offensive balance for an entire season. If the Pacers can do that, perhaps an NBA championship banner will join the three from the ABA that hang from the rafters at Conseco.

"Everybody's so focused on winning, so focused on staying on top of the division, focused on having the best record in the league," O'Neal said. "If keep all of those goals, come June we'll be playing somebody from the West."