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88-79: The final numbers that matter for Pacers fans as the season comes to a close with the Game 6 conference semifinal loss to Detroit. The season that spun out of control with the Motown Melee in November ended six months after that night to forget. So what did we learn?

That Rick Carlisle is a great coach.

After seeing the Pacers' championship dream come crashing down when Ron Artest went into the stands in Detroit, Carlisle regrouped the troops and made a run into the second round of the playoffs.

That Ron Artest might be the team's best player.

It's hard to argue against the notion that Artest's absence created the void that cost the Pacers a title run. Without him, the Pistons were able to control Jermaine O'Neal and dominate the inside. Artest is a multidimensional player who plays defense and can score from inside and out.

That Reggie Miller will be missed.

And not so much for what he does on the court. He admits his best days as a player are long past. The 27 points he scored in his career finale were special, but he can't do that every night. What will be missed is the way Reggie led by example. His pregame workouts are legendary. He always was at the arena at the same time, always had the same routine, always ready, always prepared for the next Miller Moment. Rick Carlisle said Friday: "You don't find someone who can step in and be Reggie Miller." But if Stephen Jackson is the next Pacer to start at the shooting guard, Rick hopes "he has learned what greatness is all about from Reggie."

Could Reggie hang around and help this team? Sure. He could average 10 points a game and still be a valued piece of the equation with his leadership. But his final game was the perfect ending. He wasn't able to walk off the court as a champion, but he walked off with his head high knowing full well that he gave it his all. He will be remembered for BOOM BABY! The clutch performances are too many to list here, but his legacy will be what he did for the game. By respecting the game and understanding his role in it, he set an example for the next generation. Many believe Reggie Miller was the last link to the era of NBA greatness -- the Magics, the Birds and the Michaels, where one name says it all. "REGGIE, REGGIE, REGGIE." His place in Pacers history is secure, and next year his No. 31 will be locked into the rafters.

I've always enjoyed covering Reggie's career. I'll always remember how he thanked the media after every interview. This time, it's my turn. Reggie, THANK YOU.

The NBA draft is in June. Expect a busy off-season. Training camp starts in October -- and Ron Artest will be back. Bring on the Pistons.

May 9: 'Only Fitting'

Round Two. Ring the bell. The Pacers and Pistons are ready to tangle. Let's hope its only basketball this time.

"It's only fitting, only fitting." Those were the words of Pacer Jermaine O'Neal when asked about the rematch with the Pistons. And he's right. It's the way this season should be heading and the way the Pacers and Pistons want it. The events of Nov. 19 changed the path of this season for the Blue and Gold. The Motown Melee turned them from championship contender to a team that surprised many by making a playoff run. If any team has the right to come into a series with a little chip on its shoulder, it's the Pacers.

Rick Carlisle's overachievers surprised many more by beating the Celtics. What we've witnessed has been incredible. The old introduction at Pacers home games used to bellow, "In the heart of basketball country." How true. But the Pacers put the heart in basketball this season. With their unquenchable desire to win a title, they've marched farther on the playoff road than even the greatest Pacers fans would have imagined.

The players don't want to talk about the November mess, and I don't blame them. I contend, however, that until we see a difference in the conduct of the Detroit fans, it will remain a "front burner" story. Until we get through an Indiana road game in Detroit without a thrown cup or a bomb threat, it will remain a story. Note to Piston fans: If you want the media to stop bringing it up, then stop stirring it up. I don’t expect any trouble this time, and by Game 2, the melee angle will subside.

Again the Pacers face a hurdle no one really expects them to clear. It's now when the cynical scribes from around the nation will descend on Detroit to watch the undoing of David in this Goliath-sized showdown. They'll write heartwarming stories about Reggie's last stand and the little engine that could, all the while preparing for a Miami-Detroit series in the conference finals. Then something strange might happen. What if the Pacers win a game on the road? What if they push the Pistons more than expected? What if they advance? Then the bandwagon will be full and the heart of basketball country will be where it should be: back home in Indiana.

Game 1 is Monday, Game 2 is Tuesday, and both in Detroit. Games 3 and 4 will be at the Fieldhouse.

I will begin live coverage from The Palace on Monday, hardhat in tow. Tune in.

April 29: Rely On Reggie

After scoring 28 in Game 2 of the Pacers' playoff series with Boston, Reggie Miller called on his teammates for help.

I guess he likes buffet-style dining, because Reggie did a good job of helping himself in Game 3, leading the blue and gold again -- this time with 33. After that Game 2 outburst, Reggie said, "Those are few and far between." OK, maybe to him three days are few and far between.

What he has done is challenge his team. He knows his 39-year-old legs will wear down as this series runs on. He wants guys like James Jones, Freddy Jones and even the injured Austin Croshere to find a way to help this team and push the Pacers past the guys in green. Reggie is playing great, but he knows the Pacers won't last long in the postseason if he is the only shooter making shots. Boston has said it plans to get more physical with No. 31. He said on Friday: Bring it on.

The Pacers have really turned it on defensively. Two days after unloading for 102 in Game 1, the Celtics scored just 79. The Pacers did it again in Game 3, holding Boston to 76. That's how the Pacers will win this series -- with defense. The two keys in the turnaround of this series are a coaching clinic turned in by Rick Carlisle and a desperate gasp by a retiring veteran who doesn't want it all to end, at least not yet.

Reggie's last run. Wake up the kids -- this Miller moment is worth watching.

Notes: Jamaal Tinsley is getting better, but his nagging injuries have become chronic and I think will force the Pacers to go for a point guard in the upcoming draft.

Rumors are flying about possible trades involving some big-name Pacers. It could be a busy off-season.

How about the latest Piston fans throwing a quarter at Allen Iverson during a game this week? Note to David Stern: The Detroit fans should be stopped, and he missed an opportunity when he let them off the hook after the Motown Melee. I wonder if he realizes that. And I wonder if he'll have the nerve to attend a playoff game in Indy.

Won't a return to Detroit be fun? Two more wins against Boston and we'll all be heading back to the Motor City. Pack the hardhats.

March 30: Coach Passes Tough Test

As this "season to forget" enters its final month, it is time to give credit where credit is due.

If the Pacers make the playoffs, Rick Carlisle should be named coach of the year.

No other coach has had to deal with what he's been through, and while he did make a huge mistake when he kept Ron Artest in the game with less than a minute to go in Detroit on Nov. 19, he's coached his butt off since.

Consider all the following: The Motown Melee; the suspensions; Artest being out for the rest of the season; injuries to Jeff Foster, Reggie Miller, Jermaine O'Neal, Jamaal Tinsley, David Harrison, Scot Pollard, etc.

J.O. and Jamaal have missed the "playoff run crunch time" lately, and still the Pacers are in the top eight in the Eastern Conference. Coach Carlisle probably has no clue what his lineup will look like from day to day, but he always has them ready and he has won a lot of the big games.

Remember, in both of the games in Detroit -- even with all the distractions -- the Pacers won big over the defending champs. Right now we are looking at a rematch in the first round between Detroit and Indiana, and I bet that's the last thing the Pistons want to see -- not because of the Pacers' daunting lineup, but because they know Coach Rick will have the team ready to make Detroit's day a rough one. Rick Carlisle -- COACH OF THE YEAR.

Reggie Miller still can't be talked into coming back next season. He is playing well and probably still could help next year at age 40, but he has said every time he's been asked, "No."

And how about Dale Davis? Still a rebounding machine. I hope the Pacers give him another deal to return next season. More later ...

March 1: Run Depends On O'Neal's Health

"He's sore, he's banged up, but he's a soldier." That's Rick Carlisle on Pacer All-Star Jermaine O'Neal.

J.O. is hurting. The latest ailment? Sore ribs, courtesy of Stephon Marbury of the Knicks, who kneed O'Neal in the midsection at the end of the game Saturday night. Jermaine will wear protective padding until his ribs heal.

J.O.'s feet hurt, knees hurt, back hurts, and now the ribs, but Coach Carlisle says you can't question his toughness. "He's been there for every game when he was available," he said.

Remember, O'Neal missed 15 games due to suspension, which begs the question: Why isn't he healthier than he is? Coach says the answer is simple. Jermaine always gets the toughest assignment inside, and that other teams beat and bang on him night in and night out.

O'Neal doesn't talk much about his specific aches and pains because he doesn't want to let the other teams know where he hurts. He told me that other teams read scouting reports and attack his trouble spots. The other Eastern Conference contenders know the Pacers are only as good as J.O. is and will only go as far as he takes them. Can he continue being the only real inside force and stay in the game? It looks like it. If J.O. can go, he'll give it all he can.

Pacer notes: Dale Davis might come available this week. The former Pacer is on the outs after his trade to New Orleans, and says he wants to come home again to Indiana. Pacer players I spoke with today would love to have D-squared back in Blue and Gold. We'll be watching.

Feb. 11: Last Call For Miller Time

So, it's official -- something Reggie Miller hinted at before the year started: No. 31 will retire at season's end.

He will leave the game as the NBA's all–time leader in three pointers made and the holder of 13 individual records for the Pacers. He will be remembered as the greatest clutch performer from beyond the arc in NBA history. If time was running out and you needed a three to tie or win, you would want Reggie Miller taking the shot. Playoff time was Miller time ... his scoring average from the regular season to the playoffs shows one of the greatest increases in NBA history. Again, when the game or season was on the line, Reggie thrived. He owned the stage and the spotlight was his, and most of the time he shined.

It's sad really that his final season will always be mentioned in the same breath as the Motown Melee, his last chance at a ring taken away from him on the fateful night in Detroit. It's too bad that he won't get one more real shot at a run for a title.

On a personal level, Reggie was always kind to me, calling me by my first name when passing in the hallway or in the tunnel after a game. I liked him because, while a California kid by birth, he embraced the "basketball is life" mentality that we Hoosiers understand at an early age. He said in 1987 that Hoosier Hysteria is what excited him about being drafted 11th overall by the Pacers, and he grew to be a favorite adopted son. He'll be remembered for what he did on the court and for the many lasting moments he created with his ability to shoot the basketball. It's one of the great scenes in all of sports, whether at the Fieldhouse or old MSA: No. 31 rising up to shoot the long bomb. The crowd would gasp ... you could close your eyes and just listen ... and wait for Slick Leonard to proclaim it another success ... BOOM BABY!

The time is near. The crowd will soon be silent as Mr. Clutch buries his final three and steps aside. But he'll shoot one more from the rafters when his No. 31 jersey joins those of George McGinnis, Mel Daniels and Roger Brown high above the court. A spot saved for eternity for the Greatest Pacer ever.

Jan. 28: Time To Tank?

We have reached the mathematical halfway point in the NBA season and the Pacers continue to ride along around .500.

It's a far cry from what Pacers fans have grown accustomed to, but not bad considering what this team has been through.

If the playoffs were held today, the Pacers would squeak in with the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.

The question remains, will they be able to do anything in the playoffs this year without Ron Artest?

It's a strange team, and a recent trend bears that out; beat Phoenix, lose to Orlando; beat Houston, lose to New Orleans; beat Miami, lose to Washington.

Can they make a run or would it be better to miss the playoffs this year and get a high draft pick?

Prior to the Detroit brawl, the Pacers brass weren't too concerned with the upper echelon talent in the college game.

Now, all of a sudden, the Pacers are a team that could end up in the draft lottery.

When you think about it, a high draft pick wouldn't be all that bad for this team.

What better way to follow up the season to forget than by adding a top young talent and Ron Artest to the mix?

I'm not suggesting that they tank it and start playing for the draft already -- but I'm just saying it's something to think about.

Jan. 3: Feeling Jermaine's Impact

Happy new year. And for Pacers fans, it has to be better than what happened at the end of the year, '04. But the Motown Melee is history now and the team is starting to look more comfortable.

It helps to have Jermaine O'Neal back. The case is closed; he's a full-time Pacer again and his impact has already been felt by the team.

Austin Croshere said after the game the other night that J.O. "makes us the team we were built to be."

There is a fire in Jermaine's eyes. It appears he is on a mission to make up for lost time, and it comes at a perfect time. This week the Pacers have a tough stretch on the road: at San Antonio, at Dallas, at Phoenix and at Memphis. Without J.O., they wouldn't have had a chance in any of them. With him, they might win two.

It's a long season, and more help is on the way. Stephen Jackson is due back at the end of the month (the Boston game on Jan. 26). J.O. says his job is to "win a few games until Stephen can get back." So far, he's off to a good start.

Dec. 20: The Rematch

The rematch looms large on the horizon. Detroit will be in Conseco this Saturday, Christmas Day.

It doesn't seem fair. They will be at full force, while the Pacers will still be without Jermaine, Ron and Stephen.

The fans will be more interesting to watch than the game itself. We've seen that the sales of the "suspend Stern" T-shirts have been brisk, and there should be a large amount of them in the stands. I wish I would have had that idea. I bet the ladies who created them are making a mint.

The fans will have a lot of fun, but I'll be surprised if anything out of the ordinary comes into play. Here are some of my favorite suggestions for the fans' behavior:

Before tip off everyone rise, hold hands and sing Kumbayah.

When the Pistons are introduced, everyone stand in silence holding an empty cup above their head.

At tipoff, fans hold cups filled with confetti and throw the contents into the air.

Everyone stand and face "away" from the court for the entire first quarter.

Relax, enjoy and remember the reason for the season!

Kudos to Jermaine O'Neal. The other day, he treated about 800 kids and their families to his annual holiday party. His big heart created a lot of big smiles.

Happy holidays.

Dec. 6: Good To See

A welcome sight returned to the Pacers practice court on Monday.

Jermaine O'Neal worked out with his teammates for the first time since the suspension. No one is talking about the suspension anymore, even with the ruling that an arbitrator in New York is set to conduct a hearing on whether the suspensions to O'Neal, Stephen Jackson and Ron Artest were too stiff. The NBA is allowing the hearing but still contends that the league and commissioner David Stern have the final say on how long these guys sit out.

If you missed it, the cavalry is coming. Reggie Miller is back on the court and looking healthy and Jeff Foster returns this week. It's a long season and the Pacers are still in there fighting, er, working to be the very best they can be.

More later, Wil

Nov. 29: Hickory Redux

It's been fun to watch this edition of the Blue and Gold, and I guess that's a good thing, because the team's three stars are on the shelf for some time to come.

The real plus will be that this kind of basketball is closer to what Hoosiers grew up watching when the the phrase "Hoosier Hysteria" was coined.

These Pacers are hustling for the entire 48 minutes -- and it's nice to see a team that needs to play that way to survive.

Most NBA games are a three quarter waltz, with the real game starting with the whistle to start the fourth quarter.

But this team? No way.

It's fun. It's entertaining. Hickory against the big schools all over again.

Rick Carlisle is Gene Hackman this time and the Pacers couldn't be in better hands.

I talked with Carlisle the other day and asked him if, in any way, he is looking forward to the challenge? He said hes intrigued. So are we. Enjoy.

Nov. 21: After The Motown Melee

NBA Commissioner David Stern's statement sums it up:

"Shocking, repulsive and inexcusable." Those were his words to describe the Motown Melee between the Pacers and the Pistons Friday night. It was one of the worst things the sports world has ever seen and experts are predicting that it will change the way things will be done in the NBA forever.

The quick story is: Ben Wallace overreacted to Ron Artest's hard foul, then Ron way overreacted to a cup thrown by a fan. The ensuing brawl that spilled into the stands was scary. Artest punching fans, Stephen Jackson punching fans, Jermaine O'Neal punching fans and Piston fans punching back. O'Neal hit a fan who ran onto the court. Saturday the league suspended Artest, O'Neal, Jackson and Wallace indefinitely. When it's all sorted out the players will miss a lot of playing time and criminal charges might be filed. In the future the NBA might have to force teams to separate the fans from the court a little bit. They big spenders pay big numbers for those "front-row" seats-they may have to push them back.

The NBA once gave Latrell Sprewell a 68-game benching for choking his coach. Is what Artest and Jackson did worse than that? Were they provoked? Yes. But the line was crossed when they went into the stands and for that, the league will come down hard.

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Video: Watch Brawl
Slideshow: Images Of Brawl
Slideshow: Players, Coaches React
Survey: Blame For Fight?
Discuss: Your Thoughts?

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O'Neal's suspension, in my opinion, should be far less. The fan we saw him hit was on the court and that changes things. How many times in a football game have we seen a drunken fan run on the field only to be leveled by a player? What happened? The fans in the stands cheered and the player applauded for acting as security.

While this was a different situation because of the absolute chaos, there is some justification in J-O's actions. Stephen Jackson looked like a thug. Why did he go into the stands? He had no business there at all.

I blame in this order: Ben Wallace, The Detroit Fans, the inept security, Jackson and finally Artest. Ron was doing all the right things until a cup of water sent him over his boiling point.

I hate that someone didn't secure him, get him off the court, grab him and hold him before he could get in the stands. For that fatal step he will pay dearly. So will the Pacers --- and Pacers fans.

Nov. 18: Broken Player, Broken Record

It's the release that no one cared about:

"Indiana Pacers forward Jonathan Bender will be out indefinitely because of his ailing knee."
-- Pacers, 11/18/04

So what's new? The kid with all the potential and no apparent hope continues to be AWOL. He is without a doubt the biggest bust in Donnie Walsh's tenure with the Blue and Gold.

Don't get me wrong. I like JB. He's a soft-spoken, humble kid who appears to be well liked by his teammates and obviously the organization.

But he never has and likely NEVER will live up the expectations. Remember, this kid was the fifth overall pick out of high school in 1999. In his debut game he was, at the time, the first player in NBA history to come straight to the pros from high school and score double digits in his first game. Oh, what might have been.

Bender has been plagued by the injury for years. Last season, he missed the first 39 games after having knee surgery, then missed seven more with soreness in the knee and was out later with a shoulder sprain. Now this latest development that he is out indefinitely.

So he sits, waits and collects his money. Thinking back, his decision to come out early and make the money before his chronic injury problems showed up was the best decision he ever made. And while I'm sure he'd rather be playing and making his mark in the league, it's starting to look like he never will. I think the Jonathan Bender experiment is over.

Sound bites: Jermaine O'Neal, when I asked him if he's going to stand in line to pick up a copy of Ron Artest's CD release: "He'd better give me one for free."

Nov. 12: The Case For Ron

What to do about Ron-Ron?

It's the question on the mind of every fan of the Pacers these days. Ron Artest in the news again about his "days off" request this week.

Was he just tired and needed a rest, or was he really wanting time to pimp his new rap CD? Earlier in the week, Ron hinted with the media that it was about his music career. The media, of course, ran with that crazy scheme but Ron later said he was just kidding. What is going on?

Distraction. Major distraction. And now the Pacers are being forced to once again debate Ron's value. There's no question that he is a weapon ON the court -- if not, they would have shipped him out a long time ago. Artest really has no equal in the league. Who else can rebound, score and play defense like he can? But who else also brings the baggage that he does? You have to go back to Rodman to find another player like him.

Personally, I like Ron; I think he brings more to the game than he takes away from it. I think they are a championship contender with him -- and not without him. Right now the easy thing to do is to jump off his bandwagon and look for another talent. I disagree. From listening to his teammates, I think they are used to him and are professional enough to handle his little quirks without it taking away from the team's overall effort. The team just needs to fine him, and play him ... ride No. 91 to the NBA ring.

Pacer Points:

Despite the big loss to the Clippers, you have to hand it to Rick Carlisle for the coaching job he is doing to start the year. Take this quote from Bobby "Slick" Leonard. I asked him about the pressure coach must feel with all the injuries. Slick said, "There's no pressure, all his horses are in the barn." Only in Indiana, and only from Slick.

Nov. 3: Silver Lining?

The Pacers open the season with four of six games on the road and opposing fans are going to need a program to sort this bunch out.

Three starters are out to open the year -- Reggie Miller, Jermaine O'Neal and Jeff Foster.

In one way, I hate it. It makes it almost impossible for the Pacers to get off to the kind of start they had last year (if I remember correctly, 14-2 to open the season), but on the other hand, it will give them plenty of opportunity to show off the depth they have bragged about for several years.

More so, I am really looking forward to seeing Stephen Jackson start and get the bulk of the minutes at the two-guard.

I realize it's almost blasphemy to say it, but Reggie's injury won't hurt this time nearly as much as the others. They'll miss Anthony Johnson (backup point guard) more than they'll miss No. 31.

In the long run, Reggie's forced rest to start the year might be a blessing.

Jackson will get the minutes and Miller's 39-year-old legs will be even more rested and ready come playoff time.

The Pacers need Reggie to be 100 percent for the playoffs. He has earned this last shot at a ring -- and perhaps, because of this down time in November, he'll be more ready than ever before to hit the clutch shots in June.

We'll be watching.

Oct. 22: Working Hard For Their Money

I was at a Pacers practice today and came away impressed with the work ethic of Stephen Jackson and especially Jamaal Tinsley. Keep in mind, media types are only allowed in the last part of practice when the guys are shooting around. Jackson was soaked in sweat and was executing shots from several spots on the court, hitting at about a 75 percent clip. He is going to add so much to this team, and he should make for some real matchup problems for the opposition.

Tinsley stayed on the court for about an hour after practice, and 30 minutes or so after everyone else left, he put himself through a shooting drill. Toward the end of the drill, he vowed not to leave until he hit five straight 3-pointers from the corners, wings and top of the key (around the world). Several times he made four only to miss the fifth, but every time he started over and kept shooting. Assistant coaches and other players pleaded for him to stop -- remember, this is AFTER practice. Jamaal was dead tired and growing more weary with every restarted round. But he kept bombing away, until finally he accomplished what he set out to do. Tinsley looks great, and insiders say he has a new attitude and is more focused then last year.

Pacer Points:

Anthony Johnson took the shirt off Reggie Miller's back in a shooting contest after practice. Literally. No. 31 had to give it up after the game ... And I asked Boston Celtics hero Larry Bird what he thought about the "Curse of the Bambino." He said he didn't believe in that. But he did believe in Leprechauns.

Oct. 13: 7-Footer Makes Some Noise

I'm hearing a lot of mixed reviews about Pacers rookie David Harrison.

The 7-footer from Colorado had a nice debut game against Washington in the preseason opener, scoring 12 points.

It may have been the best thing for him because a little success might go a long way with him. Word is he is a bit of a complainer -- and a touch soft. He has a lot of skills but his work ethic came under fire in college.

The game in Muncie may have raised his own expectations. Now that he's tasted success and seen what hard work can produce, maybe the Pacers will see more of it.

So far, the Pacers love the kid. They've seen very little of the lazy streak he showed in the past.

He's worked hard in the off-season and appears ready to make the jump to the pros. They're hoping he will continue to progress.

I spoke with Jermaine O'Neal the other night and he's excited about having David in the lineup. J-O is convinced that with Harrison at the five, and him at the four, their opponents will have a serious match-up problem.

The Pacers continue the preseason this Saturday in Memphis with their Conseco Fieldhouse opener set for next Tuesday, the 19th.