2003–04 Indiana Pacers season

2003–04 Indiana Pacers season
Division champions
Head coachRick Carlisle
General managerLarry Bird
ArenaConseco Fieldhouse
Results
Record61–21 (.744)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Central)
Conference: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finishEastern Conference finals
(lost to Pistons 2–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionFox Sports Net Midwest, WTTV
RadioWIBC
< 2002–03 2004–05 >

The 2003–04 NBA season was the Pacers' 28th season in the National Basketball Association, and 37th season as a franchise.[1] During the offseason, former Pacers head coach Larry Bird was named President of Basketball Operations. One of Bird's first moves in his new position was to fire head coach Isiah Thomas, after Thomas had led the Pacers to first-round playoff exits for three consecutive years. The defensive-minded Rick Carlisle, former head coach of the Detroit Pistons, was announced as Thomas' replacement. Also during the offseason, the Pacers acquired Scot Pollard from the Sacramento Kings in a three-team trade and signed free agent Kenny Anderson.

The Pacers got off to a fast start winning 14 of their first 16 games, and finished the season with a record of 61–21, which was worthy of the Eastern Conference first seed in the playoffs, guaranteed home-court advantage throughout the playoffs for the first time since 2000, and a new all-time franchise-best win–loss record. Jermaine O'Neal was named to the All-NBA Second Team, the first Pacer ever to do so, and even finished third in the MVP voting, which was the highest in the voting any Pacers player had ever reached. Ron Artest was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, and also was named Defensive Player of the Year, the first Pacer ever to receive this award. Both O'Neal and Artest were selected for the 2004 NBA All-Star Game, with Carlisle coaching the Eastern Conference. Second-year guard Fred Jones won the Slam Dunk Contest during the All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Pacers swept the 8th-seeded Boston Celtics 4–0. They proceeded to defeat the 4th-seeded Miami Heat 4–2 in the second round, earning the Pacers their sixth spot in the Eastern Conference finals in 11 years. The Pacers fell 2–4 in the Eastern Conference finals to the eventual NBA champions, the 3rd-seeded Detroit Pistons, who were coached by former Pacers coach Larry Brown.[2] Following the season, Al Harrington was traded to the Atlanta Hawks, while Anderson went along with him signing as a free agent with the Hawks.

NBA draft

[edit]
Main article: 2003 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
2 49 James Jones SF  United States Miami

Roster

[edit]
Indiana Pacers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
PG 13 Anderson, Kenny 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 168 lb (76 kg) 1970-10-09 Georgia Tech
SF 23 Artest, Ron 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 244 lb (111 kg) 1979-11-13 St. John's
SF 24 Bender, Jonathan 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 202 lb (92 kg) 1981-01-30 Picayune Memorial HS (MS)
PG 2 Brewer, Jamison 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 184 lb (83 kg) 1980-11-19 Auburn
C 27 Brezec, Primož 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 252 lb (114 kg) 1979-10-02 Slovenia
PF 44 Croshere, Austin 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1975-05-01 Providence
C 10 Foster, Jeff 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1977-01-16 Texas State
PF 3 Harrington, Al 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1980-02-17 St. Patrick HS (NJ)
PG 8 Johnson, Anthony 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1974-10-02 College of Charleston
SG 20 Jones, Fred 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1979-03-11 Oregon
SF 33 Jones, James 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1980-10-04 Miami (FL)
SG 31 Miller, Reggie 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1965-08-24 UCLA
PF 7 O'Neal, Jermaine 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1978-10-13 Eau Claire HS (SC)
C 62 Pollard, Scot 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 278 lb (126 kg) 1975-02-12 Kansas
PG 11 Tinsley, Jamaal 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1978-02-28 Iowa State
Head coach
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: 2004–03–10

Regular season

[edit]

Season standings

[edit]
Central Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Indiana Pacers 61 21 .744 – 34–7 27–14 20–8
x-Detroit Pistons 54 28 .659 7 31–10 23–18 17–11
x-New Orleans Hornets 41 41 .500 20 25–16 16–25 14–14
x-Milwaukee Bucks 41 41 .500 20 27–14 14–27 15–13
Cleveland Cavaliers 35 47 .427 26 23–18 12–29 14–14
Toronto Raptors 33 49 .402 28 18–23 15–26 11–17
Atlanta Hawks 28 54 .341 33 18–23 10–31 10–18
Chicago Bulls 23 59 .280 38 14–27 9–32 11–17
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Indiana Pacers 61 21 .744 –
2 y-New Jersey Nets 47 35 .573 14
3 x-Detroit Pistons 54 28 .659 7
4 x-Miami Heat 42 40 .512 19
5 x-New Orleans Hornets 41 41 .500 20
6 x-Milwaukee Bucks 41 41 .500 20
7 x-New York Knicks 39 43 .476 22
8 x-Boston Celtics 36 46 .439 25
9 Cleveland Cavaliers 35 47 .427 26
10 Toronto Raptors 33 49 .402 28
11 Philadelphia 76ers 33 49 .402 28
12 Atlanta Hawks 28 54 .341 33
13 Washington Wizards 25 57 .305 36
14 Chicago Bulls 23 59 .280 38
15 Orlando Magic 21 61 .256 40

Record vs. opponents

[edit]
2003–04 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MEM MIA MIL MIN NJN NOH NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA WAS
Atlanta – 3–1 3–1 1–3 2–0 2–0 1–3 0–2 0–2 0–4 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–3 2–2 0–3 1–3 1–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 0–2 2–2
Boston 1–3 – 1–2 3–1 1–1 2–0 0–3 2–0 1–1 1–3 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 1–1 2–2 0–4 1–3 3–1 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 1–1 3–1
Chicago 1–3 2–1 – 2–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 4–0 1–1 1–3
Cleveland 3–1 1–3 2–2 – 0–2 0–2 2–2 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–2 0–2 1–2 3–1 4–0 2–1 3–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–1 2–2
Dallas 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 – 2–2 1–1 3–1 3–1 0–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–2 1–1
Denver 0–2 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–2 – 0–2 3–1 2–2 0–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 2–0 1–3 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–0 4–0 2–2 1–3 2–2 0–2 3–1 2–0
Detroit 3–1 3–0 4–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 – 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 0–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 3–0
Golden State 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–3 1–1 – 2–2 0–2 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–1 2–2 1–1
Houston 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–3 2–2 1–1 2–2 – 1–1 4–0 2–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–3 3–1 0–4 0–4 1–3 1–1 2–2 2–0
Indiana 4–0 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 – 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–0 1–3 1–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 4–0 2–0 2–1
L.A. Clippers 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 0–2 2–2 0–4 0–2 – 1–3 0–4 0–2 2–0 0–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–2 0–4 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–3 0–2
L.A. Lakers 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 1–1 3–1 – 2–2 2–0 2–0 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 2–0 3–1 2–0
Memphis 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–2 0–2 3–1 3–1 1–1 4–0 2–2 – 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–0 1–3 2–0
Miami 3–1 2–2 4–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–1 1–1 0–3 2–0 0–2 1–1 – 1–2 0–2 3–2 3–1 1–3 4–0 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–1 1–1 4–0
Milwaukee 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 3–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–1 – 0–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–1 1–1 3–1
Minnesota 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 3–1 2–0 2–2 2–2 1–1 4–0 3–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 – 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 1–3 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 2–2 2–0
New Jersey 3–1 2–2 3–0 2–1 0–2 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–3 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–3 1–3 1–1 – 2–1 3–1 4–0 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–2 1–1 4–0
New Orleans 2–2 4–0 2–2 1–3 0–2 1–1 3–1 2–0 0–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–3 3–1 0–2 1–2 – 1–2 4–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 3–1
New York 3–0 3–1 2–2 0–4 0–2 1–1 1–3 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 2–2 1–1 1–3 2–1 – 3–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 0–2 4–0
Orlando 3–1 1–3 1–3 1–2 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–4 0–4 1–3 – 2–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–2 1–1 4–0
Philadelphia 2–1 1–3 4–0 1–3 1–1 0–2 2–2 1–1 0–2 0–4 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–1 1–2 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–2 – 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–3 0–2 2–2
Phoenix 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–3 0–4 0–2 2–2 3–1 0–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 – 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–2 0–2 1–3 1–1
Portland 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–3 0–4 0–2 2–2 1–3 1–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 – 3–1 0–4 2–2 1–1 2–2 1–1
Sacramento 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–3 2–2 2–0 2–2 4–0 2–0 4–0 3–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–3 – 2–2 3–1 2–0 3–1 1–1
San Antonio 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–3 3–1 1–1 2–2 4–0 1–1 3–1 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 4–0 4–0 2–2 – 4–0 2–0 4–0 2–0
Seattle 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–3 3–1 0–2 4–0 1–3 3–1 0–2 2–0 1–3 0–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4 – 1–1 1–3 1–1
Toronto 3–1 1–3 0–4 3–1 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–2 1–3 0–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 – 1–1 1–3
Utah 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–3 1–1 2–2 2–2 0–2 3–1 1–3 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 3–1 1–1 – 1–1
Washington 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 0–3 1–1 0–2 1–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–4 1–3 0–4 0–4 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 1–1 —

Playoffs

[edit]
2004 playoff game log
First round: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 17 Boston W 104–88 O'Neal, Artest (24) Jermaine O'Neal (11) Jamaal Tinsley (7) Conseco Fieldhouse
16,605 		1–0
2 April 20 Boston W 103–90 Jermaine O'Neal (22) Al Harrington (13) Reggie Miller (7) Conseco Fieldhouse
17,347 		2–0
3 April 23 @ Boston W 108–85 Harrington, Bender (19) O'Neal, Foster (7) Ron Artest (5) FleetCenter
17,680 		3–0
4 April 25 @ Boston W 90–75 Ron Artest (22) Foster, Harrington (7) Jamaal Tinsley (7) FleetCenter
16,389 		4–0
Conference Semi-finals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 6 Miami W 94–81 Ron Artest (25) Jeff Foster (10) Jamaal Tinsley (5) Conseco Fieldhouse
18,345 		1–0
2 May 8 Miami W 91–80 Ron Artest (20) Harrington, O'Neal (9) Jamaal Tinsley (9) Conseco Fieldhouse
18,345 		2–0
3 May 10 @ Miami L 87–94 Jermaine O'Neal (29) Jermaine O'Neal (9) Jamaal Tinsley (5) American Airlines Arena
20,115 		2–1
4 May 12 @ Miami L 88–100 Jermaine O'Neal (37) Artest, Tinsley (8) Jamaal Tinsley (5) American Airlines Arena
20,128 		2–2
5 May 15 Miami W 94–83 Jermaine O'Neal (22) Jeff Foster (16) Jamaal Tinsley (8) Conseco Fieldhouse
18,345 		3–2
6 May 18 @ Miami W 73–70 Ron Artest (27) Jermaine O'Neal (13) Jamaal Tinsley (3) American Airlines Arena
20,136 		4–2
Conference finals: 2–4 (home: 1–2; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 22 Detroit W 78–74 Jermaine O'Neal (21) Jermaine O'Neal (14) Jamaal Tinsley (5) Conseco Fieldhouse
18,345 		1–0
2 May 24 Detroit L 67–72 Reggie Miller (21) Jeff Foster (9) Anthony Johnson (4) Conseco Fieldhouse
18,345 		1–1
3 May 26 @ Detroit L 78–85 Jermaine O'Neal (24) Jermaine O'Neal (9) Jamaal Tinsley (4) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076 		1–2
4 May 28 @ Detroit W 83–68 Ron Artest (20) Jermaine O'Neal (13) Jamaal Tinsley (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076 		2–2
5 May 30 Detroit L 65–83 Artest, Jones (13) Ron Artest (11) Jamaal Tinsley (5) Conseco Fieldhouse
18,345 		2–3
6 June 1 @ Detroit L 65–69 Jermaine O'Neal (20) Artest, O'Neal (10) Anthony Johnson (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076 		2–4
2004 schedule

Player statistics

[edit]

Ragular season

[edit]
Player POS GP GS MP REB AST STL BLK PTS MPG RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Jeff Foster C 82 79 1,961 610 64 71 27 497 23.9 7.4 .8 .9 .3 6.1
Fred Jones SG 81 2 1,508 126 173 65 18 397 18.6 1.6 2.1 .8 .2 4.9
Reggie Miller SG 80 80 2,254 188 249 65 11 800 28.2 2.4 3.1 .8 .1 10.0
Al Harrington PF 79 15 2,441 508 131 80 22 1,048 30.9 6.4 1.7 1.0 .3 13.3
Jermaine O'Neal PF 78 78 2,788 778 164 59 199 1,566 35.7 10.0 2.1 .8 2.6 20.1
Austin Croshere PF 77 0 1,051 243 52 24 14 387 13.6 3.2 .7 .3 .2 5.0
Ron Artest SF 73 71 2,714 385 272 152 50 1,333 37.2 5.3 3.7 2.1 .7 18.3
Anthony Johnson PG 73 7 1,598 130 202 64 8 450 21.9 1.8 2.8 .9 .1 6.2
Scot Pollard C 61 3 678 164 10 23 26 106 11.1 2.7 .2 .4 .4 1.7
Jamaal Tinsley PG 52 43 1,378 136 303 84 17 432 26.5 2.6 5.8 1.6 .3 8.3
Kenny Anderson PG 44 31 905 81 125 26 5 262 20.6 1.8 2.8 .6 .1 6.0
Jonathan Bender SF 21 0 271 40 9 5 11 148 12.9 1.9 .4 .2 .5 7.0
Primož Brezec C 18 0 72 15 3 0 3 28 4.0 .8 .2 .0 .2 1.6
Jamison Brewer PG 13 1 160 11 17 7 0 32 12.3 .8 1.3 .5 .0 2.5
James Jones SF 6 0 26 2 0 1 0 7 4.3 .3 .0 .2 .0 1.2

Playoffs

[edit]
Player POS GP GS MP REB AST STL BLK PTS MPG RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Jermaine O'Neal PF 16 16 604 146 19 8 36 307 37.8 9.1 1.2 .5 2.3 19.2
Reggie Miller SG 16 16 455 37 45 18 3 161 28.4 2.3 2.8 1.1 .2 10.1
Jamaal Tinsley PG 16 16 422 46 80 28 3 129 26.4 2.9 5.0 1.8 .2 8.1
Jeff Foster C 16 13 307 105 12 13 5 58 19.2 6.6 .8 .8 .3 3.6
Al Harrington PF 16 2 427 102 12 23 9 152 26.7 6.4 .8 1.4 .6 9.5
Anthony Johnson PG 16 0 332 34 34 13 4 73 20.8 2.1 2.1 .8 .3 4.6
Jonathan Bender SF 16 0 200 28 7 2 14 77 12.5 1.8 .4 .1 .9 4.8
Ron Artest SF 15 15 584 98 48 21 16 276 38.9 6.5 3.2 1.4 1.1 18.4
Fred Jones SG 14 0 263 33 16 7 7 66 18.8 2.4 1.1 .5 .5 4.7
Austin Croshere PF 13 2 214 40 12 4 3 63 16.5 3.1 .9 .3 .2 4.8
Kenny Anderson PG 4 0 19 1 1 1 0 4 4.8 .3 .3 .3 .0 1.0
Scot Pollard C 3 0 13 4 0 1 0 2 4.3 1.3 .0 .3 .0 .7

Transactions

[edit]

Additions

[edit]
Player Acquired Former team Position
Kenny Anderson Signed as free agent New Orleans Hornets PG
Danny Ferry Trade San Antonio Spurs PF
Anthony Johnson Signed as free agent New Jersey Nets PG
James Jones Draft selection rookie SF
Scot Pollard Trade Sacramento Kings C

Subtractions

[edit]
Player Departed New team Position
Danny Ferry Waived none PF
Tim Hardaway Retired none PG
Ron Mercer Trade San Antonio Spurs SF
Brad Miller Trade Sacramento Kings C
Erick Strickland Signed as free agent Milwaukee Bucks PG

Awards and records

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ 2003–04 Indiana Pacers
  2. ^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Flagrant Foul Helps Pistons Put Away The Pacers". New York Times. June 2, 2004. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2003–04_Indiana_Pacers_season&oldid=1241216079"