1997–98 Indiana Pacers season

NBA professional basketball team season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1997–98 Indiana Pacers season was the 22nd season for the Indiana Pacers in the National Basketball Association, and their 31st season as a franchise.[1] The Pacers received the twelfth overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft, and selected power forward Austin Croshere out of Providence College.[2][3][4] During the off-season, the team hired former Indiana State University, and Boston Celtics All-Star legend Larry Bird as their new head coach,[5][6][7] acquired All-Star forward Chris Mullin from the Golden State Warriors,[8][9][10] and signed free agent Mark West;[11][12] Bird and Mullin were once teammates on the "Dream Team" from the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.[13][14]

Head coachLarry Bird
PresidentDonnie Walsh
General managerDonnie Walsh
Owners
Quick facts Indiana Pacers season, Head coach ...
1997–98 Indiana Pacers season
Head coachLarry Bird
PresidentDonnie Walsh
General managerDonnie Walsh
Owners
ArenaMarket Square Arena
Results
Record58–24 (.707)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Central)
Conference: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finishEastern Conference finals
(lost to Bulls 3–4)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
TelevisionWTTV
Fox Sports Midwest
RadioWIBC
< 1996–97 1998–99 >
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Under Bird and with the addition of Mullin, the Pacers struggled losing five of their first seven games of the regular season, but then played above .500 in winning percentage for the remainder of the season, winning 15 of their next 18 games. The team won 12 of their 14 games in January, posted a seven-game winning streak between January and February, and held the best record in the Eastern Conference at 33–13 before the All-Star break.[15] The Pacers won nine of their final eleven games of the season, which included another seven-game winning streak in April, and returned to the NBA playoffs after a one-year absence, finishing in second place in the Central Division with a 58–24 record, and earning the third seed in the Eastern Conference.[16] It was also the first time since joining the NBA that the Pacers finished with a winning road record above. 500, posting a 26–15 road record during the regular season. Bird was named the NBA Coach of the Year, after leading the Pacers to a 19-game improvement over the previous season.[17][18][19] The Pacers had the fifth best team defensive rating in the NBA.[20]

Reggie Miller averaged 19.5 points per game, led the Pacers with 164 three-point field goals, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, while Rik Smits averaged 16.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, and Mullin provided the team with 11.3 points per game and 107 three-point field goals. In addition, Mark Jackson contributed 8.3 points and 8.7 assists per game, while Dale Davis provided with 8.0 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Off the bench, sixth man Antonio Davis averaged 9.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, while Jalen Rose contributed 9.4 points per game, Travis Best provided with 6.5 points and 3.4 assists per game, Derrick McKey averaged 6.3 points per game, but only played 57 games due to a ruptured Achilles tendon,[21][22] and Fred Hoiberg contributed 4.0 points per game.[23]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, Miller and Smits were both selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game, as members of the Eastern Conference All-Star team, while Bird was selected to coach the Eastern Conference; it was Smits's first and only All-Star appearance.[24][25][26] Miller was also booed by the fans at Madison Square Garden during the All-Star introductions, due to the Knicks–Pacers rivalry.[27] In addition, Miller also participated in the NBA Three-Point Shootout for the fifth time.[28][29] Miller and Smits both finished tied in 16th place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Rose finished tied in 13th place in Most Improved Player voting.[30]

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1998 NBA playoffs, the Pacers faced off against the 6th–seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, a team that featured All-Star forward Shawn Kemp, three-point specialist Wesley Person, and rookie center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. The Pacers won the first two games over the Cavaliers at home at the Market Square Arena, before losing Game 3 on the road, 86–77 at the Gund Arena.[31] The Pacers won Game 4 over the Cavaliers on the road, 80–74 to win the series in four games.[32][33][34]

In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, the team faced off against the 7th–seeded New York Knicks, a team that featured Allan Houston, Larry Johnson, and sixth man John Starks; All-Star center Patrick Ewing returned from a season-ending wrist injury to play in Game 2. The Pacers took a 2–0 series lead before losing Game 3 to the Knicks on the road, 83–76 at Madison Square Garden,[35] but managed to win Game 4 on the road in overtime, 118–107, which featured a 38-point performance from Miller.[36] The Pacers won Game 5 over the Knicks at the Market Square Arena, 99–88 to win the series in five games.[37][38][39]

In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Pacers then faced off against the top–seeded, and 2-time defending NBA champion Chicago Bulls, who won the Central Division title, and were led by the trio of All-Star guard, and Most Valuable Player of the Year, Michael Jordan, All-Star forward Scottie Pippen, and rebound-specialist Dennis Rodman, and were also led by head coach Phil Jackson. The Pacers lost the first two games to the Bulls on the road at the United Center, but managed to win their next two home games, as Miller hit a game-winning three-pointer in Game 4, in which the Pacers defeated the Bulls, 96–94 at the Market Square Arena.[40][41][42] After losing Game 5 at the United Center, 106–87, the Pacers won Game 6 over the Bulls at the Market Square Arena, 92–89 to even the series at 3–3.[43][44][45] In Game 7 at the United Center, the Pacers held a 72–69 lead with 8:54 left in the game, but lost to the Bulls, 88–83, thus losing in a hard-fought seven-game series.[46][47][48] The Bulls would go on to defeat the Utah Jazz in six games in the 1998 NBA Finals for their third consecutive NBA championship, and sixth overall in eight years.[49][50][51]

The Pacers finished 21st in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 645,302 at the Market Square Arena during the regular season.[23][52] Following the season, West signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Hawks,[53][54] and Haywoode Workman, who missed the entire regular season due to a knee injury, was released to free agency and signed with the Milwaukee Bucks midway through the next season.[55][56]

One notable highlight of the regular season occurred on February 27, 1998, in which the Pacers defeated the Portland Trail Blazers at home, 124–59 at the Market Square Arena. It was the first time in NBA history that a team scored twice as more points than their opponent.[57][58][59] For the season, the team added new pinstripe uniforms with golden yellow side panels, which would remain in use until 2005.[60][61]

Draft picks

Main article: 1997 NBA draft
More information Round, Pick ...
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
112Austin CroshereSF/PF United StatesProvidence
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Roster

More information Players, Coaches ...
1997–98 Indiana Pacers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
G 4 Travis Best 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 182 lb (83 kg) 1972–07–12 Georgia Tech
F 21 Etdrick Bohannon 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1973–05–29 Auburn Montgomery
F 44 Austin Croshere 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1975–05–01 Providence
F/C 33 Antonio Davis 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1968–10–31 UTEP
F/C 32 Dale Davis 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1969–03–25 Clemson
G 20 Fred Hoiberg 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 203 lb (92 kg) 1972–10–15 Iowa State
G 13 Mark Jackson 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1965–04–01 St. John's
F 9 Derrick McKey 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1966–10–10 Alabama
G 31 Reggie Miller 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1965–08–24 UCLA
F 17 Chris Mullin 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1963–07–30 St. John's
F 43 Mark Pope 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1972–09–11 Kentucky
F 5 Jalen Rose 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1973–01–30 Michigan
C 45 Rik Smits 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1966–08–23 Marist
C 41 Mark West 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1960–11–05 Old Dominion
G 3 Haywoode Workman (IN) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1966–01–23 Oral Roberts
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (IN) Inactive
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Updated: September 8, 1997

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Roster notes

Regular season

Season standings

More information W, L ...
Central Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Chicago Bulls 6220.756–37–425–1621–7
x-Indiana Pacers 5824.707432–926–1519–9
x-Charlotte Hornets 5131.6221132–919–2216–12
x-Atlanta Hawks 5032.6101229–1221–2019–9
x-Cleveland Cavaliers 4735.5731527–1420–2114–14
Detroit Pistons 3745.4512525–1612–2912–16
Milwaukee Bucks 3646.4392621–2015–269–19
Toronto Raptors 1666.195469–327–342–26
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More information #, Team ...
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Chicago Bulls6220.756–
2 y-Miami Heat5527.6717
3 x-Indiana Pacers5824.7074
4 x-Charlotte Hornets5131.62211
5 x-Atlanta Hawks5032.61012
6 x-Cleveland Cavaliers4735.57315
7 x-New York Knicks4339.52419
8 x-New Jersey Nets4339.52419
9 Washington Wizards4240.51220
10 Orlando Magic4141.50021
11 Detroit Pistons3745.45125
12 Boston Celtics3646.43926
13 Milwaukee Bucks3646.43926
14 Philadelphia 76ers3151.37831
15 Toronto Raptors1666.19546
Close
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

Game log

Regular season

More information 1997–98 game log Total: 58–24 (home: 31–10; road: 27–14), Game ...
1997–98 game log
Total: 58–24 (home: 31–10; road: 27–14)
October: 0–1 (home: 0–0; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1 October 31, 1997 @ New Jersey L 95–97 Continental Airlines Arena 0–1
November: 8–5 (home: 5–3; road: 3–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
2 November 1, 1997 Golden State W 96–83 Market Square Arena 1–1
3 November 4, 1997 @ Cleveland L 77–80 Gund Arena 1–2
4 November 5, 1997 @ Detroit W 99–87 The Palace of Auburn Hills 2–2
5 November 7, 1997 Seattle L 93–99 Market Square Arena 2–3
6 November 8, 1997 @ Charlotte L 82–89 Charlotte Coliseum 2–4
7 November 12, 1997 Atlanta L 86–89 Market Square Arena 2–5
8 November 14, 1997 Miami W 82–78 Market Square Arena 3–5
9 November 15, 1997 @ Toronto W 105–77 SkyDome 4–5
10 November 20, 1997 @ Milwaukee W 109–83 Bradley Center 5–5
11 November 22, 1997 Charlotte L 94–95 Market Square Arena 5–6
12 November 27, 1997 Vancouver W 106–85 Market Square Arena 6–6
13 November 28, 1997 Chicago W 94–83 Market Square Arena 7–6
14 November 30, 1997 Philadelphia W 101–89 Market Square Arena 8–6
December: 11–4 (home: 6–0; road: 5–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
15 December 3, 1997 @ Minnesota W 94–90 Target Center 9–6
16 December 5, 1997 @ Denver W 96–85 McNichols Sports Arena 10–6
17 December 7, 1997 @ Phoenix W 99–97 (OT) America West Arena 11–6
18 December 8, 1997 @ Utah L 97–106 Delta Center 11–7
19 December 10, 1997 @ Portland L 85–93 Rose Garden 11–8
20 December 12, 1997 Miami W 104–89 Market Square Arena 12–8
21 December 13, 1997 Washington W 109–92 Market Square Arena 13–8
22 December 15, 1997 @ Toronto W 108–101 SkyDome 14–8
23 December 17, 1997 New York W 87–80 Market Square Arena 15–8
24 December 19, 1997 Detroit W 98–90 Market Square Arena 16–8
25 December 20, 1997 @ Orlando W 95–92 Orlando Arena 17–8
26 December 23, 1997 @ San Antonio L 79–91 Alamodome 17–9
27 December 26, 1997 Orlando W 107–81 Market Square Arena 18–9
28 December 28, 1997 @ Miami L 90–101 Miami Arena 18–10
29 December 30, 1997 New Jersey W 109–91 Market Square Arena 19–10
January: 12–2 (home: 7–1; road: 5–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
30 January 2, 1998 @ Washington W 99–81 MCI Center 20–10
31 January 3, 1998 Toronto W 89–77 Market Square Arena 21–10
32 January 6, 1998 Phoenix L 80–81 Market Square Arena 21–11
33 January 8, 1998 @ Houston W 87–80 Compaq Center 22–11
34 January 10, 1998 @ Dallas W 84–79 Reunion Arena 23–11
35 January 14, 1998 Detroit W 100–93 Market Square Arena 24–11
36 January 16, 1998 Sacramento W 117–92 Market Square Arena 25–11
37 January 18, 1998 @ Boston W 103–96 FleetCenter 26–11
38 January 21, 1998 @ New York L 89–97 Madison Square Garden 26–12
39 January 23, 1998 Utah W 106–102 Market Square Arena 27–12
40 January 24, 1998 Boston W 95–88 Market Square Arena 28–12
41 January 27, 1998 Washington W 85–84 Market Square Arena 29–12
42 January 28, 1998 @ Philadelphia W 93–90 (OT) CoreStates Center 30–12
43 January 30, 1998 Cleveland W 89–83 Market Square Arena 31–12
February: 8–5 (home: 3–2; road: 5–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
44 February 1, 1998 @ L.A. Clippers W 99–92 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 32–12
45 February 3, 1998 @ Sacramento W 115–93 ARCO Arena 33–12
46 February 4, 1998 @ Seattle L 97–104 KeyArena 33–13
All-Star Break
47 February 10, 1998 Orlando W 85–66 Market Square Arena 34–13
48 February 11, 1998 @ Miami W 110–101 Miami Arena 35–13
49 February 13, 1998 Dallas L 82–85 (2OT) Market Square Arena 35–14
50 February 14, 1998 @ Atlanta W 96–92 Georgia Dome 36–14
51 February 17, 1998 @ Chicago L 97–105 United Center 36–15
52 February 19, 1998 Philadelphia W 82–77 Market Square Arena 37–15
53 February 20, 1998 @ Orlando L 91–93 Orlando Arena 37–16
54 February 22, 1998 @ Philadelphia W 97–92 CoreStates Center 38–16
55 February 25, 1998 L.A. Lakers L 89–96 Market Square Arena 38–17
56 February 27, 1998 Portland W 124–59 Market Square Arena 39–17
March: 11–5 (home: 6–3; road: 5–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
57 March 1, 1998 Denver W 90–63 Market Square Arena 40–17
58 March 3, 1998 @ Vancouver W 111–103 General Motors Place 41–17
59 March 4, 1998 @ L.A. Lakers L 95–104 Great Western Forum 41–18
60 March 6, 1998 @ Golden State W 101–87 The Arena in Oakland 42–18
61 March 8, 1998 Boston W 104–100 Market Square Arena 43–18
62 March 11, 1998 @ Detroit L 91–122 The Palace of Auburn Hills 43–19
63 March 13, 1998 Milwaukee W 96–76 Market Square Arena 44–19
64 March 15, 1998 @ New York W 91–86 Madison Square Garden 45–19
65 March 17, 1998 Chicago L 84–90 Market Square Arena 45–20
66 March 19, 1998 @ Washington W 95–91 MCI Center 46–20
67 March 20, 1998 New Jersey W 99–92 Market Square Arena 47–20
68 March 22, 1998 @ Milwaukee W 96–94 (OT) Bradley Center 48–20
69 March 25, 1998 Houston L 81–86 Market Square Arena 48–21
70 March 27, 1998 Charlotte W 133–96 Market Square Arena 49–21
71 March 29, 1998 San Antonio L 55–74 Market Square Arena 49–22
72 March 31, 1998 L.A. Clippers W 128–106 Market Square Arena 50–22
April: 9–1 (home: 5–0; road: 4–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
73 April 2, 1998 Minnesota W 111–108 Market Square Arena 51–22
74 April 3, 1998 @ Charlotte L 89–96 Charlotte Coliseum 51–23
75 April 5, 1998 Milwaukee W 93–92 Market Square Arena 52–23
76 April 7, 1998 Cleveland W 82–80 Market Square Arena 53–23
77 April 9, 1998 @ Atlanta W 105–102 (OT) Georgia Dome 54–23
78 April 12, 1998 @ Boston W 93–87 FleetCenter 55–23
79 April 13, 1998 @ Chicago W 114–105 United Center 56–23
80 April 15, 1998 Atlanta W 82–70 Market Square Arena 57–23
81 April 17, 1998 Toronto W 107–98 Market Square Arena 58–23
82 April 18, 1998 @ Cleveland L 92–96 Gund Arena 58–24
1997–98 schedule
Close

Playoffs

More information 1998 playoff game log, Game ...
1998 playoff game log
Eastern Conference First Round: 3–1 (home: 2–0; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 23, 1998 Cleveland W 106–77 Mullin (20) Mullin (6) Jackson (10) Market Square Arena
16,644		 1–0
2 April 25, 1998 Cleveland W 92–86 Miller (18) D. Davis (10) Jackson (11) Market Square Arena
16,617		 2–0
3 April 27, 1998 @ Cleveland L 77–86 Smits (26) D. Davis (9) Jackson (17) Gund Arena
17,495		 2–1
4 April 30, 1998 @ Cleveland W 80–74 Miller (19) A. Davis (9) Jackson (6) Gund Arena
18,188		 3–1
Eastern Conference semifinals: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 5, 1998 New York W 93–83 Miller (17) D. Davis (11) Jackson (6) Market Square Arena
16,630		 1–0
2 May 7, 1998 New York W 85–77 Smits (22) D. Davis (9) Jackson (5) Market Square Arena
16,765		 2–0
3 May 9, 1998 @ New York L 76–83 Miller (23) D. Davis (9) Jackson (9) Madison Square Garden
19,763		 2–1
4 May 10, 1998 @ New York W 118–107 (OT) Miller (38) A. Davis (9) Jackson (15) Madison Square Garden
19,763		 3–1
5 May 13, 1998 New York W 99–88 Miller (24) Jackson (14) Jackson (13) Market Square Arena
16,767		 4–1
Eastern Conference finals: 3–4 (home: 3–0; road: 0–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 17, 1998 @ Chicago L 79–85 Miller (16) A. Davis (11) Jackson (6) United Center
23,844		 0–1
2 May 19, 1998 @ Chicago L 98–104 Miller (19) D. Davis (9) Jackson (8) United Center
23,844		 0–2
3 May 23, 1998 Chicago W 107–105 Miller (28) A. Davis (12) Jackson,
Rose (6)		 Market Square Arena
16,576		 1–2
4 May 25, 1998 Chicago W 96–94 Smits (26) Mullin (9) Jackson (7) Market Square Arena
16,560		 2–2
5 May 27, 1998 @ Chicago L 87–106 Miller (14) A. Davis,
Smits (7)		 Jackson (5) United Center
23,844		 2–3
6 May 29, 1998 Chicago W 92–89 Smits (25) D. Davis (8) Best,
A. Davis,
Jackson (3)		 Market Square Arena
16,566		 3–3
7 May 31, 1998 @ Chicago L 83–88 Miller (22) A. Davis (10) Jackson (6) United Center
23,844		 3–4
1998 schedule
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Player statistics

Regular season

More information Player, POS ...
Player POS GP GS MP REB AST STL BLK PTS MPG RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Mark JacksonPG 82822,41332271384267829.43.98.71.0.08.3
Chris MullinSF 82822,177249186953992726.53.02.31.2.511.3
Antonio DavisPF 82122,19156061457278526.76.8.7.5.99.6
Jalen RoseSF 8201,706195155561477120.82.41.9.7.29.4
Travis BestPG 8201,54712228185553518.91.53.41.0.16.5
Reggie MillerSG 81812,79523217178111,57834.52.92.11.0.119.5
Dale DavisC 78782,17461170518762627.97.8.9.71.18.0
Rik SmitsC 73692,08550510140881,21628.66.91.4.51.216.7
Fred HoibergSG 6518741234540326113.41.9.7.6.04.0
Derrick McKeySF 5741,31621188573035923.13.71.51.0.56.3
Mark PopeSF 28019326736396.9.9.3.1.21.4
Austin CrosherePF 26024345895769.31.7.3.3.22.9
Mark WestC 15110515224237.01.0.1.1.31.5
Etdrick BohannonPF 5011610202.21.2.2.0.4.0
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Playoffs

More information Player, POS ...
Player POS GP GS MP REB AST STL BLK PTS MPG RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Reggie MillerSG 1616628283219331939.31.82.01.2.219.9
Mark JacksonPG 16164947313323014730.94.68.31.4.09.2
Rik SmitsC 1616476852081426529.85.31.3.5.916.6
Dale DavisC 16164661201251814129.17.5.8.31.18.8
Chris MullinSF 1616412572315914225.83.61.4.9.68.9
Antonio DavisPF 16045910814121814728.76.8.9.81.19.2
Travis BestPG 16028016311139717.51.01.9.7.26.1
Jalen RoseSF 150293272811612219.51.81.9.7.48.1
Derrick McKeySF 1502844011986718.92.7.7.6.54.5
Mark PopeSF 7042511096.0.7.1.1.01.3
Mark WestC 4011100032.8.3.0.0.0.8
Fred HoibergSG 20204110910.02.0.5.5.04.5
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Awards

See also

References

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