2002–03 Indiana Pacers season

The 2002–03 Indiana Pacers season was the 27th season for the Indiana Pacers in the National Basketball Association, and their 36th season as a franchise.^[1] During the off-season, the Pacers signed free agent Erick Strickland.^[2][3]

Despite a few early-season injuries,^[4] the Pacers got off to a fast start by winning 14 of their first 16 games of the regular season, which included a nine-game winning streak in November, as the team held a 34–15 record at the All-Star break.^[5] However, the Pacers struggled and played below .500 in winning percentage for the remainder of the season, losing 12 of 13 games between February 16 and March 12, 2003, while posting two six-game losing streaks.^[6] In March, the team signed free agent, and former All-Star guard Tim Hardaway, who played in ten games for the Pacers.^[7][8] The Pacers finished in second place in the Central Division with a 48–34 record, and earned the third seed in the Eastern Conference;^[9] the team qualified for the NBA playoffs for the sixth consecutive year.^[1]

Jermaine O'Neal averaged 20.8 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, while Ron Artest averaged 15.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, and Brad Miller provided the team with 13.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. In addition, Reggie Miller contributed 12.6 points per game, and led the Pacers with 113 three-point field goals, while sixth man Al Harrington provided with 12.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game off the bench, and second-year guard Jamaal Tinsley averaged 7.8 points, 7.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Off the bench, Ron Mercer contributed 7.7 points per game, while Jonathan Bender averaged 6.6 points per game, Strickland provided with 6.5 points and 2.9 assists per game, and Austin Croshere contributed 5.1 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.^[10]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, O'Neal and Brad Miller were both selected for the 2003 NBA All-Star Game, as members of the Eastern Conference All-Star team, while head coach Isiah Thomas was selected to coach the Eastern Conference; it was Miller's first ever All-Star appearance.^[11][12][13] The All-Star Game was also known as a storybook ending for retiring All-Star guard Michael Jordan of the Washington Wizards, but O'Neal ruined the moment, fouling Western Conference All-Star guard Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, who attempted a three-point shot; Bryant hit 2 of 3 free throws to send the game into overtime, as the Western Conference defeated the Eastern Conference, 155–145 in double-overtime.^[14][15] Meanwhile, Tinsley was selected for the NBA Rookie Challenge Game, as a member of the Sophomores team.^[16][17]

Artest finished in second place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, behind Ben Wallace of the Detroit Pistons,^[18][19] while Harrington finished in eighth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting;^[19] Artest also finished in 13th place in Most Improved Player voting, while O'Neal finished tied in 14 place, and Brad Miller finished tied in 18th place,^[19] and Thomas finished tied in 15th place in Coach of the Year voting.^[19]

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 2003 NBA playoffs, the Pacers faced off against the 6th–seeded Boston Celtics, a team that featured All-Star guard Paul Pierce, All-Star forward Antoine Walker, and Tony Delk. Despite having home-court advantage in the series, the Pacers struggled as the Celtics took a 3–1 series lead, after the Pacers lost Game 4 on the road, 102–92 at the FleetCenter. The Pacers managed to win Game 5 at home in overtime, 93–88 at the Conseco Fieldhouse, but then lost Game 6 to the Celtics at the FleetCenter, 110–90, thus losing the series in six games.^[20][21][22]

The Pacers finished 15th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 670,461 at the Conseco Fieldhouse during the regular season.^[10][23] Following the season, Thomas was fired after three seasons with the Pacers;^[24][25] he would later return to coach the New York Knicks in 2006.^[26] Meanwhile, Brad Miller was traded to the Sacramento Kings, Mercer was traded to the San Antonio Spurs,^[27][28] Strickland signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Bucks,^[29] and Hardaway retired after thirteen seasons in the NBA.

One notable highlight of the regular season was the Pacers defeating the Chicago Bulls, 140–89 at the Conseco Fieldhouse on March 28, 2003.^[30][31]