2005 Indiana Pacers Preview

At the time of publish the NBA regular season is around the corner. What better way to get you locked and loaded for a winning season than a free season preview from Maddux Sports. We remind you that MadduxSports.com is an expert NBA handicapper and offers NBA Picks against the point spread. For more information on this years basketball package click here. Onto the individual team preview for this years Indiana Pacers.

2005 Indiana Pacers Team Preview

Reggie Miller has retired. Will this affect the Indiana Pacers? The Pacers are one of the best rounded teams in the league with star forwards Ron Artest and Jermaine O’Neal, playmaker-guard Jamaal Tinsley, and solid shooting guard Stephen Jackson. Jackson, who replaces Miller, scored more points per game last season than his 39-year-old predecessor and is a better defender. Chances are Miller’s on court production will not be missed, but without his leadership, work ethic, and locker room demeanor the Pacers will be a bit less rich.

It was the Pacers last year who got into a big brawl with fans, earning Artest and others record setting suspensions and fines. Despite missing many of their key players for a chunk of the season, Indiana managed to make it to the playoffs and into the Semifinals where the Pistons beat them.

Along with a dynamite team, the Pacers boast one of the best coaches in the league—Rick Carlisle. Carlisle can be seen as being lax with players when it comes to discipline, such as dress code and being on time. But players respond to his low-key style and they respect him. He likes to enforce a strict half-court defense and a carefully paced offense (the Pacers were last in fast-break points per game last season). In order to win Carlisle will have to keep his team in control without the benefit of Reggie Miller.

He’ll try to confine Indiana’s explosiveness to the court, with Artest’s 24.6 PPG, O’Neal’s 24.3 PPG, Jackson’s 18.7 PPG, and Tinsley’s 15.4 PPG. If Carlisle can help his players retain their focus for the entire season the Pacers will have a good chance of vying with Detroit for the Central Division title.

Chances are Artest, who was punished with a 73-game and playoff suspension and a fine of $5 million, has learned his lesson about aggressively reacting to belligerent fans. If the Indiana club can keep their composure they may be able to go deep into the 2005-06 playoffs.

For more information on the 2005 Indiana Pacers Team, click here to visit their official team website.