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The Indiana Pacers finished the 2004 season with the best record in the league with 61 wins. They worked hard to earn home court advantage but still fell to the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals. Head coach Rick Carlisle was in his first season as coach of the Pacers after two seasons with the Pistons. The Pacers finished the regular season with the best record last year and might have gotten even better in the off-season. The Pacers sent Al Harrington to the Atlanta Hawks for Stephen Jackson early in the off-season. Jackson is a proven scorer who will play shooting guard with the aging Reggie Miller approaching the end of his career. Jermaine O’Neal led the team last year and was one of the few players in the league to average 20 points and 10 rebounds a night. Ron Artest was able to keep his temper in check for the better part of the season and finished second to O’Neal in the majority of the stats for the team. The team drafted David Harrison, a big man from the University of Colorado, with the 29th overall pick in the draft and Georgia point guard Rashad Wright with the 59th overall pick.
The Indiana Pacers will play in the Central division along with the Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, and Cleveland Cavaliers. The Pistons won the title last season and they’ll definitely by chasing another title while the Cavs, Bulls, and Bucks each got better in the off-season. Jamaal Tinsley will likely be the team’s starting point guard with Stephen Jackson sharing the backcourt with him from the two spot. Ron Artest is arguably the top small forward in the league and Jermaine O’Neal will lead from his power forward position. Harrison, Foster, and Pollard will contribute through defense, rebounding, and shot blocking.
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