NBA professional basketball team season
NBA professional basketball team season
The1997–98 Indiana Pacers season was the 22nd season for theIndiana Pacers in theNational Basketball Association , and their 31st season as a franchise.[ 1] 1997 NBA draft , and selected power forwardAustin Croshere out ofProvidence College .[ 2] [ 3] [ 4] Indiana State University , andBoston Celtics All-Star legendLarry Bird as their new head coach,[ 5] [ 6] [ 7] Chris Mullin from theGolden State Warriors ,[ 8] [ 9] [ 10] Mark West ;[ 11] [ 12] 1992 Summer Olympics inBarcelona, Spain .[ 13] [ 14]
Under Bird, and with the addition of Mullin, the Pacers struggled early in the regular season losing five of their first seven games, but then played above .500 inwinning 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 7-game winning streak between January and February, and held the best record in theEastern 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 7-game winning streak in April, and returned to theNBA playoffs after a one-year absence, finishing in second place in theCentral Division with a 58–24 record, and earning the third seed in the Eastern Conference;[ 16] NBA Coach of the Year , after leading the Pacers to a 19-game improvement over the previous season.[ 17] [ 18] [ 19] [ 20]
Reggie Miller led the Pacers in scoring averaging 19.5 points per game, led them with 164 three-point field goals, and was named to theAll-NBA Third Team , whileRik 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,Dale Davis provided with 8.0 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, andMark Jackson contributed 8.3 points and 8.7 assists per game. Off the bench, sixth manAntonio Davis averaged 9.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, whileJalen Rose contributed 9.4 points per game,Travis Best provided with 6.5 points and 3.4 assists per game, andDerrick McKey contributed 6.3 points per game,[ 21] [ 22] [ 23]
During theNBA All-Star weekend atMadison Square Garden inNew York City, New York , Miller and Smits were both selected for the1998 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] Knicks–Pacers rivalry .[ 27] NBA Three-Point Shootout for the fifth time.[ 28] [ 29] Most Valuable Player voting, while Rose finished tied in 13th place inMost Improved Player voting.[ 30]
In the Eastern Conference First Round of the1998 NBA playoffs , the Pacers faced off against the 6th–seededCleveland Cavaliers , a team that featured All-Star forwardShawn Kemp , three-point specialistWesley Person , and rookie centerZydrunas Ilgauskas . The Pacers won the first two games over the Cavaliers at home at theMarket Square Arena , before losing Game 3 on the road, 86–77 at theGund Arena . The Pacers won Game 4 over the Cavaliers on the road, 80–74 to win the series in four games.[ 31] [ 32] [ 33]
In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, the team faced off against the 7th-seededNew York Knicks , who were led byAllan Houston ,Larry Johnson , and sixth manJohn Starks ; All-Star centerPatrick Ewing returned from a season-ending wrist injury to play in Game 2. After taking a 2–0 series lead, the Pacers lost Game 3 to the Knicks on the road, 83–76 at Madison Square Garden, but managed to win Game 4 on the road in overtime, 118–107. The Pacers won Game 5 over the Knicks at home, 99–88 at the Market Square Arena to win the series in five games.[ 34] [ 35] [ 36]
In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Pacers then faced off against the top–seeded, and 2-time defending NBA championChicago 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 forwardScottie Pippen , and rebound-specialistDennis Rodman , and were also led by head coachPhil Jackson . The Pacers lost the first two games to the Bulls on the road at theUnited 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. After losing Game 5 on the road, 106–87, the Pacers won Game 6 at home, 92–89 to tie the series at 3–3.[ 37] [ 38] [ 39] [ 40] [ 41] [ 42] Utah Jazz in six games in the1998 NBA Finals for their third consecutive NBA championship, and sixth overall in eight years.[ 43] [ 44] [ 45]
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.[ 21] [ 46] Atlanta Hawks ,[ 47] [ 48] Haywoode Workman , who missed the entire regular season due to a knee injury, was released to free agency and signed with theMilwaukee Bucks midway through the next season.[ 49] [ 50]
A notable highlight of the regular season was the Pacers defeating the visitingPortland Trail Blazers , 124–59 at the Market Square Arena on February 27, 1998, which marked the first time in NBA history that a team scored twice as more points than its opponent.[ 51] [ 52] [ 53] [ 54] [ 55]
1997–98 Indiana Pacers roster Players Coaches Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended(IN) InactiveRoster
z - clinched division titley - clinched division titlex - clinched playoff spot1997–98 game log October: 0–1 (home: 0–0; road: 0–1)
November: 8–5 (home: 5–3; road: 3–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location 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)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location 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)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location 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)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location 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)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location 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)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location 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
1998 playoff game log Eastern Conference First Round: 3–1 (home: 2–0; road: 1–1)
Eastern Conference semifinals: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Series 1 May 5, 1998 New York W 93–83 Miller (17)D. Davis (11)Jackson (6)Market Square Arena 1–0 2 May 7, 1998 New York W 85–77 Smits (22)D. Davis (9)Jackson (5)Market Square Arena 2–0 3 May 9, 1998 @New York L 76–83 Miller (23)D. Davis (9)Jackson (9)Madison Square Garden 2–1 4 May 10, 1998 @New York W 118–107 (OT) Miller (38)A. Davis (9)Jackson (15)Madison Square Garden 3–1 5 May 13, 1998 New York W 99–88 Miller (24)Jackson (14)Jackson (13)Market Square Arena 4–1
Eastern Conference finals: 3–4 (home: 3–0; road: 0–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Series 1 May 17, 1998 @Chicago L 79–85 Miller (16)A. Davis (11)Jackson (6)United Center 0–1 2 May 19, 1998 @Chicago L 98–104 Miller (19)D. Davis (9)Jackson (8)United Center 0–2 3 May 23, 1998 Chicago W 107–105 Miller (28)A. Davis (12)Jackson ,Rose (6)Market Square Arena 1–2 4 May 25, 1998 Chicago W 96–94 Smits (26)Mullin (9)Jackson (7)Market Square Arena 2–2 5 May 27, 1998 @Chicago L 87–106 Miller (14)A. Davis ,Smits (7)Jackson (5)United Center 2–3 6 May 29, 1998 Chicago W 92–89 Smits (25)D. Davis (8)Best ,A. Davis ,Jackson (3)Market Square Arena 3–3 7 May 31, 1998 @Chicago L 83–88 Miller (22)A. Davis (10)Jackson (6)United Center 3–4
1998 schedule
Player POS GP GS MP REB AST STL BLK PTS MPG RPG APG SPG BPG PPG Mark Jackson PG 82 82 2,413 322 713 84 2 678 29.4 3.9 8.7 1.0 .0 8.3 Chris Mullin SF 82 82 2,177 249 186 95 39 927 26.5 3.0 2.3 1.2 .5 11.3 Antonio Davis PF 82 12 2,191 560 61 45 72 785 26.7 6.8 .7 .5 .9 9.6 Jalen Rose SF 82 0 1,706 195 155 56 14 771 20.8 2.4 1.9 .7 .2 9.4 Travis Best PG 82 0 1,547 122 281 85 5 535 18.9 1.5 3.4 1.0 .1 6.5 Reggie Miller SG 81 81 2,795 232 171 78 11 1,578 34.5 2.9 2.1 1.0 .1 19.5 Dale Davis C 78 78 2,174 611 70 51 87 626 27.9 7.8 .9 .7 1.1 8.0 Rik Smits C 73 69 2,085 505 101 40 88 1,216 28.6 6.9 1.4 .5 1.2 16.7 Fred Hoiberg SG 65 1 874 123 45 40 3 261 13.4 1.9 .7 .6 .0 4.0 Derrick McKey SF 57 4 1,316 211 88 57 30 359 23.1 3.7 1.5 1.0 .5 6.3 Mark Pope SF 28 0 193 26 7 3 6 39 6.9 .9 .3 .1 .2 1.4 Austin Croshere PF 26 0 243 45 8 9 5 76 9.3 1.7 .3 .3 .2 2.9 Mark West C 15 1 105 15 2 2 4 23 7.0 1.0 .1 .1 .3 1.5 Etdrick Bohannon PF 5 0 11 6 1 0 2 0 2.2 1.2 .2 .0 .4 .0
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