2003–04 Indiana Pacers season

The 2003–04 NBA season was the Pacers' 28th season in the National Basketball Association, and 37th season as a franchise.[1] During the offseason, former Pacers head coach Larry Bird was named President of Basketball Operations. One of Bird's first moves in his new position was to fire head coach Isiah Thomas, after Thomas had led the Pacers to first-round playoff exits for three consecutive years. The defensive-minded Rick Carlisle, former head coach of the Detroit Pistons, was announced as Thomas' replacement. Also during the offseason, the Pacers acquired Scot Pollard from the Sacramento Kings in a three-team trade and signed free agent Kenny Anderson.

2003–04 Indiana Pacers season
Division champions
Head coachRick Carlisle
General managerLarry Bird
ArenaConseco Fieldhouse
Results
Record61–21 (.744)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Central)
Conference: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finishEastern Conference finals
(lost to Pistons 2–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionFox Sports Net Midwest, WTTV
RadioWIBC

The Pacers got off to a fast start winning 14 of their first 16 games, and finished the season with a record of 61–21, which was worthy of the Eastern Conference first seed in the playoffs, guaranteed home-court advantage throughout the playoffs for the first time since 2000, and a new all-time franchise-best win–loss record. Jermaine O'Neal was named to the All-NBA Second Team, the first Pacer ever to do so, and even finished third in the MVP voting, which was the highest in the voting any Pacers player had ever reached. Ron Artest was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, and also was named Defensive Player of the Year, the first Pacer ever to receive this award. Both O'Neal and Artest were selected for the 2004 NBA All-Star Game, with Carlisle coaching the Eastern Conference. Second-year guard Fred Jones won the Slam Dunk Contest during the All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Pacers swept the 8th-seeded Boston Celtics 4–0. They proceeded to defeat the 4th-seeded Miami Heat 4–2 in the second round, earning the Pacers their sixth spot in the Eastern Conference finals in 11 years. The Pacers fell 2–4 in the Eastern Conference finals to the eventual NBA champions, the 3rd-seeded Detroit Pistons, who were coached by former Pacers coach Larry Brown.[2] Following the season, Al Harrington was traded to the Atlanta Hawks, while Anderson went along with him signing as a free agent with the Hawks.

NBA draft
Main article: 2003 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
249James JonesSF United StatesMiami

Roster
Indiana Pacers roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
PG 13 Anderson, Kenny 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 168 lb (76 kg) 1970-10-09 Georgia Tech
SF 23 Artest, Ron (C) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 244 lb (111 kg) 1979-11-13 St. John's
SF 24 Bender, Jonathan 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 202 lb (92 kg) 1981-01-30 Picayune Memorial HS (MS)
PG 2 Brewer, Jamison Injured 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 184 lb (83 kg) 1980-11-19 Auburn
C 27 Brezec, Primož Injured 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 252 lb (114 kg) 1979-10-02 Slovenia
PF 44 Croshere, Austin 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1975-05-01 Providence
C 10 Foster, Jeff 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1977-01-16 Texas State
PF 3 Harrington, Al 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1980-02-17 St. Patrick HS (NJ)
PG 8 Johnson, Anthony 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1974-10-02 College of Charleston
SG 20 Jones, Fred 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1979-03-11 Oregon
SF 33 Jones, James 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1980-10-04 Miami (FL)
SG 31 Miller, Reggie (C) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1965-08-24 UCLA
PF 7 O'Neal, Jermaine (C) 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1978-10-13 Eau Claire HS (SC)
C 62 Pollard, Scot 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 278 lb (126 kg) 1975-02-12 Kansas
PG 11 Tinsley, Jamaal 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1978-02-28 Iowa State
Head coach
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: 2004–03–10

Regular season

Season standings
Central Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Indiana Pacers 6121.744–34–727–1420–8
x-Detroit Pistons 5428.659731–1023–1817–11
x-New Orleans Hornets 4141.5002025–1616–2514–14
x-Milwaukee Bucks 4141.5002027–1414–2715–13
Cleveland Cavaliers 3547.4272623–1812–2914–14
Toronto Raptors 3349.4022818–2315–2611–17
Atlanta Hawks 2854.3413318–2310–3110–18
Chicago Bulls 2359.2803814–279–3211–17
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Indiana Pacers6121.744–
2 y-New Jersey Nets4735.57314
3 x-Detroit Pistons5428.6597
4 x-Miami Heat4240.51219
5 x-New Orleans Hornets4141.50020
6 x-Milwaukee Bucks4141.50020
7 x-New York Knicks3943.47622
8 x-Boston Celtics3646.43925
9 Cleveland Cavaliers3547.42726
10 Toronto Raptors3349.40228
11 Philadelphia 76ers3349.40228
12 Atlanta Hawks2854.34133
13 Washington Wizards2557.30536
14 Chicago Bulls2359.28038
15 Orlando Magic2161.25640

Record vs. opponents
2003–04 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MEM MIA MIL MIN NJN NOH NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA WAS
Atlanta –3–13–11–32–02–01–30–20–20–40–21–10–21–32–21–11–32–20–31–31–21–10–20–21–11–11–30–22–2
Boston 1–3–1–23–11–12–00–32–01–11–30–20–21–12–21–31–12–20–41–33–13–11–10–21–10–21–13–11–13–1
Chicago 1–32–1–2–20–20–20–41–10–21–31–10–20–20–41–30–20–32–22–23–10–41–10–20–20–20–24–01–11–3
Cleveland 3–11–32–2–0–20–22–20–20–21–31–10–20–22–22–20–21–23–14–02–13–10–21–10–21–12–01–31–12–2
Dallas 0–21–12–02–0–2–21–13–13–10–22–22–22–21–11–12–22–02–02–02–01–13–13–13–13–13–11–12–21–1
Denver 0–20–22–02–02–2–0–23–12–20–22–21–32–21–12–01–30–21–11–11–12–04–04–02–21–32–20–23–12–0
Detroit 3–13–04–02–21–12–0–1–11–11–32–01–12–04–03–10–22–21–33–13–12–22–02–00–21–11–13–11–13–0
Golden State 2–00–21–12–01–31–31–1–2–20–22–21–31–31–11–12–20–20–22–01–11–12–22–22–22–23–11–12–21–1
Houston 2–01–12–02–01–32–21–12–2–1–14–02–21–31–12–02–21–12–02–02–02–01–33–10–40–41–31–12–22–0
Indiana 4–03–13–13–12–02–03–12–01–1–2–01–11–13–01–31–13–12–23–13–14–02–01–10–21–12–04–02–02–1
L.A. Clippers 2–02–01–11–12–22–20–22–20–40–2–1–30–40–22–00–40–21–11–12–01–13–12–20–41–30–41–11–30–2
L.A. Lakers 1–12–02–02–02–23–11–13–12–21–13–1–2–22–02–01–32–01–12–02–01–13–12–21–33–13–12–03–12–0
Memphis 2–01–12–02–02–22–20–23–13–11–14–02–2–1–11–11–32–01–11–12–02–02–22–22–23–11–32–01–32–0
Miami 3–12–24–02–21–11–10–41–11–10–32–00–21–1–1–20–23–23–11–34–01–31–10–21–10–22–02–11–14–0
Milwaukee 2–23–13–12–21–10–21–31–10–23–10–20–21–12–1–0–23–11–32–23–12–11–11–11–11–10–23–11–13–1
Minnesota 1–11–12–02–02–23–12–02–22–21–14–03–13–12–02–0–1–12–01–12–01–14–01–33–12–23–12–02–22–0
New Jersey 3–12–23–02–10–22–02–22–01–11–32–00–20–22–31–31–1–2–13–14–03–11–10–21–10–22–02–21–14–0
New Orleans 2–24–02–21–30–21–13–12–00–22–21–11–11–11–33–10–21–2–1–24–02–21–12–00–21–10–21–31–13–1
New York 3–03–12–20–40–21–11–30–20–21–31–10–21–13–12–21–11–32–1–3–13–11–11–11–10–21–13–10–24–0
Orlando 3–11–31–31–20–21–11–31–10–21–30–20–20–20–41–30–20–40–41–3–2–21–10–20–20–20–21–21–14–0
Philadelphia 2–11–34–01–31–10–22–21–10–20–41–11–10–23–11–21–11–32–21–32–2–1–11–10–22–01–11–30–22–2
Phoenix 1–11–11–12–01–30–40–22–23–10–21–31–32–21–11–10–41–11–11–11–11–1–2–21–30–42–20–21–31–1
Portland 2–02–02–01–11–30–40–22–21–31–12–22–22–22–01–13–12–00–21–12–01–12–2–3–10–42–21–12–21–1
Sacramento 2–01–12–02–01–32–22–02–24–02–04–03–12–21–11–11–31–12–01–12–02–03–11–3–2–23–12–03–11–1
San Antonio 1–12–02–01–11–33–11–12–24–01–13–11–31–32–01–12–22–01–12–02–00–24–04–02–2–4–02–04–02–0
Seattle 1–11–12–00–21–32–21–11–33–10–24–01–33–10–22–01–30–22–01–12–01–12–22–21–30–4–1–11–31–1
Toronto 3–11–30–43–11–12–01–31–11–10–41–10–20–21–21–30–22–23–11–32–13–12–01–10–20–21–1–1–11–3
Utah 2–01–11–11–12–21–31–12–22–20–23–11–33–11–11–12–21–11–12–01–12–03–12–21–30–43–11–1–1–1
Washington 2–21–33–12–21–10–20–31–10–21–22–00–20–20–41–30–20–41–30–40–42–21–11–11–10–21–13–11–1—

Playoffs
2004 playoff game log
First round: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 17 Boston W 104–88 O'Neal, Artest (24) Jermaine O'Neal (11) Jamaal Tinsley (7) Conseco Fieldhouse
16,605		 1–0
2 April 20 Boston W 103–90 Jermaine O'Neal (22) Al Harrington (13) Reggie Miller (7) Conseco Fieldhouse
17,347		 2–0
3 April 23 @ Boston W 108–85 Harrington, Bender (19) O'Neal, Foster (7) Ron Artest (5) FleetCenter
17,680		 3–0
4 April 25 @ Boston W 90–75 Ron Artest (22) Foster, Harrington (7) Jamaal Tinsley (7) FleetCenter
16,389		 4–0
Conference Semi-finals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 6 Miami W 94–81 Ron Artest (25) Jeff Foster (10) Jamaal Tinsley (5) Conseco Fieldhouse
18,345		 1–0
2 May 8 Miami W 91–80 Ron Artest (20) Harrington, O'Neal (9) Jamaal Tinsley (9) Conseco Fieldhouse
18,345		 2–0
3 May 10 @ Miami L 87–94 Jermaine O'Neal (29) Jermaine O'Neal (9) Jamaal Tinsley (5) American Airlines Arena
20,115		 2–1
4 May 12 @ Miami L 88–100 Jermaine O'Neal (37) Artest, Tinsley (8) Jamaal Tinsley (5) American Airlines Arena
20,128		 2–2
5 May 15 Miami W 94–83 Jermaine O'Neal (22) Jeff Foster (16) Jamaal Tinsley (8) Conseco Fieldhouse
18,345		 3–2
6 May 18 @ Miami W 73–70 Ron Artest (27) Jermaine O'Neal (13) Jamaal Tinsley (3) American Airlines Arena
20,136		 4–2
Conference finals: 2–4 (home: 1–2; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 22 Detroit W 78–74 Jermaine O'Neal (21) Jermaine O'Neal (14) Jamaal Tinsley (5) Conseco Fieldhouse
18,345		 1–0
2 May 24 Detroit L 67–72 Reggie Miller (21) Jeff Foster (9) Anthony Johnson (4) Conseco Fieldhouse
18,345		 1–1
3 May 26 @ Detroit L 78–85 Jermaine O'Neal (24) Jermaine O'Neal (9) Jamaal Tinsley (4) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 1–2
4 May 28 @ Detroit W 83–68 Ron Artest (20) Jermaine O'Neal (13) Jamaal Tinsley (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 2–2
5 May 30 Detroit L 65–83 Artest, Jones (13) Ron Artest (11) Jamaal Tinsley (5) Conseco Fieldhouse
18,345		 2–3
6 June 1 @ Detroit L 65–69 Jermaine O'Neal (20) Artest, O'Neal (10) Anthony Johnson (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 2–4
2004 schedule

Player statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Jermaine O'Neal 78 78 35.7 .434 .111 .757 10.0 2.1 0.8 2.6 20.1
Ron Artest 73 71 37.2 .421 .310 .733 5.3 3.7 2.1 0.7 18.3
Al Harrington 79 15 30.9 .463 .273 .734 6.4 1.7 1.0 0.3 13.3
Reggie Miller 80 80 28.2 .438 .401 .885 2.4 3.1 0.8 0.1 10.0
Jamaal Tinsley 52 43 26.5 .414 .372 .731 2.6 5.8 1.6 0.3 8.3
Jonathan Bender 21 0 12.9 .472 .409 .830 1.9 0.4 0.2 0.5 7.0
Anthony Johnson 73 7 21.9 .406 .336 .798 1.8 2.8 0.9 0.1 6.2
Jeff Foster 82 79 23.9 .544 .000 .669 7.4 0.8 0.9 0.3 6.1
Kenny Anderson 44 31 20.6 .441 .250 .729 1.8 2.8 0.6 0.1 6.0
Austin Croshere 77 0 13.6 .388 .389 .894 3.2 0.7 0.3 0.2 5.0
Fred Jones 81 2 18.6 .395 .303 .832 1.6 2.1 0.8 0.2 4.9
Jamison Brewer 13 1 12.3 .371 .357 .167 0.8 1.3 0.5 0.0 2.5
Scot Pollard 61 3 11.1 .412 .571 2.7 0.2 0.4 0.4 1.7
Primoz Brezec 18 0 4.0 .462 .667 0.8 0.2 0.0 0.2 1.6
James Jones 6 0 4.3 .222 .250 1.000 0.3 0.0 0.2 0.0 1.2

Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Jermaine O'Neal 16 16 37.8 .423 .000 .700 9.1 1.2 0.5 2.3 19.2
Ron Artest 15 15 38.9 .378 .288 .718 6.5 3.2 1.4 1.1 18.4
Reggie Miller 16 16 28.4 .402 .375 .922 2.3 2.8 1.1 0.2 10.1
Al Harrington 16 2 26.7 .429 .400 .545 6.4 0.8 1.4 0.6 9.5
Jamaal Tinsley 16 16 26.4 .398 .296 .938 2.9 5.0 1.8 0.2 8.1
Austin Croshere 13 2 16.5 .345 .333 .810 3.1 0.9 0.3 0.2 4.8
Jonathan Bender 16 0 12.5 .406 .360 .750 1.8 0.4 0.1 0.9 4.8
Fred Jones 14 0 18.8 .490 .500 .714 2.4 1.1 0.5 0.5 4.7
Anthony Johnson 16 0 20.8 .362 .300 .773 2.1 2.1 0.8 0.3 4.6
Jeff Foster 16 13 19.2 .581 .000 .800 6.6 0.8 0.8 0.3 3.6
Kenny Anderson 4 0 4.8 .286 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.0 1.0
Scot Pollard 3 0 4.3 .000 .500 1.3 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.7

Player Statistics Citation:[3]

Transactions

Additions
PlayerAcquiredFormer teamPosition
Kenny AndersonSigned as free agentNew Orleans HornetsPG
Danny FerryTradeSan Antonio SpursPF
Anthony JohnsonSigned as free agentNew Jersey NetsPG
James JonesDraft selectionrookieSF
Scot PollardTradeSacramento KingsC

Subtractions
PlayerDepartedNew teamPosition
Danny FerryWaivednonePF
Tim HardawayRetirednonePG
Ron MercerTradeSan Antonio SpursSF
Brad MillerTradeSacramento KingsC
Erick StricklandSigned as free agentMilwaukee BucksPG

Awards and records

References
  1. 2003–04 Indiana Pacers
  2. "PRO BASKETBALL; Flagrant Foul Helps Pistons Put Away The Pacers". New York Times. June 2, 2004. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  3. "2003-04 Indiana Pacers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
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