2000–01 Indiana Pacers season

2000–01 Indiana Pacers season
Head coach	Isiah Thomas
General manager	Donnie Walsh
Arena	Conseco Fieldhouse
Results
Record	41–41 (.500)
Place	Division: 4th (Central) Conference: 8th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	East First Round (eliminated 1-3)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	Fox Sports Net Midwest, WTTV
Radio	WIBC

The 2000-01 Indiana Pacers season was Indiana's 25th season in the NBA. To replace Larry Bird as coach, the Pacers hired former Indiana University and Detroit Pistons star Isiah Thomas. Thomas would have a different team than the one that went to the Finals. Rik Smits retired, Chris Mullin was released, Dale Davis was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers for Jermaine O'Neal, and Mark Jackson signed a free agent deal with the Toronto Raptors. The Pacers struggled early and finished their season with a record of 41-41. To qualify for the playoffs, the Pacers needed to win 9 of their final 12 games to secure the 8th seed. In the playoffs, the top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers would need only four games to eliminate the Pacers.

Offseason

NBA Draft

Main article: 2000 NBA Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	27	Primož Brezec	C	Slovenia	Union Olimpija (Slovenia)
2	56	Jaquay Walls	SG	United States	Colorado

Roster

Indiana Pacers roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From SF 24 Bender, Jonathan 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 202 lb (92 kg) 1981–01–30 Picayune Memorial HS (MS) PG 4 Best, Travis 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 182 lb (83 kg) 1972–07–12 Georgia Tech PF 44 Croshere, Austin 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1975–05–01 Providence PG 2 Edney, Tyus 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 184 lb (83 kg) 1980–11–19 Auburn C 10 Foster, Jeff 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 236 lb (107 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) PF 8 Ketner, Lari 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 277 lb (126 kg) 1977–02–1 Amherst University SF 9 McKey, Derrick 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1966–10–10 Alabama SG 31 Miller, Reggie 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1965–08–24 UCLA PF 6 Mills, Terry 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1967–12–21 Michigan C 7 O'Neal, Jermaine 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 226 lb (103 kg) 1978–10–13 Eau Claire HS (SC) PF 14 Perkins, Sam 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1961–06–14 UNC SF 5 Rose, Jalen 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1973–01–30 Michigan C 40 Sundov, Bruno 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1980–02–10 Croatia C 55 Tabak, Žan 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1970–06–15 Croatia	Head coach Isiah Thomas Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster • Transactions Last transaction: 2012–10–10

Standings

Central Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Milwaukee Bucks	52	30	.634	–	31–10	21–20	19–9
x-Toronto Raptors	47	35	.573	5	27–14	20–21	18–10
x-Charlotte Hornets	46	36	.561	6	28–13	18–23	20–8
x-Indiana Pacers	41	41	.500	11	26–15	15–26	15–13
Detroit Pistons	32	50	.390	20	18–23	14–27	16–12
Cleveland Cavaliers	30	52	.366	22	20–21	10–31	11–17
Atlanta Hawks	25	57	.305	27	18–23	7–34	9–19
Chicago Bulls	15	67	.183	37	12–29	7–34	4–24

Eastern Conference
#	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Philadelphia 76ers	56	26	.683	–
2	y-Milwaukee Bucks	52	30	.634	4
3	x-Miami Heat	50	32	.610	6
4	x-New York Knicks	48	34	.585	8
5	x-Toronto Raptors	47	35	.573	9
6	x-Charlotte Hornets	46	36	.561	10
7	x-Orlando Magic	43	39	.524	13
8	x-Indiana Pacers	41	41	.500	15
9	Boston Celtics	36	46	.439	20
10	Detroit Pistons	32	50	.390	24
11	Cleveland Cavaliers	30	52	.366	26
12	New Jersey Nets	26	56	.317	30
13	Atlanta Hawks	25	57	.305	31
14	Washington Wizards	19	63	.232	37
15	Chicago Bulls	15	67	.183	42

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Schedule

Game	Date	Opponent	Result	Pacers points	Opponents	Record	Streak	Notes
1

Playoffs

East First Round

(1) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (8) Indiana Pacers Last Playoff Meeting: 2000 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Indiana won 4-2)

Game	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	Score	Record (PHI-IND)	Venue	TV Time	Recap	TV Commentators
1	April 21	Indiana	79	Philadelphia	78	0–1	First Union Center, Philadelphia	NBC 12:30et	[1]	Mike Breen, Bill Walton & Steve Jones
2	April 24	Indiana	98	Philadelphia	116	1–1	First Union Center, Philadelphia	TBS 8:00et	[2]	Marv Albert & Mike Fratello
3	April 28	Philadelphia	92	Indiana	87	2-1	Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis	NBC 12:30et	[3]	Mike Breen, Bill Walton & Steve Jones
4	May 2	Philadelphia	88	Indiana	85	3-1	Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis	TBS 7:00et	[4]	Marv Albert & Mike Fratello
Philadelphia wins series 3–1

Player stats

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	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	AVG

Playoffs

Player	GP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	AVG

References

• Pacers on Basketball Reference