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.
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.
Round
|
Pick
|
Player
|
Position
|
Nationality
|
College
|
2 |
49 |
James Jones |
SF |
United States |
Miami
|
Players
|
Coaches
|
Pos.
|
No.
|
Name
|
Height
|
Weight
|
DOB
|
From
|
PG
|
13
|
Anderson, Kenny
|
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
|
168 lb (76 kg)
|
1970-10-09
|
Georgia Tech
|
SF
|
23
|
Artest, Ron
|
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
|
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
|
184 lb (83 kg)
|
1980-11-19
|
Auburn
|
C
|
27
|
Brezec, Primož
|
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
|
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
|
185 lb (84 kg)
|
1965-08-24
|
UCLA
|
PF
|
7
|
O'Neal, Jermaine
|
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
- (DP) Unsigned draft pick
- (FA) Free agent
- (S) Suspended
Injured
Roster Last transaction: 2004–03–10
|
Record vs. opponents
edit
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
|
– |
3–1 |
3–1 |
1–3 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
1–3 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
0–4 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–3 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
2–2 |
0–3 |
1–3 |
1–2 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
0–2 |
2–2
|
Boston
|
1–3 |
– |
1–2 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
0–3 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
0–4 |
1–3 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
3–1
|
Chicago
|
1–3 |
2–1 |
– |
2–2 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
0–4 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
0–4 |
1–3 |
0–2 |
0–3 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
3–1 |
0–4 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
4–0 |
1–1 |
1–3
|
Cleveland
|
3–1 |
1–3 |
2–2 |
– |
0–2 |
0–2 |
2–2 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
0–2 |
1–2 |
3–1 |
4–0 |
2–1 |
3–1 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
2–2
|
Dallas
|
0–2 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
– |
2–2 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
0–2 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
1–1
|
Denver
|
0–2 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
2–2 |
– |
0–2 |
3–1 |
2–2 |
0–2 |
2–2 |
1–3 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–3 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
4–0 |
4–0 |
2–2 |
1–3 |
2–2 |
0–2 |
3–1 |
2–0
|
Detroit
|
3–1 |
3–0 |
4–0 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
– |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
4–0 |
3–1 |
0–2 |
2–2 |
1–3 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
2–2 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
3–0
|
Golden State
|
2–0 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–3 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
– |
2–2 |
0–2 |
2–2 |
1–3 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
1–1
|
Houston
|
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
1–3 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
– |
1–1 |
4–0 |
2–2 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
1–3 |
3–1 |
0–4 |
0–4 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
2–0
|
Indiana
|
4–0 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
3–1 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
– |
2–0 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
3–0 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
2–2 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
4–0 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
4–0 |
2–0 |
2–1
|
L.A. Clippers
|
2–0 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
0–2 |
2–2 |
0–4 |
0–2 |
– |
1–3 |
0–4 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
0–4 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
2–2 |
0–4 |
1–3 |
0–4 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
0–2
|
L.A. Lakers
|
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
2–2 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
– |
2–2 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
1–3 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
2–2 |
1–3 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
2–0 |
3–1 |
2–0
|
Memphis
|
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
0–2 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
4–0 |
2–2 |
– |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
3–1 |
1–3 |
2–0 |
1–3 |
2–0
|
Miami
|
3–1 |
2–2 |
4–0 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
0–4 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
0–3 |
2–0 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
– |
1–2 |
0–2 |
3–2 |
3–1 |
1–3 |
4–0 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
2–1 |
1–1 |
4–0
|
Milwaukee
|
2–2 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
3–1 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
2–1 |
– |
0–2 |
3–1 |
1–3 |
2–2 |
3–1 |
2–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
3–1
|
Minnesota
|
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
2–2 |
3–1 |
2–0 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
4–0 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
– |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
4–0 |
1–3 |
3–1 |
2–2 |
3–1 |
2–0 |
2–2 |
2–0
|
New Jersey
|
3–1 |
2–2 |
3–0 |
2–1 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
2–2 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
2–0 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
2–3 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
– |
2–1 |
3–1 |
4–0 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
4–0
|
New Orleans
|
2–2 |
4–0 |
2–2 |
1–3 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
2–0 |
0–2 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
3–1 |
0–2 |
1–2 |
– |
1–2 |
4–0 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
3–1
|
New York
|
3–0 |
3–1 |
2–2 |
0–4 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
2–1 |
– |
3–1 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
0–2 |
4–0
|
Orlando
|
3–1 |
1–3 |
1–3 |
1–2 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–3 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
0–4 |
1–3 |
0–2 |
0–4 |
0–4 |
1–3 |
– |
2–2 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
1–2 |
1–1 |
4–0
|
Philadelphia
|
2–1 |
1–3 |
4–0 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
0–4 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
3–1 |
1–2 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
2–2 |
1–3 |
2–2 |
– |
1–1 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
0–2 |
2–2
|
Phoenix
|
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–3 |
0–4 |
0–2 |
2–2 |
3–1 |
0–2 |
1–3 |
1–3 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
0–4 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
– |
2–2 |
1–3 |
0–4 |
2–2 |
0–2 |
1–3 |
1–1
|
Portland
|
2–0 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
0–4 |
0–2 |
2–2 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
2–0 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
– |
3–1 |
0–4 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
1–1
|
Sacramento
|
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
1–3 |
2–2 |
2–0 |
2–2 |
4–0 |
2–0 |
4–0 |
3–1 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
3–1 |
1–3 |
– |
2–2 |
3–1 |
2–0 |
3–1 |
1–1
|
San Antonio
|
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
4–0 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
1–3 |
1–3 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
0–2 |
4–0 |
4–0 |
2–2 |
– |
4–0 |
2–0 |
4–0 |
2–0
|
Seattle
|
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
0–2 |
1–3 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
3–1 |
0–2 |
4–0 |
1–3 |
3–1 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
1–3 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
1–3 |
0–4 |
– |
1–1 |
1–3 |
1–1
|
Toronto
|
3–1 |
1–3 |
0–4 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
0–4 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
1–2 |
1–3 |
0–2 |
2–2 |
3–1 |
1–3 |
2–1 |
3–1 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
– |
1–1 |
1–3
|
Utah
|
2–0 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
0–2 |
3–1 |
1–3 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
3–1 |
2–2 |
1–3 |
0–4 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
– |
1–1
|
Washington
|
2–2 |
1–3 |
3–1 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
0–3 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–2 |
2–0 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
0–4 |
1–3 |
0–2 |
0–4 |
1–3 |
0–4 |
0–4 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
—
|
2004 playoff game log
|
First round: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
|
Conference Semi-finals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
|
Conference finals: 2–4 (home: 1–2; road: 1–2)
|
2004 schedule
|
Player
|
POS
|
GP
|
GS
|
MP
|
REB
|
AST
|
STL
|
BLK
|
PTS
|
MPG
|
RPG
|
APG
|
SPG
|
BPG
|
PPG
|
Jeff Foster |
C
|
82 |
79 |
1,961 |
610 |
64 |
71 |
27 |
497 |
23.9 |
7.4 |
.8 |
.9 |
.3 |
6.1
|
Fred Jones |
SG
|
81 |
2 |
1,508 |
126 |
173 |
65 |
18 |
397 |
18.6 |
1.6 |
2.1 |
.8 |
.2 |
4.9
|
Reggie Miller |
SG
|
80 |
80 |
2,254 |
188 |
249 |
65 |
11 |
800 |
28.2 |
2.4 |
3.1 |
.8 |
.1 |
10.0
|
Al Harrington |
PF
|
79 |
15 |
2,441 |
508 |
131 |
80 |
22 |
1,048 |
30.9 |
6.4 |
1.7 |
1.0 |
.3 |
13.3
|
Jermaine O'Neal |
PF
|
78 |
78 |
2,788 |
778 |
164 |
59 |
199 |
1,566 |
35.7 |
10.0 |
2.1 |
.8 |
2.6 |
20.1
|
Austin Croshere |
PF
|
77 |
0 |
1,051 |
243 |
52 |
24 |
14 |
387 |
13.6 |
3.2 |
.7 |
.3 |
.2 |
5.0
|
Ron Artest |
SF
|
73 |
71 |
2,714 |
385 |
272 |
152 |
50 |
1,333 |
37.2 |
5.3 |
3.7 |
2.1 |
.7 |
18.3
|
Anthony Johnson |
PG
|
73 |
7 |
1,598 |
130 |
202 |
64 |
8 |
450 |
21.9 |
1.8 |
2.8 |
.9 |
.1 |
6.2
|
Scot Pollard |
C
|
61 |
3 |
678 |
164 |
10 |
23 |
26 |
106 |
11.1 |
2.7 |
.2 |
.4 |
.4 |
1.7
|
Jamaal Tinsley |
PG
|
52 |
43 |
1,378 |
136 |
303 |
84 |
17 |
432 |
26.5 |
2.6 |
5.8 |
1.6 |
.3 |
8.3
|
Kenny Anderson |
PG
|
44 |
31 |
905 |
81 |
125 |
26 |
5 |
262 |
20.6 |
1.8 |
2.8 |
.6 |
.1 |
6.0
|
Jonathan Bender |
SF
|
21 |
0 |
271 |
40 |
9 |
5 |
11 |
148 |
12.9 |
1.9 |
.4 |
.2 |
.5 |
7.0
|
Primož Brezec |
C
|
18 |
0 |
72 |
15 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
28 |
4.0 |
.8 |
.2 |
.0 |
.2 |
1.6
|
Jamison Brewer |
PG
|
13 |
1 |
160 |
11 |
17 |
7 |
0 |
32 |
12.3 |
.8 |
1.3 |
.5 |
.0 |
2.5
|
James Jones |
SF
|
6 |
0 |
26 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
4.3 |
.3 |
.0 |
.2 |
.0 |
1.2
|
Player
|
POS
|
GP
|
GS
|
MP
|
REB
|
AST
|
STL
|
BLK
|
PTS
|
MPG
|
RPG
|
APG
|
SPG
|
BPG
|
PPG
|
Jermaine O'Neal |
PF
|
16 |
16 |
604 |
146 |
19 |
8 |
36 |
307 |
37.8 |
9.1 |
1.2 |
.5 |
2.3 |
19.2
|
Reggie Miller |
SG
|
16 |
16 |
455 |
37 |
45 |
18 |
3 |
161 |
28.4 |
2.3 |
2.8 |
1.1 |
.2 |
10.1
|
Jamaal Tinsley |
PG
|
16 |
16 |
422 |
46 |
80 |
28 |
3 |
129 |
26.4 |
2.9 |
5.0 |
1.8 |
.2 |
8.1
|
Jeff Foster |
C
|
16 |
13 |
307 |
105 |
12 |
13 |
5 |
58 |
19.2 |
6.6 |
.8 |
.8 |
.3 |
3.6
|
Al Harrington |
PF
|
16 |
2 |
427 |
102 |
12 |
23 |
9 |
152 |
26.7 |
6.4 |
.8 |
1.4 |
.6 |
9.5
|
Anthony Johnson |
PG
|
16 |
0 |
332 |
34 |
34 |
13 |
4 |
73 |
20.8 |
2.1 |
2.1 |
.8 |
.3 |
4.6
|
Jonathan Bender |
SF
|
16 |
0 |
200 |
28 |
7 |
2 |
14 |
77 |
12.5 |
1.8 |
.4 |
.1 |
.9 |
4.8
|
Ron Artest |
SF
|
15 |
15 |
584 |
98 |
48 |
21 |
16 |
276 |
38.9 |
6.5 |
3.2 |
1.4 |
1.1 |
18.4
|
Fred Jones |
SG
|
14 |
0 |
263 |
33 |
16 |
7 |
7 |
66 |
18.8 |
2.4 |
1.1 |
.5 |
.5 |
4.7
|
Austin Croshere |
PF
|
13 |
2 |
214 |
40 |
12 |
4 |
3 |
63 |
16.5 |
3.1 |
.9 |
.3 |
.2 |
4.8
|
Kenny Anderson |
PG
|
4 |
0 |
19 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
4.8 |
.3 |
.3 |
.3 |
.0 |
1.0
|
Scot Pollard |
C
|
3 |
0 |
13 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
4.3 |
1.3 |
.0 |
.3 |
.0 |
.7
|