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1997–98 Indiana Pacers season

The 1997–98 NBA season was the Pacers' 22nd season in the National Basketball Association, and 31st season as a franchise.[1] In the off-season, the Pacers hired former Indiana State and Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird as head coach,[2][3][4][5][6] acquired All-Star forward Chris Mullin from the Golden State Warriors,[7][8][9][10][11] and signed free agent Mark West.[12][13] Bird and Mullin were once teammates on the "Dream Team" from the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.[14][15][16] The Pacers struggled early in the season losing five of their first seven games, but then won 15 of their next 18 games, and held the best record in the Eastern Conference at 33–13 before the All-Star break.[17] The Pacers won nine of their final eleven games, and returned to the playoffs after a one-year absence finishing second in the Central Division with a 58–24 record.[18] It was also the first time since joining the NBA that the Pacers finished with a winning road record. The Pacers had the fifth best team defensive rating in the NBA.[19]

Reggie Miller, Rik Smits and coach Bird represented the Eastern Conference during the 1998 NBA All-Star Game; it was also Smits' only All-Star appearance.[20][21][22][23][24][25] Miller led the Pacers in scoring averaging 19.5 points per game, and was selected to the All-NBA Third Team, while Smits averaged 16.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, and Mullin provided the team with 11.3 points per game. In addition, Dale Davis provided with 8.0 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, and Mark Jackson contributed 8.3 points and 8.7 assists per game. Off the bench, sixth man Antonio Davis averaged 9.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, while Jalen Rose contributed 9.4 points per game, Travis Best provided with 6.5 points and 3.4 assists per game, and Derrick McKey contributed 6.3 points per game,[26] but only played 57 games due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.[27][28] Bird was named Coach of the Year after his first season as head coach.[29][30][31][32]

In the playoffs, the Pacers would defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers three games to one in the Eastern Conference First Round,[33][34][35][36] then defeat the 7th-seeded New York Knicks four games to one in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals.[37][38][39][40] In the Eastern Conference finals, the Pacers faced Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and the 2-time defending champion Chicago Bulls. However, with the series tied at 3–3,[41][42][43] the Pacers would lose to the Bulls in a hard fought seven-game series.[44][45][46][47] The Bulls would go on to defeat the Utah Jazz in six games in the NBA Finals for their third consecutive championship, and sixth overall in eight years.[48][49][50][51][52]

Following the season, West signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Hawks,[53][54] and Haywoode Workman, who missed the entire season with a knee injury, was released to free agency and signed with the Milwaukee Bucks midway through the next season.[55][56]

A notable highlight of the season was the Pacers defeating the visiting Portland Trail Blazers, 124–59 at 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.[57][58][59][60] For the season, the team sported new pinstripe uniforms, which would remain in use until 2005.[61][62]

Draft picks

Roster

Roster Notes

Regular season

Season standings

z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Regular season

Playoffs

Player statistics

Ragular season

Playoffs

Awards

Transactions

See also

References

  1. ^ 1997-98 Indiana Pacers
  2. ^ "Bird Takes Over the Pacers". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 13, 1997. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  3. ^ Berkow, Ira (August 10, 1997). "Bird Shoots for Coaching Greatness with the Pacers". The New York Times. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  4. ^ MacMullan, Jackie (October 27, 1997). "BACK HOME AGAIN IN INDIANA; Larry Bird, Bored by Retirement and All But Ignored in Boston, Has Returned to Impart His Expertise and Homey Hoosier Virtues as Coach of the Pacers". Sports Illustrated Vault. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  5. ^ Gildea, William (November 4, 1997). "Larry Legend: Back Home Again in Indiana". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  6. ^ Murray, Jim (February 8, 1998). "He Might Also Be a Legend as Coach". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  7. ^ "Warriors Trade Mullin to Pacers". The New York Times. Associated Press. August 12, 1997. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  8. ^ "Warriors Send Mullin to Pacers for Ferrell, Big Man Dampier". Deseret News. Associated Press. August 12, 1997. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  9. ^ "Pacers Get Mullin from Warriors for Two Players". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. August 13, 1997. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  10. ^ "Warriors Send Mullin to Indiana". The Washington Post. August 13, 1997. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  11. ^ Nevius, C.W. (August 13, 1997). "Mullin Gets His Wish; Warrior Great Goes Quietly to Pacers". SFGate. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  12. ^ "Hornacek Re-Signs with Jazz". The New York Times. Associated Press. September 9, 1997. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  13. ^ "Jazz Re-Sign Hornacek". The Spokesman-Review. Wire Services. September 9, 1997. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  14. ^ "Mullin, Protege of Bird, Is Happy to Join Pacers". The New York Times. Associated Press. August 13, 1997. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  15. ^ Herman, Steve (August 13, 1997). "Starting Over: Playing for Bird Gives Mullin "Chills" Up His Spine". Associated Press. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  16. ^ Reed, William F. (November 10, 1997). "No. 5: Indiana Pacers". Sports Illustrated Vault. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  17. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 5, 1998". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  18. ^ "1997–98 Indiana Pacers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  19. ^ "Teams Defense". NBA.com. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  20. ^ "Bird Named All-Star Coach". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. January 26, 1998. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  21. ^ Armour, Terry (January 26, 1998). "Jordan Top All-Star Vote-Getter; Bryant, 19, Youngest Ever Picked". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  22. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (January 28, 1998). "Lakers Get Four-Star Rating as Van Exel, Jones Honored". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  23. ^ "1998 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  24. ^ "1997-98 All-Star Events and Contestants - in New York". Eskimo North. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  25. ^ "1998 NBA All-Star Game: East 135, West 114". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  26. ^ "1997–98 Indiana Pacers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  27. ^ Smith, Sam (September 30, 1997). "Shooting-Guard Move Big Break for Hardaway". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  28. ^ "Pacers Deny Stackhouse". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. December 20, 1997. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  29. ^ "Bird Named Coach of the Year". The Washington Post. Associated Press. May 12, 1998. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  30. ^ Vecsey, George (May 13, 1998). "Sports of the Times; Larry Bird Almost Runs a Democracy". The New York Times. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  31. ^ "Bird Draws Top Honor in His Rookie Season". Los Angeles Times. Times Wire Services. May 13, 1998. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  32. ^ "NBA & ABA Coach of the Year Award Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  33. ^ "N.B.A.: PLAYOFFS; Cleveland Ousted". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 1, 1998. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  34. ^ "Indiana Seizes the Opportunity to Oust Young, Pesky Opponent". Deseret News. Associated Press. May 1, 1998. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  35. ^ "Knicks, Heat Slug It Out Again". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 1, 1998. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  36. ^ "1998 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Cavaliers vs. Pacers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  37. ^ Roberts, Selena (May 14, 1998). "THE N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Guarantees? Pacers Eliminate Knicks". The New York Times. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  38. ^ "It's Bulls vs. Pacers for Title in East". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 14, 1998. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  39. ^ "Finally: Pacers Vs. Bulls". The Washington Post. May 14, 1998. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  40. ^ "1998 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals: Knicks vs. Pacers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  41. ^ George, Thomas (May 30, 1998). "PRO BASKETBALL; Smits and Best Push the Pacers Into a Game 7". The New York Times. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  42. ^ Heisler, Mark (May 30, 1998). "Pacers Trip Up Bulls, Jordan". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  43. ^ Armour, Terry (May 30, 1998). "Pacers 92, Bulls 89". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  44. ^ Roberts, Selena (June 1, 1998). "THE N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; An Era Continues as Jordan Pushes Bulls Past Pacers". The New York Times. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  45. ^ Bucher, Ric (June 1, 1998). "Bulls Rebound for Final Shot". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  46. ^ Bayless, Skip (June 1, 1998). "Even Exhausted, Chicago's Batman a Savior". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  47. ^ "1998 NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Pacers vs. Bulls". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  48. ^ Araton, Harvey (June 15, 1998). "Sports of the Times; At the End, Jordan Lifts Bulls to Their Sixth N.B.A. Title". The New York Times. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  49. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 15, 1998). "A Rousing Six-cess". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  50. ^ Armour, Terry (June 15, 1998). "Michael Jordan Hits 'The Shot', and the Chicago Bulls Beat Utah Jazz for Their 6th NBA Championship". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  51. ^ Robinson, Doug (June 15, 1998). "M.J.'s Moment: A Finals Finale". Deseret News. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  52. ^ "1998 NBA Finals: Bulls vs. Jazz". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  53. ^ Wise, Mike (February 4, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; A Scrum for the Title". The New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  54. ^ Johnson, L.C. (February 20, 1999). "Headliners". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  55. ^ Beech, Mark (April 19, 1999). "Bucking the Odds, Haywoode Workman Was Down with a Bad Knee, But Never Out". Sports Illustrated Vault. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  56. ^ "Bucks Re-Sign Workman Guard". CBS News. Associated Press. August 9, 1999. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  57. ^ "N.B.A.: LAST NIGHT; Pacers Make History in Doubling Portland". The New York Times. Associated Press. February 28, 1998. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  58. ^ "Indiana Doubles Its Pleasure in Victory". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 28, 1998. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  59. ^ "Indiana Doubles Portland's Pain, 124-59". The Washington Post. February 28, 1998. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  60. ^ "Portland Trail Blazers at Indiana Pacers Box Score, February 27, 1998". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  61. ^ "Indiana Pacers Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  62. ^ "Indiana Pacers Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved July 7, 2021.