| One of the most disappointing teams for the past | | | | very productive season with the Atlanta Hawks. If |
| few seasons, the Indiana Pacers have been on a | | | | he can continue his improved players, Indiana should |
| steady decline ever since their former small forward | | | | have a formidable post presence game-in and |
| Ron Artest charged into the stands to attack Pistons | | | | game-out. |
| fans. After losing his replacement, Peja Stojakovic for | | | | Starting at the guard positions are Stephen Jackson |
| almost nothing, they find themselves without | | | | and Jamaal Tinsley. Tinsley is one of the better point |
| championship caliber talent for the first time in half a | | | | guards in the league when he is able to stay healthy. |
| decade. | | | | The problem is that he just can't stay healthy. Jamaal |
| The anchor for the Pacers is power-forward | | | | has missed at least 30 games for the past three |
| Jermaine O'Neal. Jermaine is one of the premier post | | | | seasons. Stephen Jackson is a pretty good shooting |
| players in the NBA and is by far the best player that | | | | guard who sometimes makes bad decisions. His 16-18 |
| the Pacers have. If they want to guarantee | | | | points per game adds a much-needed scoring threat |
| themselves a playoff berth, they need to ensure | | | | from the guard position. |
| that O'Neal stays healthy and productive for all | | | | On the bench for the Pacers are newly acquired |
| eighty-two games in the season. This is a high task | | | | Marquis Daniels and young players such as Sarunas |
| for a player who has missed a total of 69 games in | | | | Jasikevicius and David Harrison. Daniels was an integral |
| the past two seasons alone. | | | | member of the Mavericks bench last season and |
| The Pacers hope to offset their loss at the | | | | should be a good sixth or seventh man for the |
| small-forward position using two players. The first is | | | | Pacers. Harrison and Sarunas were slightly |
| last years first round pick of Danny Granger. Granger | | | | disappointing last season but have the potential to |
| is a talented player who showed flashes of brilliance | | | | pan out nicely for the Pacers. Sarunas in particular is a |
| in limited playing time last season. Ahead of him on | | | | deep three-point threat who could add another |
| the rotation is a familiar face in Al Harrington. | | | | dimension to the Pacers. |
| Harrington was traded back to the Pacers after a | | | | |