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