1997–98 Indiana Pacers season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1997–98 Indiana Pacers season
Head coachLarry Bird
General managerDonnie Walsh
PresidentDonnie Walsh
Owners
ArenaMarket Square Arena
Results
Record58–24 (.707)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Central)
Conference: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finishConference Finals
(Lost to Bulls 3–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWTTV
Fox Sports Midwest
RadioWIBC
< 1996–97 1998–99 >

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] and acquired All-Star forward Chris Mullin from the Golden State Warriors.[4] Bird and Mullin were once teammates on the "Dream Team" from the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.[5] 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. 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.[6] It was also the first time since joining the NBA that the Pacers finished with a winning road record. 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.[7]

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, sixth man Antonio Davis averaged 9.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game off the bench, while Jalen Rose contributed 9.4 points per game also off the bench, 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.[8] Bird was named Coach of The Year after his first season as head coach.[9] The Pacers had the fifth best team defensive rating in the NBA.[10]

In the playoffs, the Pacers would defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers three games to one in the Eastern Conference First Round,[11] then defeat the 7th-seeded New York Knicks four games to one in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals.[12] However, in the Eastern Conference Finals, they would lose in seven games to Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and the defending champion Chicago Bulls in a hard fought series.[13] The Bulls would go on to defeat the Utah Jazz in the finals in six games for their third consecutive championship, and sixth overall in eight years.[14] Following the season, the team released Haywoode Workman, who missed the entire season with a knee injury and signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Bucks.[15]

For the season, the team sported new pinstripe uniforms, which would remain in use until 2005.[16][17]

Draft picks[]

Main article: 1997 NBA Draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 12 Austin Croshere SF/PF  United States Providence

Roster[]

1997–98 Indiana Pacers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) From
G 4 Best, Travis 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 182 lb (83 kg) 1972–07–12 Georgia Tech
F 21 Bohannon, Etdrick Injured 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1973–05–29 Auburn Montgomery
F 44 Croshere, Austin Injured 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1975–05–01 Providence
F/C 33 Davis, Antonio 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1968–10–31 UTEP
F/C 32 Davis, Dale 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1969–03–25 Clemson
G 20 Hoiberg, Fred 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 203 lb (92 kg) 1972–10–15 Iowa State
G 13 Jackson, Mark 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1965–04–01 St. John's
F 9 McKey, Derrick 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1966–10–10 Alabama
G 31 Miller, Reggie (C) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1965–08–24 UCLA
F 17 Mullin, Chris 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1963–07–30 St. John's
F 43 Pope, Mark 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1972–09–11 Kentucky
G/F 5 Rose, Jalen 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1973–01–30 Michigan
C 45 Smits, Rik 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1966–08–23 Marist
C 41 West, Mark 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1960–11–05 Old Dominion
G 3 Workman, Haywoode Injured (IN) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1966–01–23 Oral Roberts
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: September 8, 1997

Roster Notes[]

Regular season[]

Season standings[]

Central Division
W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Chicago Bulls 62 20 .756 – 37–4 25–16 21–7
x-Indiana Pacers 58 24 .707 4 32–9 26–15 19–9
x-Charlotte Hornets 51 31 .622 11 32–9 19–22 16–12
x-Atlanta Hawks 50 32 .610 12 29–12 21–20 19–9
x-Cleveland Cavaliers 47 35 .573 15 27–14 20–21 14–14
Detroit Pistons 37 45 .451 25 25–16 12–29 12–16
Milwaukee Bucks 36 46 .439 26 21–20 15–26 9–19
Toronto Raptors 16 66 .195 46 9–32 7–34 2–26
# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Chicago Bulls 62 20 .756 –
2 y-Miami Heat 55 27 .671 7
3 x-Indiana Pacers 58 24 .707 4
4 x-Charlotte Hornets 51 31 .622 11
5 x-Atlanta Hawks 50 32 .610 12
6 x-Cleveland Cavaliers 47 35 .573 15
7 x-New York Knicks 43 39 .524 19
8 x-New Jersey Nets 43 39 .524 19
9 Washington Wizards 42 40 .512 20
10 Orlando Magic 41 41 .500 21
11 Detroit Pistons 37 45 .451 25
12 Boston Celtics 36 46 .439 26
12 Milwaukee Bucks 36 46 .439 26
14 Philadelphia 76ers 31 51 .378 31
15 Toronto Raptors 16 66 .195 46
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents[]

1997-98 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA VAN WAS
Atlanta – 2–1 4–0 1–3 4–0 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–3 2–0 0–2 1–3 3–1 0–2 1–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 4–0 0–2 2–0 4–0
Boston 1–2 – 1–2 1–3 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–4 2–0 1–1 0–4 2–2 1–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–0 0–2 2–0 3–2
Charlotte 0–4 2–1 – 1–3 2–2 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–2
Chicago 3–1 3–1 3–1 – 2–2 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 2–1 4–0 1–1 4–0 4–0 3–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 4–0 0–2 2–0 3–1
Cleveland 0–4 3–1 2–2 2–2 – 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–3 2–2 2–0 3–1 1–2 2–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 2–0 1–2
Dallas 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 – 3–1 0–2 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–3 0–4 0–2 0–2 2–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–4 0–4 0–4 0–4 2–2 1–1 0–4 4–0 1–1
Denver 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–3 – 0–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 2–2 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 2–2 1–3 0–4 0–4 0–2 0–4 1–3 1–1
Detroit 2–2 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–0 2–0 – 2–0 1–1 1–3 2–0 0–2 1–2 2–2 0–2 2–2 2–2 1–2 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 4–0 0–2 0–2 2–2
Golden State 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 3–1 3–1 0–2 – 1–3 0–2 1–3 1–3 0–2 0���2 0–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–4 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 0–2 0–4 1–3 0–2
Houston 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 4–0 4–0 1–1 3–1 – 1–1 4–0 1–3 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–3 4–0 2–2 1–3 2–0 0–4 3–1 1–1
Indiana 3–1 4–0 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 – 2–0 0–2 3–1 4–0 2–0 2–1 2–1 3–1 4–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 4–0 1–1 2–0 4–0
L.A. Clippers 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 3–1 2–2 0–2 3–1 0–4 0–2 – 0–4 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–4 0–4 3–1 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–3 1–3 0–2
L.A. Lakers 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–0 4–0 2–0 3–1 3–1 2–0 4–0 – 1–1 2–0 4–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–2 2–2 4–0 4–0 1–3 2–0 3–1 4–0 1–1
Miami 3–1 4–0 1–3 1–2 3–1 2–0 2–0 2–1 2–0 2–0 1–3 2–0 1–1 – 3–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 4–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–2
Milwaukee 1–3 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–2 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 0–4 2–0 0–2 1–3 – 1–1 0–4 3–1 2–1 2–2 0–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 1–1 3–1 0–2 1–1 1–2
Minnesota 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–2 3–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 0–2 4–0 0–4 1–1 1–1 – 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–1 1–3 3–1 1–3 1–3 1–1 1–3 4–0 0–2
New Jersey 2–1 2–2 2–2 0–4 1–3 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 4–0 0–2 – 2–2 3–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 3–1 0–2 2–0 1–3
New York 2–2 2–2 3–1 0–4 2–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–2 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–3 1–1 2–2 – 4–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 0–2 2–0 1–3
Orlando 2–2 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–0 2–0 2–1 1–1 2–0 1–3 2–0 1–1 1–3 1–2 2–0 1–3 0–4 – 4–0 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–1 3–1 0–2 2–0 3–1
Philadelphia 1–3 1–3 1–2 1–2 1–3 2–0 2–0 1–3 2–0 1–1 0–4 1–1 2–0 0–4 2–2 0–2 1–3 2–2 0–4 – 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 0–2 2–0 3–1
Phoenix 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 4–0 4–0 1–1 4–0 3–1 1–1 4–0 2–2 2–0 2–0 1–3 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 – 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 1–3 4–0 1–1
Portland 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 4–0 2–2 2–0 3–1 3–1 1–1 4–0 2–2 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–2 – 3–1 2–2 0–4 2–0 3–1 2–2 1–1
Sacramento 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 4–0 3–1 1–1 2–2 0–4 0–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–3 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–3 1–3 – 0–4 1–3 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–1
San Antonio 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 4–0 4–0 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 3–1 0–4 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–3 2–2 4–0 – 2–2 2–0 1–3 4–0 1–1
Seattle 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 4–0 2–0 3–1 3–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 4–0 3–1 2–2 – 2–0 2–2 4–0 1–1
Toronto 0–4 0–3 0–4 0–4 1–3 1–1 2–0 0–4 2–0 0–2 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–4 1–3 1–1 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 – 0–2 1–1 0–3
Utah 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 4–0 2–0 4–0 4–0 1–1 3–1 1–3 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–0 – 4–0 0–2
Vancouver 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 3–1 2–0 3–1 1–3 0–2 3–1 0–4 0–2 1–1 0–4 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 2–2 2–2 0–4 0–4 1–1 0–4 – 1–1
Washington 0–4 2–3 2–2 1–3 2–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–0 1–1 0–4 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–1 2–0 3–1 3–1 1–3 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 3��0 2–0 1–1 —

Game log[]

Playoffs[]

1998 playoff game log
First round: 3–1 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 23 Cleveland W 106–77 Chris Mullin (20) Chris Mullin (6) Mark Jackson (10) Market Square Arena
16,644 		1–0
2 April 25 Cleveland W 92–86 Reggie Miller (18) Dale Davis (10) Mark Jackson (11) Market Square Arena
16,617 		2–0
3 April 27 @ Cleveland L 77–86 Rik Smits (26) Dale Davis (9) Mark Jackson (17) Gund Arena
17,495 		2–1
4 April 30 @ Cleveland W 80–74 Reggie Miller (19) Antonio Davis (9) Mark Jackson (6) Gund Arena
18,188 		3–1
Conference Semi-finals: 4–1 (Home: 3–0; Road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 5 New York W 93–83 Reggie Miller (17) Dale Davis (11) Mark Jackson (6) Market Square Arena
16,630 		1–0
2 May 7 New York W 85–77 Rik Smits (22) Dale Davis (9) Mark Jackson (5) Market Square Arena
16,765 		2–0
3 May 9 @ New York L 76–83 Reggie Miller (23) Dale Davis (9) Mark Jackson (9) Madison Square Garden
19,763 		2–1
4 May 10 @ New York W 118–107 (OT) Reggie Miller (38) Antonio Davis (9) Mark Jackson (15) Madison Square Garden
19,763 		3–1
5 May 13 New York W 99–88 Reggie Miller (24) Mark Jackson (14) Mark Jackson (13) Market Square Arena
16,767 		4–1
Conference Finals: 3–4 (Home: 3–0; Road: 0–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 17 @ Chicago L 79–85 Reggie Miller (16) Antonio Davis (11) Mark Jackson (6) United Center
23,844 		0–1
2 May 19 @ Chicago L 98–104 Reggie Miller (19) Dale Davis (9) Mark Jackson (8) United Center
23,844 		0–2
3 May 23 Chicago W 107–105 Reggie Miller (28) Antonio Davis (12) Rose, Jackson (6) Market Square Arena
16,576 		1–2
4 May 25 Chicago W 96–94 Rik Smits (26) Chris Mullin (9) Mark Jackson (7) Market Square Arena
16,560 		2–2
5 May 27 @ Chicago L 87–106 Reggie Miller (14) Smits, Davis (7) Mark Jackson (5) United Center
23,844 		2–3
6 May 29 Chicago W 92–89 Rik Smits (25) Dale Davis (8) three players tied (3) Market Square Arena
16,566 		3–3
7 May 31 @ Chicago L 83–88 Reggie Miller (22) Antonio Davis (10) Mark Jackson (6) United Center
23,844 		3–4
1998 schedule

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 GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Travis Best 82 0 18.9 .419 .300 .855 1.5 3.4 1.0 0.1 6.5
Etdrick Bohannon 5 0 2.2 .000 1.2 0.2 0.0 0.4 0.0
Austin Croshere 26 0 9.3 .372 .308 .571 1.7 0.3 0.3 0.2 2.9
Antonio Davis 82 12 26.7 .481 .000 .696 6.8 0.7 0.5 0.9 9.6
Dale Davis 78 78 27.9 .548 .465 7.8 0.9 0.7 1.1 8.0
Fred Hoiberg 65 1 13.4 .383 .376 .855 1.9 0.7 0.6 0.0 4.0
Mark Jackson 82 82 29.4 .416 .314 .761 3.9 8.7 1.0 0.0 8.3
Derrick McKey 57 4 23.1 .459 .235 .714 3.7 1.5 1.0 0.5 6.3
Reggie Miller 81 81 34.5 .477 .429 .868 2.9 2.1 1.0 0.1 19.5
Chris Mullin 82 82 26.5 .481 .440 .939 3.0 2.3 1.2 0.5 11.3
Mark Pope 28 0 6.9 .341 .333 .588 0.9 0.3 0.1 0.2 1.4
Jalen Rose 82 0 20.8 .476 .342 .728 2.4 1.9 0.7 0.2 9.4
Rik Smits 73 69 28.6 .495 .000 .783 6.9 1.4 0.5 1.2 16.7
Mark West 15 1 7.0 .476 .500 1.0 0.1 0.1 0.3 1.5

Playoffs[]

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Travis Best 16 0 17.5 .375 .278 .884 1.0 1.9 0.7 0.2 6.1
Antonio Davis 16 0 28.7 .462 .670 6.8 0.9 0.8 1.1 9.2
Dale Davis 16 16 29.1 .651 .453 7.5 0.8 0.3 1.1 8.8
Fred Hoiberg 2 0 10.0 .375 .500 1.000 2.0 0.5 0.5 0.0 4.5
Mark Jackson 16 16 30.9 .417 .378 .794 4.6 8.3 1.4 0.0 9.2
Derrick McKey 15 0 18.9 .333 .300 .783 2.7 0.7 0.6 0.5 4.5
Reggie Miller 16 16 39.3 .426 .400 .904 1.8 2.0 1.2 0.2 19.9
Chris Mullin 16 16 25.8 .460 .385 .857 3.6 1.4 0.9 0.6 8.9
Mark Pope 7 0 6.0 .667 .000 1.000 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.0 1.3
Jalen Rose 15 0 19.5 .480 .375 .741 1.8 1.9 0.7 0.4 8.1
Rik Smits 16 16 29.8 .502 .000 .859 5.3 1.3 0.5 0.9 16.6
Mark West 4 0 2.8 .500 .333 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.8

Awards[]

Transactions[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ 1997-98 Indiana Pacers
  2. ^ "Bird Takes Over the Pacers". New York Times. May 13, 1997. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  3. ^ "Bird Shoots for Coaching Greatness With the Pacers". New York Times. August 10, 1997. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  4. ^ "Warriors Trade Mullin to Pacers". New York Times. August 12, 1997. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  5. ^ "Starting over: Playing for Bird gives Mullin "chills" up his spine". AP News. August 13, 1997. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  6. ^ "1997–98 Indiana Pacers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  7. ^ "1998 NBA All-Star Game: East 135, West 114". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  8. ^ "1997–98 Indiana Pacers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  9. ^ "Bird Named Coach of the Year". Washington Post. May 12, 1998. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  10. ^ "Teams Defense". NBA.com. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  11. ^ "N.B.A.: PLAYOFFS; Cleveland Ousted". New York Times. May 1, 1998. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  12. ^ "THE N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Guarantees? Pacers Eliminate Knicks". New York Times. May 14, 1998. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  13. ^ "THE N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; An Era Continues As Jordan Pushes Bulls Past Pacers". New York Times. June 1, 1998. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  14. ^ "Michael Jordan hits 'The Shot', and the Chicago Bulls beat Utah Jazz for their 6th NBA championship". Chicago Tribune. June 15, 1998. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  15. ^ "BUCKING THE ODDS HAYWOODE WORKMAN WAS DOWN WITH A BAD KNEE, BUT NEVER OUT". Vault SI. April 19, 1999. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  16. ^ "Indiana Pacers Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  17. ^ "Indiana Pacers Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
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