NBA professional basketball team 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] 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
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
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1973–05–29
Auburn Montgomery
F
44
Croshere, Austin
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 (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
Roster Last transaction: September 8, 1997
Roster Notes [ ]
Regular season [ ]
Season standings [ ]
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)
Conference Semi-finals: 4–1 (Home: 3–0; Road: 1–1)
Conference Finals: 3–4 (Home: 3–0; Road: 0–4)
1998 schedule
Player stats [ ]
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 [ ]
This section is empty. You can help by . (July 2021 )
See also [ ]
References [ ]
^ 1997-98 Indiana Pacers
^ "Bird Takes Over the Pacers" . New York Times . May 13, 1997. Retrieved January 18, 2022 .
^ "Bird Shoots for Coaching Greatness With the Pacers" . New York Times . August 10, 1997. Retrieved July 21, 2017 .
^ "Warriors Trade Mullin to Pacers" . New York Times . August 12, 1997. Retrieved January 18, 2022 .
^ "Starting over: Playing for Bird gives Mullin "chills" up his spine" . AP News . August 13, 1997. Retrieved July 18, 2021 .
^ "1997–98 Indiana Pacers Schedule and Results" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021 .
^ "1998 NBA All-Star Game: East 135, West 114" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved October 23, 2021 .
^ "1997–98 Indiana Pacers Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021 .
^ "Bird Named Coach of the Year" . Washington Post . May 12, 1998. Retrieved July 31, 2021 .
^ "Teams Defense" . NBA.com . Retrieved April 16, 2021 .
^ "N.B.A.: PLAYOFFS; Cleveland Ousted" . New York Times . May 1, 1998. Retrieved July 2, 2021 .
^ "THE N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Guarantees? Pacers Eliminate Knicks" . New York Times . May 14, 1998. Retrieved June 25, 2021 .
^ "THE N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; An Era Continues As Jordan Pushes Bulls Past Pacers" . New York Times . June 1, 1998. Retrieved July 26, 2017 .
^ "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 .
^ "BUCKING THE ODDS HAYWOODE WORKMAN WAS DOWN WITH A BAD KNEE, BUT NEVER OUT" . Vault SI . April 19, 1999. Retrieved June 24, 2021 .
^ "Indiana Pacers Uniform" . Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net . Retrieved July 7, 2021 .
^ "Indiana Pacers Uniform" . Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net . Retrieved July 7, 2021 .
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