2002–03 Indiana Pacers season

2002–03 Indiana Pacers season
Head coach	Isiah Thomas
General manager	Donnie Walsh
Arena	Conseco Fieldhouse
Results
Record	48–34 (.585)
Place	Division: 2nd (Central) Conference: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finish	First round (Lost to Celtics 2–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	Fox Sports Net Midwest, WTTV
< 2001–02 2003–04 >

The 2002–03 NBA season was the Pacers' 27th season in the National Basketball Association, and 36th season as a franchise.^[1] During the off-season, the Pacers signed free agent Erick Strickland. The Pacers got off to a fast start winning 14 of their first 16 games. However, the team struggled losing 12 of 13 games between February 16 and March 12. In March, the team signed free agent All-Star point guard Tim Hardaway. The Pacers finished second in the Central Division with a 48–34 record.^[2]

Head coach Isiah Thomas, Jermaine O'Neal and Brad Miller represented the Eastern Conference during the 2003 NBA All-Star Game.^[3] That game was perhaps known as a storybook ending for Michael Jordan, but O'Neal ruined the moment, fouling Western Conference All-Star Kobe Bryant, who attempted a 3-pointer. Bryant hit 2 of 3 free throws to send the game into overtime. The West won 155–145 in double overtime.^[4] O’Neal averaged 20.8 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, while Ron Artest averaged 15.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, and finished in second place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.^[5] In addition, Brad Miller provided the team with 13.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, while Reggie Miller contributed 12.6 points per game, sixth man Al Harrington provided with 12.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, and second-year guard Jamaal Tinsley averaged 7.8 points, 7.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game.^[6]

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Pacers lost in six games to the 6th-seeded Boston Celtics.^[7] After the season, it was announced that Thomas would not be returning as head coach, replacing him with Rick Carlisle for the next season. Thomas would later return to coach the New York Knicks in 2006. Also following the season, Brad Miller was traded to the Sacramento Kings, while Ron Mercer was dealt to the San Antonio Spurs, Strickland signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Bucks, and Hardaway retired after thirteen seasons in the NBA.

Offseason[]

Draft picks[]

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	14	Fred Jones	SG	United States	Oregon

Roster[]

2002–03 Indiana Pacers roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) From F 23 Artest, Ron 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 244 lb (111 kg) 1979–11–13 St. John's F 24 Bender, Jonathan 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 202 lb (92 kg) 1981–01–30 Picayune Memorial HS (MS) G 2 Brewer, Jamison 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 184 lb (83 kg) 1980–11–19 Auburn C 27 Brezec, Primož  7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 252 lb (114 kg) 1979–10–02 Slovenia F 44 Croshere, Austin 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1975–05–01 Providence C 10 Foster, Jeff 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1977–01–16 Texas State G 14 Hardaway, Tim 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1966–09–01 UTEP F 3 Harrington, Al 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1980–02–17 St. Patrick HS (NJ) G 20 Jones, Fred  6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1979–03–11 Oregon G/F 5 Mercer, Ron 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1976–05–18 Kentucky C 52 Miller, Brad 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 244 lb (111 kg) 1976–04–12 Purdue G/F 31 Miller, Reggie 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1965–08–24 UCLA F/C 7 O'Neal, Jermaine 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1978–10–13 Eau Claire HS (SC) G 21 Strickland, Erick 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1973–11–25 Nebraska G 11 Tinsley, Jamaal 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1978–02–28 Iowa State

Head coach Isiah Thomas Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Last transaction: 2012–10–10

Note[]

Bold = All-Star selection

Regular season[]

Season standings[]

Central Division v t	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Detroit Pistons	50	32	.610	–	30–11	20–21	19–9
x-Indiana Pacers	48	34	.585	2	32–9	16–25	19–9
x-New Orleans Hornets	47	35	.573	3	29–12	18–23	17–11
x-Milwaukee Bucks	42	40	.512	8	25–16	17–24	16–12
Atlanta Hawks	35	47	.427	15	26–15	9–32	14–14
Chicago Bulls	30	52	.366	20	27–14	3–38	12–16
Toronto Raptors	24	58	.293	26	15–26	9–32	10–18
Cleveland Cavaliers	17	65	.207	33	14–27	3–38	5–23

#	Eastern Conference v t
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Detroit Pistons	50	32	.610	–
2	y-New Jersey Nets	49	33	.598	1
3	x-Indiana Pacers	48	34	.585	2
4	x-Philadelphia 76ers	48	34	.585	2
5	x-New Orleans Hornets	47	35	.573	3
6	x-Boston Celtics	44	38	.537	6
7	x-Milwaukee Bucks	42	40	.512	8
8	x-Orlando Magic	42	40	.512	8
9	New York Knicks	37	45	.451	13
10	Washington Wizards	37	45	.451	13
11	Atlanta Hawks	35	47	.427	15
12	Chicago Bulls	30	52	.366	20
13	Miami Heat	25	57	.305	25
14	Toronto Raptors	24	58	.293	26
15	Cleveland Cavaliers	17	65	.207	33

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents[]

2002-03 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MEM	MIA	MIL	MIN	NJN	NOH	NYK	ORL	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	TOR	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	–	0–3	2–2	4–0	0–2	2–0	1–3	0–2	1–1	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–2	0–2	1–3	2–2	1–3	2–1	3–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–1	2–2
Boston	3–0	–	2–2	4–0	0–2	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	2–2	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–2	2–0	1–3	3–1	4–0	3–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–2	1–1	1–3
Chicago	2–2	2–2	–	3–1	0–2	1–1	0–4	1–1	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–2	2–2	0–2	2–2	1–3	2–1	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–2	1–1	1–3
Cleveland	0–4	0–4	1–3	–	0–2	1–1	0–4	1–1	1–1	0–4	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–2	0–4	0–2	2–2	1–3	1–2	0–4	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	3–1	1–1	0–4
Dallas	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	–	4–0	2–0	4–0	4–0	1–1	4–0	1–3	4–0	2–0	0–2	2–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–2	2–0	2–2	2–0
Denver	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–4	–	0–2	0–4	0–4	1–1	1–3	0–4	2–2	2–0	1–1	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–3	2–2	0–4	1–3	1–3	1–1	0–4	1–1
Detroit	3–1	2–2	4–0	4–0	0–2	2–0	–	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–1	1–3	1–1	2–1	2–2	2–2	2–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	2–0	3–1
Golden State	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–4	4–0	1–1	–	1–3	1–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	0–4	0–4	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–2	2–0
Houston	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–4	4–0	0–2	3–1	–	1–1	2–2	2–2	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–3	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–0	1–3	1–1
Indiana	2–2	2–2	2–2	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	–	2–0	0–2	1–1	4–0	3–1	2–0	1–2	3–1	3–1	2–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–0	3–1	1–1	2–2
L.A. Clippers	0–2	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–4	3–1	1–1	2–2	2–2	0–2	–	0–4	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–3	1–3	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–3	0–2
L.A. Lakers	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–2	2–2	2–0	4–0	–	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	2–2	0–4	2–2	2–0	3–1	1–1
Memphis	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	0–4	2–2	0–2	2–2	1–3	1–1	2–2	0–4	–	2–0	2–0	0–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–3	1–3	0–4	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–3	1–1
Miami	3–1	2–2	2–1	2–1	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–4	0–2	1–1	0–2	–	1–3	1–1	0–4	0–4	2–2	0–4	0–4	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	4–0	0–2	1–3
Milwaukee	2–2	2–1	2–2	4–0	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	1–1	0–2	0–2	3–1	–	0–2	2–2	2–2	3–1	2–2	2–2	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–2	0–2	2–1
Minnesota	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–2	4–0	1–1	3–1	2–2	0–2	3–1	2–2	4–0	1–1	2–0	–	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–1	3–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	1–1	1–3	2–0
New Jersey	3–1	3–1	2–2	2–2	0–2	2–0	1–2	1–1	1–1	2–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	–	2–2	3–1	2–2	1–3	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	4–0	0–2	3–1
New Orleans	2–2	1–3	3–1	3–1	0–2	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	2–2	1–1	2–2	–	3–1	1–3	2–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	4–0	2–0	2–1
New York	3–1	0–4	1–2	2–1	0–2	2–0	2–2	0–2	2–0	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–3	0–2	1–3	1–3	–	2–2	2–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	1–1	2–2
Orlando	1–2	2–3	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	1–2	1–1	0–2	1–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	4–0	2–2	1–1	2–2	3–1	2–2	–	2–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–2	1–1	2–2
Philadelphia	1–3	2–2	3–1	4–0	0–2	2–0	2–2	0–2	0–2	2–2	2–0	1–1	2–0	4–0	2–2	1–1	3–1	1–2	2–2	2–2	–	0–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–0	1–1	4–0
Phoenix	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	1–1	2–2	1–3	1–1	3–1	1–3	3–1	0–2	2–0	1–3	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	2–0	–	3–1	2–2	3–1	1–3	1–1	1–3	1–1
Portland	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	2–2	2–0	4–0	3–1	2–0	3–1	2–2	3–1	2–0	0–2	1–3	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	0–2	1–3	–	1–3	2–2	4–0	2–0	1–3	1–1
Sacramento	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	4–0	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	3–1	2–2	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	–	1–3	3–1	1–1	3–1	2–0
San Antonio	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–2	3–1	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	3–1	4–0	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–2	1–1	2–0	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	–	3–1	2–0	4–0	1–1
Seattle	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	2–2	3–1	1–1	2–2	2–2	0–2	3–1	2–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	0–4	1–3	1–3	–	2–0	2–2	1–1
Toronto	3–1	2–1	2–2	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–3	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–4	2–2	1–1	0–4	0–4	1–3	2–2	0–3	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	–	0–2	3–1
Utah	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	4–0	0–2	2–2	3–1	1–1	3–1	1–3	3–1	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–3	0–4	2–2	2–0	–	1–1
Washington	2–2	3–1	3–1	4–0	0–2	1–1	1–3	0–2	1–1	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–1	1–2	0–2	1–3	1–2	2–2	2–2	0–4	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–1	—

Game log[]

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Playoffs[]

2003 playoff game log
First round: 2–4 (Home: 2–1; Road: 0–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 19 Boston L 100–103 Ron Artest (26) Jermaine O'Neal (9) Jamaal Tinsley (9) Conseco Fieldhouse 16,380 0–1 2 April 21 Boston W 89–77 Jermaine O'Neal (23) Jermaine O'Neal (20) Jamaal Tinsley (7) Conseco Fieldhouse 15,881 1–1 3 April 24 @ Boston L 83–101 Jermaine O'Neal (21) Jermaine O'Neal (16) Jamaal Tinsley (8) FleetCenter 18,624 1–2 4 April 27 @ Boston L 92–102 Jermaine O'Neal (25) Jermaine O'Neal (19) Jamaal Tinsley (13) FleetCenter 18,624 1–3 5 April 29 Boston W 93–88 (OT) Ron Artest (26) Jermaine O'Neal (22) Tim Hardaway (6) Conseco Fieldhouse 15,326 2–3 6 May 1 @ Boston L 90–110 Jermaine O'Neal (25) Jermaine O'Neal (19) Erick Strickland (5) FleetCenter 18,624 2–4
2003 schedule

Player statistics[]

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
Jermaine O'Neal	77	76	37.2	.484	.333	.731	10.3	2.0	0.9	2.3	20.8
Ron Artest	69	67	33.6	.428	.336	.736	5.2	2.9	2.3	0.7	15.5
Brad Miller	73	72	31.1	.493	.313	.818	8.3	2.6	0.9	0.6	13.1
Reggie Miller	70	70	30.2	.441	.355	.900	2.5	2.4	0.9	0.1	12.6
Al Harrington	82	37	30.1	.434	.283	.770	6.2	1.5	0.9	0.4	12.2
Jamaal Tinsley	73	69	30.6	.396	.277	.714	3.6	7.5	1.7	0.2	7.8
Ron Mercer	72	3	23.2	.409	.188	.802	2.1	1.6	0.7	0.2	7.7
Jonathan Bender	46	2	17.8	.441	.358	.714	2.9	0.9	0.2	1.2	6.6
Erick Strickland	71	10	18.0	.429	.388	.805	2.0	2.9	0.5	0.1	6.5
Austin Croshere	49	0	12.9	.411	.391	.815	3.2	1.1	0.1	0.3	5.1
Tim Hardaway	10	0	12.7	.367	.355	.500	1.5	2.4	0.9	0.0	4.9
Jamison Brewer	10	0	8.0	.529	.000	.444	0.9	1.8	0.2	0.1	2.2
Jeff Foster	77	2	10.4	.360	.000	.540	3.6	0.7	0.4	0.3	2.1
Primoz Brezec	22	1	5.0	.395	.000	.600	1.0	0.2	0.1	0.2	1.9
Fred Jones	19	1	6.1	.375	.286	.750	0.5	0.3	0.3	0.1	1.2

Playoffs[]

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Jermaine O'Neal	6	6	45.3	.467	.000	.785	17.5	0.7	0.5	3.0	22.8
Ron Artest	6	6	42.0	.389	.387	.800	5.8	2.2	2.5	1.0	19.0
Reggie Miller	6	6	29.3	.283	.160	.913	2.3	2.3	0.2	0.2	9.2
Brad Miller	6	6	22.5	.450		.727	5.5	2.5	0.8	0.0	8.7
Jamaal Tinsley	6	6	30.8	.571	.615	.500	3.0	6.5	0.7	0.0	8.5
Ron Mercer	6	0	22.5	.327		.875	2.2	1.2	1.0	0.2	6.5
Jonathan Bender	3	0	11.3	.333	.333	.667	2.3	0.0	0.0	0.7	5.7
Erick Strickland	5	0	8.4	.429	.200	.800	1.4	1.6	0.2	0.0	4.2
Austin Croshere	4	0	11.5	.263	.000	.857	4.3	0.8	0.0	0.3	4.0
Tim Hardaway	4	0	11.8	.333	.300		0.5	2.3	0.3	0.0	3.3
Al Harrington	6	0	17.2	.212	.000	.667	3.7	0.8	1.0	0.5	3.0
Jeff Foster	6	0	6.3	.545		1.000	1.3	0.3	0.0	0.5	2.3

Player Statistics Citation:^[6]

Awards and records[]

• Isiah Thomas, List of NBA All-Star Game head coaches
• Jermaine O'Neal, NBA All-Star Game
• Brad Miller, NBA All-Star Game
• Jermaine O'Neal, All-NBA Third Team
• Ron Artest, NBA All-Defensive Second Team

Transactions[]

This section is empty. You can help by . (January 2011)

References[]

See also[]

• 2002–03 NBA season