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| For a while, Larry Bird's role as president of the Indiana Pacers seemed to be a breeze.
Hired in the summer of 2003, he fired coach Isiah Thomas, hired Rick Carlisle and sat back and watched the team that predecessor Donnie Walsh constructed run off a franchise-record 61 victories and reach the Eastern Conference finals. It was young, balanced and deep, and seemed destined for long-term success. Then came Nov. 19, 2004, when a brawl with 45.9 seconds remaining in a Pacers blowout victory at Detroit sent shock waves through the franchise that still reverberate. Walsh, angered and challenged by the penalties heaped on the franchise, took back most of the personnel matters, although Bird still was in charge of the draft. Since then, the franchise has faced a steady stream of negative events. Franchise foundation Reggie Miller retired . . . former lottery pick Jonathan Bender retired after parts of seven seasons because of knee injuries . . . Ron Artest blurted out a trade demand he later tried to take back, but couldn't, and was moved . . . Stephen Jackson was involved in an incident outside a strip club that led to an eight-player trade with Golden State . . . Jamaal Tinsley and Marquis Daniels were charged in another nightclub incident . . . Carlisle and the franchise parted ways after a midseason collapse led to the first postseason absence since 1997 . . . Shawne Williams was arrested following a traffic stop in which police found a stolen gun and marijuana belonging to two men in the car. Bird, who regained control of personnel matters after last season, has begun a makeover he promises will continue. He hired Jim O'Brien, a no-nonsense coach with an up-tempo playing style. He filled out the roster with young and seemingly hungry players. He slapped Williams with a swift three-game suspension for placing "the franchise in a poor light." |
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| Indiana Pacers All-Star forward Jermaine O'Neal confirmed on Friday that he will miss the remainder of the regular season because of his injured shoulder. However, he hopes to return for the first round of the playoffs should the Pacers qualify. O'Neal sustained a subluxated sprain of the right shoulder during a March 3 Indiana Pacers All-Star forward Jermaine O'Neal confirmed on Friday that he will miss the remainder of the regular season because of his injured shoulder. However, he hopes to return for the first round of the playoffs should the Pacers qualify. O'Neal sustained a subluxated sprain of the right shoulder during a March 3 loss to the Nuggets when he was hit on the right arm by Denver's Francisco Elson while driving to the basket. He was placed on the injured list the next day and has missed the last seven games. "Unfortunately, I am done for the rest of the regular season," O'Neal said on the team's website. "There is a chance, if rehab goes well, that I can play maybe in the first round of the playoffs. It just depends on what the rehab does. I feel pretty good about it. I feel the possibility is probably greater for me to play in the first round of the playoffs than I felt two or three days ago. "It's good news because I've talked to a lot of doctors. It's an injury that could take surgery but an injury that I should wait and let it naturally heal before I let somebody cut on me because it takes six or seven months to heal and that would put me out a little further going into next season. I've prayed and asked God to heal me and the last three days have been great for me. It's unfortunate that I won't be able to play any more in the regular season." The 26-year-old O'Neal, who made the All-Star Game as a reserve this season, is the Pacers' leading scorer, rebounder and shot-blocker. He is averaging 24.8 points to go along with 9.0 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in 41 contests, including 39 starts. loss to the Nuggets when he was hit on the right arm by Denver's Francisco Elson while driving to the basket. He was placed on the injured list the next day and has missed the last seven games. "Unfortunately, I am done for the rest of the regular season," O'Neal said on the team's website. "There is a chance, if rehab goes well, that I can play maybe in the first round of the playoffs. It just depends on what the rehab does. I feel pretty good about it. I feel the possibility is probably greater for me to play in the first round of the playoffs than I felt two or three days ago. "It's good news because I've talked to a lot of doctors. It's an injury that could take surgery but an injury that I should wait and let it naturally heal before I let somebody cut on me because it takes six or seven months to heal and that would put me out a little further going into next season. I've prayed and asked God to heal me and the last three days have been great for me. It's unfortunate that I won't be able to play any more in the regular season." The 26-year-old O'Neal, who made the All-Star Game as a reserve this season, is the Pacers' leading scorer, rebounder and shot-blocker. He is averaging 24.8 points to go along with 9.0 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in 41 contests, including 39 starts.
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