Rip Hamilton helped hand Indiana their first defeat at Consececo Fieldhouse, scoring a career playoff high on 12-of-22 shooting, including one three-pointer.
"Tonight we just wanted to come out and hit first," Hamilton said. "We wanted to come out and not get down and get on top early. I think it was all mental from the last game. We had an opportunity to make some ground up last game and we came out relaxed and we ended up playing a way that we're not used to play. Tonight we said we'd play together at both ends of the floor. Move the ball side-to-side and make plays. Both teams are great defensive teams and do a great job of zoning up. When I was in Washington coach Doug Collins said, 'If you keep moving nobody can guard that.' "
If the Pistons win Game 6 on Tuesday in Detroit, they will advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since the 1989-90 season when they won their second championship.
Via Detroit Free Press
Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers
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The head coaches of each of the Eastern Conference finals teams are taking some verbal shots and the exchange is getting a bit sharper.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle told his team before Game 4 that all the pressure was on the Pistons in the series because they had made it to the Eastern Conference finals last season and that their season could only be a success by advancing to the NBA Finals.
Pistons coach Larry Brown didn’t like the comments and responded this way: “I would hope that both teams are looking to go to the Finals. That team is pretty good. They had the best record in the league. So you mean with the best record in the league, you're supposed to lose?”
“Now we're playing the team with the best record in the league and we're supposed to win?” Brown continued. “Maybe that's the way he feels. Maybe he doesn't expect them to win.”
In response to these statements, Carlisle said: “Right now, I don't feel like the pressure is on us at all. I think most of the national media has written us off in this series.”
Via Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons
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If the Orlando Magic do not improve - and quickly - look for McGrady to be requesting a transfer out West by mid-July.
While this doesn't leave the Magic with much time, the pressure on the team has intesified with their star forward voicing concerns that their recently acquired first overall pick cannot land a player good enough to improve the team dramatically and that he'd prefer the team trade the pick.
"I don't want to be here rebuilding," McGrady said.
Contrary to reports of McGrady jumping ship to either San Antonio or the Lakers he lists the Houston Rockets as the front runners to acquire his services should he leave, with Indiana and Detroit both possibilities in the East.
"I don't want to go there," McGrady said of the Spurs and Lakers. "I don't want to go somewhere where everything's already in place. That would be too easy. I want a challenge."
Via Orlando Sentinel
Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons
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Pacers May 2004 Archive
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ESPN | May 29, 2004
Larry Brown was outcoached and Austin Croshere made the Pistons pay.
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The Detroit News | May 28, 2004
It would be difficult to imagine the Pacers getting back up from the mat to win three straight games, so the Pistons must knocking their opponent down with a Game 4 win tonight at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
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The Detroit News | May 28, 2004
Despite trailing 2-1 and having history against them, the Pacers expressed calm and resolve on Thursday after practice.
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New York Times | May 28, 2004
The Los Angeles Lakers moved to the brink of returning to the NBA Finals with a 92-85 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the teams’ best-of-seven Western Conference Finals series.
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The Detroit News | May 28, 2004
The Pacers guards will have to do something to neutralize Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton, whose play has been the motor that makes the Pistons go in the Eastern Conference Finals.
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Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel | May 27, 2004
Milwaukee Bucks' star guard Michael Redd may be considered for a spot with Team USA basketball.
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New York Times | May 27, 2004
In another game of poor shooting, the Detroit Pistons beat the Indiana Pacers Wednesday night at the Palace of Auburn Hills, 85-78, to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals.
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Indianapolis Star | May 26, 2004
Ron Artest was fined $10,000 by the NBA league office for an obscene gesture he made during Monday's playoff loss to Detroit.
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New York Daily News | May 26, 2004
Robert Parish is not impressed with Rasheed's Wallace bravado, nor the quality of his play for that matter.
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New York Post | May 25, 2004
"Last year we fell apart, so it came down to this might not work and we decided we probably have to change," said
Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh about the decision to fire Isiah Thomas as head coach.
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Detroit Free Press | May 25, 2004
Rasheed Wallace never guaranteed that he’d be the best player on the court in the Pistons’ Game 2 victory.
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NBA.com | May 25, 2004
In one of the best defensive efforts in the history of NBA playoff basketball, the Detroit Pistons beat the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, 72-67.
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Detroit Free Press | May 24, 2004
Rasheed Wallace was mobbed by reporters who wanted to hear more from the star power forward.
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Detroit Free Press | May 23, 2004
Perry A.
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Detroit Free Press | May 22, 2004
The Pacers have nothing but love for their coach Rick Carlisle and are dumbfounded to the reasons why he was fired from Detroit.
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NBA.com | May 19, 2004
The Pacers beat the Heat in Game 6 in AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami, 73-70, winning the playoff series 4-2 and advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals.
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Miami Herald | May 19, 2004
This Heat’s season that just ended was full of surprises and progress.
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The Miami Herald | May 18, 2004
Amid the excitement of the Heat’s surprising playoff run this season is the story of two boys who lost their brothers in a house fire and the relationship they since formed with the Heat players.
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Sun-Sentinel | May 17, 2004
When the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series resumes tonight with the Pacers leading the Heat 3-2, the Heat will be back on its homecourt.
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NBA.com | May 16, 2004
Jeff Foster had a career night, scoring 20 points and pulling down 16 rebounds, as the Pacers won Game 5 of their Eastern Conference playoff series with the Heat, 94-83, to take a 3-2 advantage.
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Miami Herald | May 13, 2004
The Pacers’ Al Harrington and Jamaal Tinsley said Tuesday that they need to be more rough with Dwayne Wade, the Heat’s standout rookie.
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NBA.com | May 13, 2004
Rookie Dwayne Ward scored two pressure baskets in the stretch as the Heat held on to beat the Pacers 100-88 and tie their playoff series 2-2.
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Indianapolis Star | May 12, 2004
Despite a late run, the Pacers lost Game 3 of the playoff series with the Heat last night, breaking their 11-game winning streak.
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Mark Montieth of the Indianapolis Star | May 11, 2004
The team that won 61 games can't hit a foul shot, can't get consistent offensive play from its leading scorers and can't outrebound a smaller team it dominated in the regular season.
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Stephen F. Holder of Miami Herald | May 11, 2004
The Heat will be spending its weekend in Indianapolis, and if you're a Miami fan, that's very good news.
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Yahoo! | May 11, 2004
Rookie guard Dwyane Wade sliced down the lane, took a pass from Lamar Odom and dunked over Jermaine O'Neal -- one of the league's best defenders.
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Indianapolis Star | May 10, 2004
Jermaine O'Neal sees Brian Grant and he has flashbacks.
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Miami Herald | May 10, 2004
Profound, insincere apologies in advance for any tone of premature past tense here.
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Indianapolis Star | May 4, 2004
He might have finished third this year in the MVP voting, but Pacers forward Jermaine O'Neal still aims to have his name up next to that of Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan, the two players who beat him in the voting this year, in the future.
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Boston Globe | May 3, 2004
Is there any reason for the Hornets-Heat series to go 2 1/2 weeks? That is the question asked by Peter May of the Boston Globe.
