Indiana Pacers

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Team of Note

2004-2005 Indiana Pacers
Record: 44-38
Overall ranking: 510th, 0.586 points above average
    The 2004-2005 Indiana Pacers endured perhaps the wildest season in franchise history.
    The Pacers started the year looking like the team that finished the 2003-2004 campaign with a league-best 61-21 record. A Nov. 19 victory at defending NBA champion Detroit improved Indiana’s record to 7-2 – but also ruined the Pacers season.
    All-Star forward Ron Artest charged into the stands after a fan hit him with a cup of beer late in Indiana’s 97-82 win. The ensuing melee resulted in a season-long suspension for Artest, a 30-game suspension for guard Stephen Jackson, and a 25-game suspension (later reduced to 15 games) for leading scorer Jermaine O’Neal.
    The Pacers later dealt with disruptions ranging from point guard Jamaal Tinsley’s foot injury to O’Neal’s shoulder injury to Reggie Miller’s retirement announcement. Indiana took the floor one night after the brawl in Detroit with just six players in uniform for a game against the Orlando Magic.
    The Pacers still managed a 44-38 record and a playoff spot. Indiana defeated the Boston Celtics in seven games in the first round of the playoffs. The Pacers beat the Celtics 97-70 in Game 7 in Boston, handing the Celtics their worst Game 7 loss in franchise history.
    Indiana’s season came full circle when the Pacers faced the Pistons in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Indiana did take a 2-1 lead in the series, but Detroit imposed its will over the last three games and closed out the Pacers’ season — and Miller’s career — in six games.

Indiana Pacers From Top to Bottom

All-time RankingW-LPlayoffs
871997-98Indiana Pacers58-24East finals
1352003-04Indiana Pacers61-21East finals
1791999-00Indiana Pacers56-26NBA finalist
2321998-99Indiana Pacers33-17East finals
2421994-95Indiana Pacers52-30East finals
2541993-94Indiana Pacers47-35East finals
2721995-96Indiana Pacers52-30East first round
2862002-03Indiana Pacers48-34East first round
4011991-92Indiana Pacers40-42East first round
4151992-93Indiana Pacers41-41East first round
4232005-06Indiana Pacers41-41East first round
4341980-81Indiana Pacers44-38East first round
4471996-97Indiana Pacers39-43
5332004-05Indiana Pacers44-38East semifinals
5902001-02Indiana Pacers42-40East first round
5951989-90Indiana Pacers42-40East first round
6271986-87Indiana Pacers41-41East first round
6321990-91Indiana Pacers41-41East first round
6411987-88Indiana Pacers38-44
6541979-80Indiana Pacers37-45
6642000-01Indiana Pacers41-41East first round
7331978-79Indiana Pacers38-44
7591981-82Indiana Pacers35-47
7671976-77Indiana Pacers36-46
8311977-78Indiana Pacers31-51
8492006-07Indiana Pacers35-47
8691985-86Indiana Pacers26-56
8931988-89Indiana Pacers28-54
9701983-84Indiana Pacers26-56
10281982-83Indiana Pacers20-62
10341984-85Indiana Pacers22-60