Pacers

[peter delevett <pdelevett@amcity.com>]

D Jessen raised some very good points with the parallels between the Pacers
and the Celtics. The primary reason the Pacers are among the favorites to win
a ring this year is that they have maintained the same veteran core for years.
Miller, Smits and the Davises have played there their whole careers; Jackson,
with the exception of the 1-year Denver exile, has been there since 94. Like
the Rockets and Pistons, they then added one key veteran (in this case,
Mullin) to the core group, and fleshed out the other spots by drafting or
trading for young players and letting them develop.

Like Walker, Reggie Miller caused many people in the leage to question his
maturity and leadership (as well as his selfishness and shot selection) early
in his career. The Pacers hung tough and let him mature, and were rewarded. I
know the Peter Mays of the world doubt whether Walker will turn into a special
player, and maybe they're right -- the Pacers, after all, once were in love
with Chuck Person -- but I am all for suffering the growing pains and seeing
if we can take a step forward next season after a proper training camp. If
there's a new point man in town, so be it, but let's not rush to send off
Mercer, Walker, Pierce, Vitaly & Battie.