Indiana Pacers Dream Team

 

As players get bigger, stronger and faster coupled with rules of

the game being in constant change, conventional wisdom

suggests that players from different eras cannot be compared.

However, I have decided to defy those odds. 

The Indiana Pacers entered the ABA in 1967 as one of the

league’s original members. The name Pacers came based on

Indiana being home to the Indianapolis 500 and the state’s history

of harness racing. 

The Pacers were a quick success, winning three ABA titles in four

years. They also appeared in the ABA championship five times in

nine seasons. The Pacers joined the NBA along with three other

teams (Denver, San Antonio, New York Nets) in 1976. Success in

the NBA, however, was hard to find until 1987. 

Though the Pacers have not won an NBA title, they have six Hall of

Famers and have enjoyed some heated rivalries with the New York

Knicks, Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat. The Pacers have made the

postseason 26 times in the previous 34 years. They were on the

precipice of an NBA title in both 1998 and 2000. In 1998, the Pacers

lost in seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Chicago

Bulls, who won six NBA titles in eight years. In 2000, the Pacers

reached the NBA Finals only to lose to the Los Angeles Lakers in

six games. The Lakers of that ilk won three consecutive NBA titles. 

Today, I put together a Pacers Dream Team. There are some rigid

criteria in making this team. First of all, the player needed to have

played for the Pacers for a minimum of four seasons -- no exceptions.

Since the free agency era began 30 years ago, that standard needs

to be in place. Two-year rentals don’t make this list. This roster is

all-encompassing from all eras. 

Personality or legal flaws are not a deterrent to making this team.

This is basketball, not the Boy Scouts. Being in the Hall of Fame is

the first consideration coupled with impact on the franchise. The

number of All-NBA seasons are a top consideration with longevity

also helping immensely. While I understand it is hard to compare

eras, I’m not going to convolute this discussion. 

Generational reminders

Being on the Pacers during a season of being a championship

contender does not get you a hall pass on this team. However, being

on the Pacers during a bad season is no deterrent to getting a spot

on this team. Winning or losing eras, all high-level performers get

considered. 

To further the challenge, the modern game has evolved into

positionless basketball. The roster will comprise 15 players

encompassing all eras. The starting lineup will be position specific,

after that it will be the best of the rest with four years playing for the

franchise being the first requirement. 

So, if you want to make a case for a player being on the team, don’t

just tell me he should be there and why, tell me who you would

remove. Before you make a case to put someone on the list, ask

yourself, “Who do I take off the list at that position?”

Starters

Point guard: Vern Fleming

The Pacers’ tradition at this position it's not necessarily the deepest

but Fleming is the best choice. Fleming played 11 seasons in

Indiana and averaged double-figure scoring in each of his first

seven seasons. 

He also finished in the NBA's top 20 in terms of assists four times

during the 80s. Fleming lacked All-Star recognition but he averaged

11.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.9 assists in a Pacers uniform. 

Shooting guard: Reggie Miller

If you are looking for a Mr. Pacer, look no further than Miller. He

owns the franchise records for points, steals, assists and minutes

played. Miller is one of the best 3-point shooters ever to put on a

uniform. That being said, his game would fit perfectly today. Miller

finished his career with over 25,000 career points.

Miller helped lead the Pacers to the NBA Finals appearance in 1999-

2000. He was a five-time All-Star and three-time All NBA third team.

Miller is part of the 50-40-90 club (field goal percentage, 3-point

shooting percentage and free throw shooting percentage). Miller

played more games with the same team than all but five players

(John Stockton, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Dirk

Nowitski). 

Small forward: Roger Brown

Brown was known for a quick first step and a jump shot that was

really good from 20 feet. Brown is also one of seven players

unanimously selected to the ABA All-Time team and he is also one

of four players to have his jersey retired by the Pacers. Brown

helped the Pacers to three ABA championships.

Brown was the 1978 NBA playoffs MVP, four-time ABA All-Star and

three time All ABA (one as a first-teamer). Brown was also inducted

into the Hall of Fame. 

Power forward: Jermaine O’Neal

O'Neal was among the first wave of players to enter the NBA from

the high school ranks in the late 1990s. After four fairly nondescript

seasons in Portland, O'Neal blossomed during his years with the

Pacers. O'Neal became a force on both ends of the floor.

All six of O'Neal's All-Star appearances came with the Pacers. He

was also All-NBA second team in 2004 and all NBA 3rd team in two

other Seasons with the Pacers. He was the NBA's most improved

player in 2002. In a Pacers uniform, O'Neal averaged 18.6 points,

9.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.4 block shots per game. 

Center: Rik Smits

Smits was known as the “Dunkin’ Dutchman” but was also one of

the first centers to take his game to the perimeter. In today's game,

that role is known as the stretch five. For the Pacers 1990s playoff

teams, he was often the complimentary player in the post while Miller

roamed the perimeter.

Smits helped the Pacers reach the NBA finals in 1999-2000 and

also helped the Pacers nearly knock off Michael Jordan's Bulls in

1998. His lone All-Star season was in 1998. Smits was also NBA

All-Rookie first team in 1989. 

Bench (alphabetical order)

Mel Daniels:

Daniels is the ABA’s all-time leader in total rebounds and second in

ABA career average rebounds. Daniel helped the Pacers win three

ABA championships and was the two-time ABA MVP. He was also

a seven-time ABA All-Star on the way to a Hall of Fame career. In a

Pacers uniform, he averaged 19.4 points and 16.0 rebounds along

with 1.6 blocks shots.

Dale Davis:

Davis brought a physical brand of basketball to the Pacers. Davis did

not post spectacular stats but he was great at setting screens to help

open the perimeter for Miller. Davis still ranks in the top five in team

history in rebounds, blocked shots. In a Pacers uniform, he averaged

9.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.

Johnny Davis:

After helping the Portland Trail Blazers win their only NBA championship,

Davis had for solidly productive Seasons with the Pacers. Though he

did not earn any All-Star recognition, Davis averaged 16.4 points, 2.4

rebounds 5.4 assists and one point to steal with Indiana. 

Paul George:

The word “versatile” most strongly describes George, who is now a Los

Angeles Clipper. The 6-foot-9 swingman spent his first seven NBA

seasons with the Pacers before being traded to the Oklahoma City

Thunder. George is currently one of the best two-way players in the

NBA. Four of his six All-Star appearances came in a Pacers uniform.

During his time in Indiana, George averaged 18.1 points, 6.3 rebounds,

3.2 assist, and 1.7 steals.

Danny Granger:

Much of Granger's legacy is “what could have been.” Injuries

curtailed Granger's career but he established enough of a body of

work to belong on this roster. Granger was a versatile offensive player

with the ability to drive to the basket, shoot from the perimeter and post

up against smaller Defenders. His only All-Star appearance was in

2009, when he was also voted NBA's most improved player. Despite

the injuries, Granger still ranks among the top 10 in franchise history in

points, steals and blocked shots.

Mark Jackson:

Today's point guards have more of a scoring mentality whereas

Jackson played in an era when point guards were Distributors and

facilitators. In Jackson’s six seasons with the Pacers, he did that very

well. Jackson helped lead the Pacers to an NBA Finals appearance in

2000 and their near victory over the Chicago Bulls in 1998. Jackson

was not the flashiest player but was basketball's version of a

quarterback. During his time with the Pacers, Jackson averaged 8.1

points and 8.0 assists per game.

Freddie Lewis:

Though Lewis is not in the Hall of Fame, there are a segment of people

who believe you should be. Lewis was named to the ABA All-Time

team and helped the Pacers win three ABA championships. He was

the ABA Playoffs MVP in 1972 and four-time ABA All-Star. He was also

the ABA All-Star game MVP in 1975. In a Pacers uniform, Lewis

averaged  16.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game.

Billy Knight:

Knight had two different stints (1974-1977; 1979-1983)  with the Pacers.

His time also overlapped the franchise’s transition from the ABA to the

NBA. Night is 3rd and all-time in points scored for the Pacers and is

one of only four players to top the 10,000 point plateau in franchise

history. Knight was an ABA All-Star in 1976 and NBA All-Star in 1977.

In a Pacers uniform, he averaged 18.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.4

assists and 1.1 steals.

George McGinnis: 

McGinnis quickly became an impact player in the ABA and on the

way to a Hall of Fame career, became one of four Pacers to have their

jersey number retired. McGinnis helped the Pacers win two

NBA championships and was the ABA playoffs MVP in 1973 and was

the League's MVP in 1975. In a Pacers uniform, McGinnis averaged

a double-double with 19.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game to go

along with 3.3 assists. 

Bob Netolicky:

Off the court, Netolicky’s mod lifestyle and advocacy for wild animals,

led one sportswriter to call him “the Broadway Joe Namath of the ABA.”

On the court however, he had a smooth jump shot And helped the

Pacers win two ABA championships. He was also a four-time ABA

All-Star in a Pacers uniform, he averaged 15.7 points in 8.9 rebounds

per game. 

Detlef Schrempf:

During his time with the Pacers, Schrempf was the two-time NBA Sixth

Man of the Year. Schrempf played 17 NBA Seasons with four different

teams. Though his most impactful we're with the Seattle

SuperSonics, Schrempf also had four very solid seasons with the

Pacers. During his time in Indiana, he averaged 17.0 points, 8.6

rebounds in 4.1 assists per game. 

Head coach: Bobby “Slick” Leonard

On the way to a Hall of Fame career, Leonard guided the Pacers to

three ABA championships. He is the winningest coach in franchise

history by a significant margin. Leonard guided the Pacers to 529

career regular-season wins in 69 more in the postseason. Leonard

also served as the general manager and his coaching era overlapped

the franchise's transition to the NBA. 

Team: 1997-1998

Though the franchise has three ABA championships to its resume,

the 1998 and 2000 Pacers, are the ones NBA fans remember. Those

two teams did not deliver a championship and had nine players in

common. the 1998 version one two more regular-season games than

the 2000 team. The 1998 team pushed one of the best dynasties in

NBA history, the Chicago Bulls, to seven games before losing. The

2000 team reached the NBA Finals before losing to another heralded

Dynasty, the two thousand leggers. The 2000 team lost to the Lakers

4-2 but never really had a chance to beat them. The 1998 team,

however, nearly derailed the Bulls.