1997–98 Indiana Pacers season

The 1997–98 NBA season was the Pacers' 22nd season in the National Basketball Association, and 31st season as a franchise.[1] It was also Larry Bird's first year as head coach.[2] During the offseason, the Pacers acquired All-Star forward Chris Mullin from the Golden State Warriors. The team struggled early in the season losing five of their first seven games, but then won 15 of their next 18 games. The Pacers won nine of their final eleven games, and returned to the playoffs after a one-year absence finishing second in the Central Division with a 58–24 record. It was also the first time since joining the NBA that the Pacers finished with a winning road record. Reggie Miller, Rik Smits and coach Bird represented the Eastern Conference during the 1998 NBA All-Star Game. It was Smits' only All-Star appearance. Bird was also named Coach of The Year.

1997–98 Indiana Pacers season
Head coachLarry Bird
General managerDonnie Walsh
PresidentDonnie Walsh
Owners
ArenaMarket Square Arena
Results
Record58–24 (.707)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Central)
Conference: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finishConference Finals
(Lost to Bulls 3–4)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionFox Sports Midwest, WTTV
RadioWIBC

In the playoffs, the Pacers would defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers three games to one in the first round, then defeat the 7th-seeded New York Knicks four games to one in the semifinals. However, in the Eastern Conference Finals, they would lose in seven games to the Chicago Bulls in a hard fought series.[3] The Bulls would go on to defeat the Utah Jazz in the finals in six games for their third consecutive championship and sixth overall in eight years. Following the season, the team released Haywoode Workman, who missed the entire season with a knee injury and signed as free agent with the Milwaukee Bucks.

For the season, the team sported new pinstripe uniforms, which would remain in use until 2005.

Draft picks
Main article: 1997 NBA Draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
112Austin CroshereSF/PF United StatesProvidence

Roster
Roster listing
1997–98 Indiana Pacers roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
PG 4 Best, Travis 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 182 lb (83 kg) 1972-07-12 Georgia Tech
PF 21 Bohannon, Etdrick  6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1973-05-29 Auburn Montgomery
PF 44 Croshere, Austin  6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1975-05-01 Providence
F/C 33 Davis, Antonio 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1968-10-31 UTEP
F/C 32 Davis, Dale 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1969-03-25 Clemson
SG 20 Hoiberg, Fred 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 203 lb (92 kg) 1972-10-15 Iowa State
PG 13 Jackson, Mark 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1965-04-01 St. John's
SF 9 McKey, Derrick 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1966-10-10 Alabama
SG 31 Miller, Reggie 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1965-08-24 UCLA
SF 17 Mullin, Chris 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1963-07-30 St. John's
PF 43 Pope, Mark 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1972-09-11 Kentucky
SF 5 Rose, Jalen 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1973-01-30 Michigan
C 45 Smits, Rik 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1966-08-23 Marist
C 41 West, Mark 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1960-11-05 Old Dominion
PG 3 Workman, Haywoode  6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1966-01-23 Oral Roberts
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster
Last transaction: September 8, 1997

Roster Notes

Regular season

Season standings
Central Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Chicago Bulls 6220.756–37–425–1621–7
x-Indiana Pacers 5824.707432–926–1519–9
x-Charlotte Hornets 5131.6221132–919–2216–12
x-Atlanta Hawks 5032.6101229–1221–2019–9
x-Cleveland Cavaliers 4735.5731527–1420–2114–14
Detroit Pistons 3745.4512525–1612–2912–16
Milwaukee Bucks 3646.4392621–2015–269–19
Toronto Raptors 1666.195469–327–342–26
# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Chicago Bulls6220.756–
2 y-Miami Heat5527.6717
3 x-Indiana Pacers5824.7074
4 x-Charlotte Hornets5131.62211
5 x-Atlanta Hawks5032.61012
6 x-Cleveland Cavaliers4735.57315
7 x-New York Knicks4339.52419
8 x-New Jersey Nets4339.52419
9 Washington Wizards4240.51220
10 Orlando Magic4141.50021
11 Detroit Pistons3745.45125
12 Boston Celtics3646.43926
12 Milwaukee Bucks3646.43926
14 Philadelphia 76ers3151.37831
15 Toronto Raptors1666.19546
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents
1997-98 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA VAN WAS
Atlanta —2–14–01–34–02–02–02–22–01–11–32–00–21–33–10–21–22–22–23–10–21–12–01–11–14–00–22–04–0
Boston 1–2—1–21–31–31–11–12–21–11–10–42–01–10–42–21–12–22–22–23–10–21–11–10–21–13–00–22–03–2
Charlotte 0–42–1—1–32–22–02–03–11–12–03–12–01–13–13–11–12–21–33–12–11–12–01–11–11–14–01–12–02–2
Chicago 3–13–13–1—2–21–12–03–12–02–02–22–01–12–14–01–14–04–03–12–11–11–12–02–01–14–00–22–03–1
Cleveland 0–43–12–22–2—1–12–03–12–01–12–22–01–11–32–22–03–11–22–23–12–01–12–00–20–23–11–12–01–2
Dallas 0–21–10–21–11–1—3–10–21–30–41–11–30–40–20–22–20–21–10–20–20–40–40–40–42–21–10–44–01–1
Denver 0–21–10–20–20–21–3—0–21–30–40–22–20–40–20–21–30–20–20–20–20–42–21–30–40–40–20–41–31–1
Detroit 2–22–21–31–31–32–02–0—2–01–11–32–00–21–22–20–22–22–21–23–11–10–21–11–10–24–00–20–22–2
Golden State 0–21–11–10–20–23–13–10–2—1–30–21–31–30–20–20–40–21–11–10–20–41–32–21–31–30–20–41–30–2
Houston 1–11–10–20–21–14–04–01–13–1—1–14–01–30–21–11–31–11–10–21–11–31–34–02–21–32–00–43–11–1
Indiana 3–14–01–32–22–21–12–03–12–01–1—2–00–23–14–02–02–12–13–14–01–11–12–00–20–24–01–12–04–0
L.A. Clippers 0–20–20–20–20–23–12–20–23–10–40–2—0–40–20–20–41–10–20–21–10–40–43–11–30–41–11–31–30–2
L.A. Lakers 2–01–11–11–11–14–04–02–03–13–12–04–0—1–12–04–01–11–11–10–22–22–24–04–01–32–03–14–01–1
Miami 3–14–01–31–23–12–02–02–12–02–01–32–01–1—3–11–13–12–23–14–00–22–02–00–20–24–01–12–02–2
Milwaukee 1–32–21–30–42–22–02–02–22–01–10–42–00–21–3—1–10–43–12–12–20–22–02–00–21–13–10–21–11–2
Minnesota 2–01–11–11–10–22–23–12–04–03–10–24–00–41–11–1—2–01–10–22–03–11–33–11–31–31–11–34–00–2
New Jersey 2–12–22–20–41–32–02–02–22–01–11–21–11–11–34–00–2—2–23–13–11–11–12–01–10–23–10–22–01–3
New York 2–22–23–10–42–11–12–02–21–11–11–22–01–12–21–31–12–2—4–02–22–01–11–10–21–13–10–22–01–3
Orlando 2–22–21–31–32–22–02–02–11–12–01–32–01–11–31–22–01–30–4—4–00–22–00–20–21–13–10–22–03–1
Philadelphia 1–31–31–21–21–32–02–01–32–01–10–41–12–00–42–20–21–32–20–4—1–11–11–10–20–22–20–22–03–1
Phoenix 2–02–01–11–10–24–04–01–14–03–11–14–02–22–02–01–31–10–22–01–1—2–23–13–12–22–01–34–01–1
Portland 1–11–10–21–11–14–02–22–03–13–11–14–02–20–20–23–11–11–10–21–12–2—3–12–20–42–03–12–21–1
Sacramento 0–21–11–10–20–24–03–11–12–20–40–21–30–40–20–21–30–21–12–01–11–31–3—0–41–31–12–22–21–1
San Antonio 1–12–01–10–22–04–04–01–13–12–22–03–10–42–02–03–11–12–02–02–01–32–24–0—2–22–01–34–01–1
Seattle 1–11–11–11–12–02–24–02–03–13–12–04–03–12–01–13–12–01–11–12–02–24–03–12–2—2–02–24–01–1
Toronto 0–40–30–40–41–31–12–00–42–00–20–41–10–20–41–31–11–31–31–32–20–20–21–10–20–2—0–21–10–3
Utah 2–02–01–12–01–14–04–02–04–04–01–13–11–31–12–03–12–02–02–02–03–11–32–23–12–22–0—4–00–2
Vancouver 0–20–20–20–20–20–43–12–03–11–30–23–10–40–21–10–40–20–20–20–20–42–22–20–40–41–10–4—1–1
Washington 0–42–32–21–32–11–11–12–22–01–10–42–01–12–22–12–03–13–11–31–31–11–11–11–11–13–02–01–1—

Game log
1997–98 Game Log
October:
November:
December:
January:
February:
March:
April:

Playoffs

East First Round

(3) Indiana Pacers vs. (6) Cleveland Cavaliers Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Pacers and Cavaliers.

Game Date Home Score Visitor Score Record

(IND-CLE)

 Venue Box score Television
1 April 23 Indiana 106 Cleveland 77 1-0 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana 1 TNT 8:00et
2 April 25 Indiana 92 Cleveland 86 2-0 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana 2 NBC 1:00et
3 April 27 Cleveland 86 Indiana 77 2-1 Gund Arena, Cleveland, Ohio 3 TNT 7:00et
4 April 30 Cleveland 74 Indiana 80 3-1 Gund Arena, Cleveland, Ohio 4 TBS 7:00et
Indiana wins series 3–1

East Conference Semifinals

(3) Indiana Pacers vs. (7) New York Knicks Last Playoff Meeting: 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Indiana won 4-1)

Game Date Home Score Visitor Score Record

(IND-NYK)

 Venue Box score Television
1 May 5 Indiana 93 New York 83 1-0 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana 1 TNT 8:00et
2 May 7 Indiana 85 New York 77 2-0 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana 2 TNT 8:00et
3 May 9 New York 83 Indiana 76 2-1 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York 3 NBC 1:00et
4 May 10 New York 107 Indiana 118 3-1 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York 4 NBC 12:30et
5 May 13 Indiana 99 New York 88 4-1 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana 5 TNT 7:00et
Indiana wins series 4–1

East Conference Finals

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (3) Indiana Pacers Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Bulls and Pacers.

Game Date Home Score Visitor Score Record

(CHI-IND)

 Venue Box score Television
1 May 17 Chicago 85 Indiana 79 1-0 United Center, Chicago, Illinois 1 NBC 3:30et
2 May 19 Chicago 104 Indiana 98 2-0 United Center, Chicago, Illinois 2 TNT 8:30et
3 May 23 Indiana 107 Chicago 105 2-1 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana 3 NBC 3:30et
4 May 25 Indiana 96 Chicago 94 2-2 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana 4 NBC 3:30et
5 May 27 Chicago 106 Indiana 87 3-2 United Center, Chicago, Illinois 5 NBC 9:00et
6 May 29 Indiana 92 Chicago 89 3-3 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana 6 NBC 9:00et
7 May 31 Chicago 88 Indiana 83 4-3 United Center, Chicago, Illinois 7 NBC 7:00et
Chicago wins series 4–3

Player stats

Note: GP= Games played; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; AVG = Average

Season
Player GP REB AST STL BLK PTS AVG
Reggie Miller812321717811157819.5
Rik Smits735051014088121616.7
Chris Mullin82249186953992711.3
Antonio Davis825606145727859.6
Jalen Rose8219515556147719.4
Mark Jackson823227138426788.3
Dale Davis786117051876268.0
Travis Best821222818555356.5
Derrick McKey572118857303596.3
Fred Hoiberg65123454032614.0
Austin Croshere2645895762.9
Mark West1515224231.5
Mark Pope2826736391.4
Etdrick Bohannon5610200.0
  • Starters in BOLD

Playoffs
Player GP REB AST STL BLK PTS AVG
Reggie Miller
Rik Smits
Antonio Davis
Mark Jackson
Chris Mullin
Dale Davis
Jalen Rose
Travis Best
Derrick McKey
Fred Hoiberg
Mark Pope
Mark West

Awards

See also

References
  1. 1997-98 Indiana Pacers
  2. "Bird Shoots for Coaching Greatness With the Pacers". New York Times. August 10, 1997. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  3. "THE N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; An Era Continues As Jordan Pushes Bulls Past Pacers". New York Times. June 1, 1998. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
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