The beat goes on. Let us review: best player: out for most of the season (JO) 2nd best player: suspended for the season (Artest) starting PG: torn ligament in foot, in and out all year (Tinsley) starting Center and backup center (Foster, Pollard): recurring back injuries, out all year starting SG: broken hand, missed 1 month (Reggie) backup PG: broken hand, missed 1 month (Anthony Johnson) 6th man Steven Jackson: lost months to suspension expected 7th man Bender: out all year with leg injury Arguably their best 9 players have each missed on average well over half a season. This must be the most missed games of any NBA team in history, or any sports team in any sport. lottery here we come. Amazing to be hanging near 0.500. http://www.indystar.com/articles/3/229484-4813-036.html O'Neal's season likely over Carlisle says Pacers aren't expecting All-Star to return By Mike Wells mike.wells@indystar.com March 16, 2005 The Indiana Pacers still don't have an answer on the severity of the injury to Jermaine O'Neal's right shoulder, but they essentially removed any hope Tuesday of their best player returning this season. "We have to go on the idea that he's not going to be here," coach Rick Carlisle said. "That's how we have to approach it. We can't be hanging our hopes on his return. It's going to be awhile if he comes back at all." O'Neal suffered the injury March 3. O'Neal has seen several doctors, including ones in Portland, Ore., and Los Angeles, to get opinions. The Pacers are waiting to re-evaluate his shoulder once the swelling goes down. There hasn't been a decision on surgery, but if it is required O'Neal will be sidelined for several months. "The doctors are waiting to see if that's the right way to go or not," Carlisle said. As he has done since the injury, O'Neal declined interview requests Tuesday as he walked out of the practice gym with an ice pack on his shoulder. "I think everybody has blocked it out," forward Stephen Jackson said. "If he comes back, he comes back." The Pacers also said Tuesday that forward Jonathan Bender, who has played just seven games because of a knee problem, isn't expected to play again this season. Bender, who is making $6.5 million this season, will travel to Boston this week to work with physical therapist Dan Dyrek. Bender has played in 28 games the past two seasons. "I don't think we're counting on Jonathan being back this season," Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh said. "We want him to get his leg back. Dan said Jonathan will definitely play in the NBA. We're willing to let this happen for the future. If Dan says he can play before the season ends, that's fine, but we're not counting on it." Some help might be on the way, however. Point guard Jamaal Tinsley, who has played in only two games since injuring his left foot Jan. 31, is close to returning. O'Neal's status is the latest jolt in a jarring season filled with suspensions and injuries. The Pacers, who host Utah tonight at Conseco Fieldhouse, entered Tuesday's games tied with Orlando for the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference with 20 games left. The Magic played at Sacramento, but the game ended too late for this edition of The Star. "It's like losing Shaq in Miami or losing Tim Duncan (in San Antonio)," Jackson said. "We need him, but we still have to play. It's frustrating to everybody. We've been through so much this year that if anything happens, we expect it. We can't be concerned with who is not here." The Pacers are 3-2 since O'Neal's injury, but the teams they beat are a combined 63-125. The real test will come the next two weeks. The Pacers have games against San Antonio, Detroit, Chicago and Miami, teams that are headed to the playoffs. "We just have to adjust and we have to alter our style a little bit," Carlisle said. "Defensively, it will be important that we are solid."
i never have been much of a pacers fan, but damn they have bad luck. I hope they get into the play-offs.
Can't really feel sorry for the team on the suspensions, they did that to themselves, and they were deserved. Losing Jermaine O'Neal was a blow.
That's what San Antonio thought when they just missed the playoffs due to lots of injuries. Then their ping pong ball came up and they got Tim Duncan. There's no Duncan, but I'd take a Chris Paul at #3 and be very happy.
What's worse luck, having all those players out, or having Jeff Foster and Scot Pollard be your starting and backup centers??
