The 2003–04 NBA season was the Pacers' 28th season in the National Basketball Association , and 37th season as a franchise.[ 1] During the offseason, former Pacers head coach Larry Bird was named President of Basketball Operations. One of Bird's first moves in his new position was to fire head coach Isiah Thomas , after Thomas had led the Pacers to first-round playoff exits for three consecutive years. The defensive-minded Rick Carlisle , former head coach of the Detroit Pistons , was announced as Thomas' replacement. Also during the offseason, the Pacers acquired Scot Pollard from the Sacramento Kings in a three-team trade and signed free agent Kenny Anderson .
The Pacers got off to a fast start winning 14 of their first 16 games, and finished the season with a record of 61–21, which was worthy of the Eastern Conference first seed in the playoffs , guaranteed home-court advantage throughout the playoffs for the first time since 2000, and a new all-time franchise-best win–loss record. Jermaine O'Neal was named to the All-NBA Second Team, the first Pacer ever to do so, and even finished third in the MVP voting, which was the highest in the voting any Pacers player had ever reached. Ron Artest was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, and also was named Defensive Player of the Year , the first Pacer ever to receive this award. Both O'Neal and Artest were selected for the 2004 NBA All-Star Game , with Carlisle coaching the Eastern Conference. Second-year guard Fred Jones won the Slam Dunk Contest during the All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles .
In the first round of the playoffs, the Pacers swept the 8th-seeded Boston Celtics 4–0. They proceeded to defeat the 4th-seeded Miami Heat 4–2 in the second round, earning the Pacers their sixth spot in the Eastern Conference finals in 11 years. The Pacers fell 2–4 in the Eastern Conference finals to the eventual NBA champions, the 3rd-seeded Detroit Pistons , who were coached by former Pacers coach Larry Brown .[ 2] Following the season, Al Harrington was traded to the Atlanta Hawks , while Anderson went along with him signing as a free agent with the Hawks.
Round
Pick
Player
Position
Nationality
College
2
49
James Jones
SF
United States
Miami
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
PG
13
Anderson, Kenny
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
168 lb (76 kg)
1970-10-09
Georgia Tech
SF
23
Artest, Ron
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
244 lb (111 kg)
1979-11-13
St. John's
SF
24
Bender, Jonathan
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
202 lb (92 kg)
1981-01-30
Picayune Memorial HS (MS)
PG
2
Brewer, Jamison
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
184 lb (83 kg)
1980-11-19
Auburn
C
27
Brezec, Primož
7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)
252 lb (114 kg)
1979-10-02
Slovenia
PF
44
Croshere, Austin
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1975-05-01
Providence
C
10
Foster, Jeff
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
250 lb (113 kg)
1977-01-16
Texas State
PF
3
Harrington, Al
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1980-02-17
St. Patrick HS (NJ)
PG
8
Johnson, Anthony
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1974-10-02
College of Charleston
SG
20
Jones, Fred
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1979-03-11
Oregon
SF
33
Jones, James
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1980-10-04
Miami (FL)
SG
31
Miller, Reggie
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1965-08-24
UCLA
PF
7
O'Neal, Jermaine
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
260 lb (118 kg)
1978-10-13
Eau Claire HS (SC)
C
62
Pollard, Scot
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
278 lb (126 kg)
1975-02-12
Kansas
PG
11
Tinsley, Jamaal
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1978-02-28
Iowa State
Head coach
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Roster Last transaction: 2004–03–10
Record vs. opponents
edit
2003–04 NBA Records
Team
ATL
BOS
CHI
CLE
DAL
DEN
DET
GSW
HOU
IND
LAC
LAL
MEM
MIA
MIL
MIN
NJN
NOH
NYK
ORL
PHI
PHO
POR
SAC
SAS
SEA
TOR
UTA
WAS
Atlanta
–
3–1
3–1
1–3
2–0
2–0
1–3
0–2
0–2
0–4
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–3
2–2
1–1
1–3
2–2
0–3
1–3
1–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–3
0–2
2–2
Boston
1–3
–
1–2
3–1
1–1
2–0
0–3
2–0
1–1
1–3
0–2
0–2
1–1
2–2
1–3
1–1
2–2
0–4
1–3
3–1
3–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–1
1–1
3–1
Chicago
1–3
2–1
–
2–2
0–2
0–2
0–4
1–1
0–2
1–3
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–4
1–3
0–2
0–3
2–2
2–2
3–1
0–4
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
4–0
1–1
1–3
Cleveland
3–1
1–3
2–2
–
0–2
0–2
2–2
0–2
0–2
1–3
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–2
2–2
0–2
1–2
3–1
4–0
2–1
3–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–0
1–3
1–1
2–2
Dallas
0–2
1–1
2–0
2–0
–
2–2
1–1
3–1
3–1
0–2
2–2
2–2
2–2
1–1
1–1
2–2
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–1
3–1
3–1
3–1
3–1
3–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
Denver
0–2
0–2
2–0
2–0
2–2
–
0–2
3–1
2–2
0–2
2–2
1–3
2–2
1–1
2–0
1–3
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
4–0
4–0
2–2
1–3
2–2
0–2
3–1
2–0
Detroit
3–1
3–0
4–0
2–2
1–1
2–0
–
1–1
1–1
1–3
2–0
1–1
2–0
4–0
3–1
0–2
2–2
1–3
3–1
3–1
2–2
2–0
2–0
0–2
1–1
1–1
3–1
1–1
3–0
Golden State
2–0
0–2
1–1
2–0
1–3
1–3
1–1
–
2–2
0–2
2–2
1–3
1–3
1–1
1–1
2–2
0–2
0–2
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
Houston
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–3
2–2
1–1
2–2
–
1–1
4–0
2–2
1–3
1–1
2–0
2–2
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–3
3–1
0–4
0–4
1–3
1–1
2–2
2–0
Indiana
4–0
3–1
3–1
3–1
2–0
2–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
–
2–0
1–1
1–1
3–0
1–3
1–1
3–1
2–2
3–1
3–1
4–0
2–0
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–0
4–0
2–0
2–1
L.A. Clippers
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–2
2–2
0–2
2–2
0–4
0–2
–
1–3
0–4
0–2
2–0
0–4
0–2
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
3–1
2–2
0–4
1–3
0–4
1–1
1–3
0–2
L.A. Lakers
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–2
3–1
1–1
3–1
2–2
1–1
3–1
–
2–2
2–0
2–0
1–3
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–1
3–1
2–2
1–3
3–1
3–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
Memphis
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–2
0–2
3–1
3–1
1–1
4–0
2–2
–
1–1
1–1
1–3
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
2–0
1–3
2–0
Miami
3–1
2–2
4–0
2–2
1–1
1–1
0–4
1–1
1–1
0–3
2–0
0–2
1–1
–
1–2
0–2
3–2
3–1
1–3
4–0
1–3
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
2–0
2–1
1–1
4–0
Milwaukee
2–2
3–1
3–1
2–2
1–1
0–2
1–3
1–1
0–2
3–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
2–1
–
0–2
3–1
1–3
2–2
3–1
2–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
3–1
1–1
3–1
Minnesota
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–2
3–1
2–0
2–2
2–2
1–1
4–0
3–1
3–1
2–0
2–0
–
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
4–0
1–3
3–1
2–2
3–1
2–0
2–2
2–0
New Jersey
3–1
2–2
3–0
2–1
0–2
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
1–3
2–0
0–2
0–2
2–3
1–3
1–1
–
2–1
3–1
4–0
3–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
2–0
2–2
1–1
4–0
New Orleans
2–2
4–0
2–2
1–3
0–2
1–1
3–1
2–0
0–2
2–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–3
3–1
0–2
1–2
–
1–2
4–0
2–2
1–1
2–0
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–3
1–1
3–1
New York
3–0
3–1
2–2
0–4
0–2
1–1
1–3
0–2
0–2
1–3
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–1
2–2
1–1
1–3
2–1
–
3–1
3–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–1
0–2
4–0
Orlando
3–1
1–3
1–3
1–2
0–2
1–1
1–3
1–1
0–2
1–3
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–4
1–3
0–2
0–4
0–4
1–3
–
2–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–2
1–1
4–0
Philadelphia
2–1
1–3
4–0
1–3
1–1
0–2
2–2
1–1
0–2
0–4
1–1
1–1
0–2
3–1
1–2
1–1
1–3
2–2
1–3
2–2
–
1–1
1–1
0–2
2–0
1–1
1–3
0–2
2–2
Phoenix
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–3
0–4
0–2
2–2
3–1
0–2
1–3
1–3
2–2
1–1
1–1
0–4
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
–
2–2
1–3
0–4
2–2
0–2
1–3
1–1
Portland
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–3
0–4
0–2
2–2
1–3
1–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
2–0
1–1
3–1
2–0
0–2
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–2
–
3–1
0–4
2–2
1–1
2–2
1–1
Sacramento
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–3
2–2
2–0
2–2
4–0
2–0
4–0
3–1
2–2
1–1
1–1
1–3
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
3–1
1–3
–
2–2
3–1
2–0
3–1
1–1
San Antonio
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–3
3–1
1–1
2–2
4–0
1–1
3–1
1–3
1–3
2–0
1–1
2–2
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
0–2
4–0
4–0
2–2
–
4–0
2–0
4–0
2–0
Seattle
1–1
1–1
2–0
0–2
1–3
2–2
1–1
1–3
3–1
0–2
4–0
1–3
3–1
0–2
2–0
1–3
0–2
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–2
2–2
1–3
0–4
–
1–1
1–3
1–1
Toronto
3–1
1–3
0–4
3–1
1–1
2–0
1–3
1–1
1–1
0–4
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–2
1–3
0–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
2–1
3–1
2–0
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
–
1–1
1–3
Utah
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–2
1–3
1–1
2–2
2–2
0–2
3–1
1–3
3–1
1–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–2
1–3
0–4
3–1
1–1
–
1–1
Washington
2–2
1–3
3–1
2–2
1–1
0–2
0–3
1–1
0–2
1–2
2–0
0–2
0–2
0–4
1–3
0–2
0–4
1–3
0–4
0–4
2–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–1
1–1
—
2004 playoff game log
First round: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
Conference Semi-finals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
Conference finals: 2–4 (home: 1–2; road: 1–2)
2004 schedule
Player
POS
GP
GS
MP
REB
AST
STL
BLK
PTS
MPG
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PPG
Jeff Foster
C
82
79
1,961
610
64
71
27
497
23.9
7.4
.8
.9
.3
6.1
Fred Jones
SG
81
2
1,508
126
173
65
18
397
18.6
1.6
2.1
.8
.2
4.9
Reggie Miller
SG
80
80
2,254
188
249
65
11
800
28.2
2.4
3.1
.8
.1
10.0
Al Harrington
PF
79
15
2,441
508
131
80
22
1,048
30.9
6.4
1.7
1.0
.3
13.3
Jermaine O'Neal
PF
78
78
2,788
778
164
59
199
1,566
35.7
10.0
2.1
.8
2.6
20.1
Austin Croshere
PF
77
0
1,051
243
52
24
14
387
13.6
3.2
.7
.3
.2
5.0
Ron Artest
SF
73
71
2,714
385
272
152
50
1,333
37.2
5.3
3.7
2.1
.7
18.3
Anthony Johnson
PG
73
7
1,598
130
202
64
8
450
21.9
1.8
2.8
.9
.1
6.2
Scot Pollard
C
61
3
678
164
10
23
26
106
11.1
2.7
.2
.4
.4
1.7
Jamaal Tinsley
PG
52
43
1,378
136
303
84
17
432
26.5
2.6
5.8
1.6
.3
8.3
Kenny Anderson
PG
44
31
905
81
125
26
5
262
20.6
1.8
2.8
.6
.1
6.0
Jonathan Bender
SF
21
0
271
40
9
5
11
148
12.9
1.9
.4
.2
.5
7.0
Primož Brezec
C
18
0
72
15
3
0
3
28
4.0
.8
.2
.0
.2
1.6
Jamison Brewer
PG
13
1
160
11
17
7
0
32
12.3
.8
1.3
.5
.0
2.5
James Jones
SF
6
0
26
2
0
1
0
7
4.3
.3
.0
.2
.0
1.2
Player
POS
GP
GS
MP
REB
AST
STL
BLK
PTS
MPG
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PPG
Jermaine O'Neal
PF
16
16
604
146
19
8
36
307
37.8
9.1
1.2
.5
2.3
19.2
Reggie Miller
SG
16
16
455
37
45
18
3
161
28.4
2.3
2.8
1.1
.2
10.1
Jamaal Tinsley
PG
16
16
422
46
80
28
3
129
26.4
2.9
5.0
1.8
.2
8.1
Jeff Foster
C
16
13
307
105
12
13
5
58
19.2
6.6
.8
.8
.3
3.6
Al Harrington
PF
16
2
427
102
12
23
9
152
26.7
6.4
.8
1.4
.6
9.5
Anthony Johnson
PG
16
0
332
34
34
13
4
73
20.8
2.1
2.1
.8
.3
4.6
Jonathan Bender
SF
16
0
200
28
7
2
14
77
12.5
1.8
.4
.1
.9
4.8
Ron Artest
SF
15
15
584
98
48
21
16
276
38.9
6.5
3.2
1.4
1.1
18.4
Fred Jones
SG
14
0
263
33
16
7
7
66
18.8
2.4
1.1
.5
.5
4.7
Austin Croshere
PF
13
2
214
40
12
4
3
63
16.5
3.1
.9
.3
.2
4.8
Kenny Anderson
PG
4
0
19
1
1
1
0
4
4.8
.3
.3
.3
.0
1.0
Scot Pollard
C
3
0
13
4
0
1
0
2
4.3
1.3
.0
.3
.0
.7