2000–01 Indiana Pacers season
The 2000–01 NBA season was the Pacers' 25th season in the National Basketball Association, and 34th season as a franchise. The Pacers were coming off of an NBA Finals defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games. During the off-season, the Pacers hired former Indiana University and Detroit Pistons legend Isiah Thomas as head coach, and acquired Jermaine O'Neal from the Portland Trail Blazers. With the departures of veteran players from the team that reached the Finals last year, the Pacers got off to a 5–2 start, but then struggled losing six of their next seven games, then later on holding a 21–27 record at the All-Star break. The Pacers played mediocre basketball all season long, and finished fourth in the Central Division with a record of 41–41. To qualify for the playoffs, the Pacers needed to win 9 of their final 11 games to secure the #8 seed in the Eastern Conference.
| 2000–01 Indiana Pacers season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Isiah Thomas |
| General manager | Donnie Walsh |
| Arena | Conseco Fieldhouse |
| Results | |
| Record | 41–41 (.500) |
| Place | Division: 4th (Central) Conference: 8th (Eastern) |
| Playoff finish | First Round (lost to 76ers 1–3) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Local media | |
| Television | Fox Sports Net Midwest, WTTV |
| Radio | WIBC |
Last season's Most Improved Player Jalen Rose averaged 20.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game, while Reggie Miller finished second on the team in scoring averaging 18.9 points per game, and O'Neal provided the team with 12.9 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game. In addition, Travis Best contributed 11.9 points, 6.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game off the bench, while Austin Croshere provided with 10.1 points per game also off the bench, and Al Harrington averaged 7.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.
In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Pacers faced the Philadelphia 76ers for the third straight year. Regular season MVP Allen Iverson and the top-seeded 76ers would need only four games to eliminate the Pacers, who managed to win Game 1 on the road 79–78, but lost the final three games of the series. The Sixers would reach the NBA Finals, but would lose in five games to the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. Following the season, Sam Perkins was released to free agency and then retired, and Derrick McKey signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers during the next season.