Points in the Paint

Philadelphia, PA (Basketball News) - The Indiana Pacers are in big trouble!

When NBA Commissioner David Stern handed down the suspensions for the disgraceful events that took place during Friday’s Pistons/Pacers game at The Palace of Auburn Hills, Indiana went from a title contender to a club that is going to have to fight to make the playoffs.

All-Star forward Ron Artest is gone for the rest of the season, while fellow All-Star Jermaine O’Neal will miss 25 contests and swingman Stephen Jackson, who was acquired in an offseason trade with the Atlanta Hawks, will not suit up for Indiana’s next 30 games. Also receiving suspensions were Reggie Miller, who was suspended for one game, and reserve Anthony Johnson, who will be out for five contests as a result of his actions during the brawl. Miller (hand) and Johnson (finger) are currently on the injured list.

The controversial Artest, who was benched earlier this season for what Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle termed "compromising the integrity of the team", was off to a great start statistically to the 2004-05 season. In seven games, Artest, was the 2004 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, had averaged a team- high 24.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists.

Originally selected out of St. John’s by the Chicago Bulls in the first round (16th overall) of the 1999 NBA Draft, the 25-year-old Artest has registered 14.4 points, 4.7 boards, three assists and 2.09 steals per game in 352-career contests. The Pacers will miss his intensity on defense, as well as his offensive skills and competitive nature.

O’Neal, 26, had averaged 22.6 points and 9.6 rebounds in eight games for the Pacers this season. A three-time All-Star, O’Neal is Indiana’s first option on the offensive end of the court. He is the Pacers’ go-to guy in crunch time, a leader on the team and has become one of the NBA’s best power forwards.

Playing in his ninth season in the league, O’Neal was originally selected out of Eau Claire High School by the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round (17th pick overall) of the 1996 NBA Draft. After four frustrating years in Portland, O’Neal was traded to the Pacers, along with Joe Kleine, in exchange for center Dale Davis on August 31, 2000.

Jackson, who can play small forward or shooting guard, was the one significant addition to the Indiana roster during the offseason. The 6-8 Jackson is solid defensively, is a deadly shooter from beyond the arc, and is expected to replace veteran Reggie Miller when the 39-year-old shooting guard decides his playing days are over. Jackson also brings championship experience to Indiana as he won a championship ring with the San Antonio Spurs in 2002-03.

In nine games for the Pacers this season, the 26-year-old Jackson has averaged 15.3 points, five rebounds, three assists and 1.22 steals. He is shooting 37.2 percent from beyond the arc and 88 percent from the foul line.

Indiana, which won a franchise-best 61 games during the 2003-04 regular season, will struggle big time without its three best players. Pacers’ head coach Rick Carlisle runs the majority of his offensive plays through O’Neal, while Artest and Jackson are the second and third options. Indiana’s defense also becomes a lot less intimidating without the trio, as all three .

Yes, O’Neal and Jackson will return to the Pacers after serving their suspensions. But will Indiana be able to hang on until they are able to play?

O’Neal will be able to rejoin the club on January 15, 2005 when the Pacers host the Orlando Magic, while Jackson can return to the Indiana bench on January 26th at Boston.

Before Friday’s despicable events, the Pacers were expected to battle Detroit for the Central Division crown. Now, Indiana will have to scratch-and-claw its way into the postseason. The Pacers are a great team with Artest, Jackson and O’Neal, without them Indiana is a club that could pile up a lot of losses, which could be very tough to bounce back from when it gets back two of its players.

The Pacers have gone from being a first or second seed in the Eastern Conference to a team that will have to fight to avoid missing the playoffs for the first time since 1997.