NBA JAM: INDIANA PACERS

In our continuing rundown on the NBA season, Neate looks at the Central Division, specifically the Indiana Pacers.

Last season: 41-41, lost to New Jersey in first round of playoffs
Coach: Rick Carlisle
New faces: Al Harrington, Marquis Daniels, Darrell Armstrong
Funny-looking white guy: Sarunas Jasikevicius
Blogs: Pacers Insider (Indianapolis Star)

The Pacers have been playoff regulars for several seasons, but that looks in jeopardy.

From here, it seems like they just have a bad aura, a lot of negative energy. It emanates from knowing, deep-down, that they had their chance to push for the top of the Eastern Conference a couple years back and didn't get there, since the team was decimated by he fallout from the brawl with the Pistons early in '04-05 and also by superstar Jermaine O'Neal's unbelievable bad luck with injuries.

Oh, and just when they needed some Serenity Now, small forward Stephen Jackson was arrested in a shooting incident outside a strip club earlier this month. Nice.

Now the Pacers are a team in decline, with a coach under the gun. When you answer to the Larry Bird, how can you not be nervous? The other reason Rick Carlisle has to fear for his job a bit is the players Larry Legend are bringing in -- perimeter players such as former Maverick Marquis Daniels and Al Harrington, reacquired after two seasons in Atlanta -- are more suited to racehorse basketball, and Carlisle prefers a more structured, controlled system.

It all adds up to Indiana being in a state of flux. If they start to slide this year -- remember, only six of their first 19 games are at home -- and run into injury problems again, Bird will be looking to break up the team and rebuild around O'Neal

Also in Central Division: Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks

Back with more later: Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.