National Basketball Association

Pacers hopeful after reaching playoffs

Published Apr. 28, 2011 9:50 a.m. ET

foxsports

The season-ending disappointment for the Indiana Pacers is different this year.

The previous four years ended the same way: The Pacers missed the playoffs, and the immediate future was dim because the franchise was handcuffed financially.

This season, Indiana finally had a breakthrough. With one of the league's youngest starting lineups, it made the playoffs for the first time since 2006 and tested the top-seeded Chicago Bulls before dropping the first-round series 4-1.

''I feel terrible right now,'' Pacers forward Danny Granger said after his team's 116-89 loss in Game 5.

This time, the feeling wasn't about an unpleasant locker room atmosphere, an underachieving roster, another off-the-court disaster or any of the other problems that plagued the franchise the past five years.

It was about an opportunity lost. The first four games were decided by six points or fewer, and the Pacers won Game 4 at home, spoiling the Bulls' bid for a sweep.

''We let games get away,'' Granger said. ''It's a learning experience.''

The Pacers were within four points in the third quarter of Game 5 before Chicago's Derrick Rose scored 10 points in the final six minutes of the period to put them away.

''It was the time where you're going to make it or break it,'' Pacers guard Paul George said. ''They were hitting their shots and they rose their intensity.''

The Pacers made up for their lack of playoff experience with intensity and confidence.

''Our young guys have a lot of guts,'' interim coach Frank Vogel said after Game 3. ''It's very, very encouraging to the future of this franchise to see these guys compete like they're competing when it's on the line.''

Along the way, the Pacers earned Chicago's respect.

''They didn't play us like an eighth seed,'' Chicago guard Keith Bogans said. ''It was toe to toe.''

The franchise still has to figure out whether Vogel deserves to lose the interim tag from his job title, and team president Larry Bird is in the final year of his contract. But the Pacers enter the offseason with young talent, playoff experience and significant salary cap space.

The 28-year-old Granger is the elder statesman among the starters. Center Roy Hibbert just finished his third year, point guard Darren Collison and power forward Tyler Hansbrough were second-year players, and George was a rookie. All five are under contract for next season.

Vogel took over for Jim O'Brien at midseason, and the 37-year-old guided the team to a 20-18 record and a spot in the postseason. The team got off to a 7-3 start under him before the All-Star break, hit a skid, then closed the regular season by winning 10 of 15 games.

Granger was steady again. He averaged a team-best 20.5 points, plus 5.4 rebounds per game. He bumped his scoring average up to 21.6 in the playoffs.

Collison was the key offseason acquisition. The ultra-quick point guard finished second on the team with 13.2 points per game and led the way with 5.1 assists per contest. He played his best basketball of the season early in the series against Chicago before going down with an ankle injury.

Hibbert had his moments early in the season, but he fell out of favor with O'Brien. He was revived under Vogel and averaged 15.3 points in February as the new coach tried to restore his confidence and establish him as an offensive centerpiece. He finished the season averaging 12.7 points and a team-best 7.5 rebounds.

Hansbrough was basically a rookie after missing much of last season with health problems. He couldn't crack O'Brien's rotation, but Vogel gave him a chance and he responded.

George broke into the starting lineup late in the season under Vogel. The team's first-round pick in 2010 added length, athletic ability and some scoring punch to the team.

''He can be great,'' Vogel said. ''He's a special talent. When he puts it all together, it's going to be impressive.''

Brandon Rush led the team by shooting 42 percent from 3-point range. Dahntay Jones returned to the rotation under Vogel and played solid defense against Rose in the playoffs.

Mike Dunleavy, Jeff Foster, T.J. Ford and Josh McRoberts are the key free agents.

Foster was the team's No. 2 rebounder this season. The 34-year old has spent his entire 12-year career with the Pacers, and proved his value in the playoffs with physical play that made him a target for booing Bulls fans. McRoberts opened the season as the starting power forward, but eventually lost that spot to Hansbrough. His high-flying dunks made the Indiana native a crowd favorite.

Now the Pacers finally have tangible success to carry into the offseason.

''Hopefully we'll take this into next season and build on it and be in the playoffs next season,'' Granger said.