He'll need to step up his game at both ends or Indiana will dominate the front court. Mark Jackson and Reggie Miller remain a terrific 1-2 backcourt, with plenty of savvy and guile. Granted, they've lost a step on defense, but they can still hit big shots. Sam Cassell can score and create for others, but his defense will be tested by Jackson and the cat-quick Travis Best. Ray Allen is an All-Star and an explosive scorer, but he's nursing a sprained right knee that could limit him.
Few teams can match Indiana's depth.
Tim Thomas has emerged as a legitimate scorer off the pine, but his inexperience often shows. Scott Williams helps on the boards, while Danny Manning and Vinny Del Negro provide veteran leadership. They're also playing well, having won five in a row entering the postseason. They also are confident, having split the season series with Indiana and having won 11 of 15 to close out the season. The past two seasons Larry Bird has taken the Pacers to the Eastern Conference finals and to the semifinals.