Changes could make for championship

A comfortable feeling set in as I watched the new-look Indiana Pacers take the court for the first time last week against the Cleveland Cavaliers. While it was strange to see them play without the speed and razzle-dazzle that they have entertained us with thus far this season, one thought keeps reoccurring as the players grow more accustomed to one another: This is what a basketball team is supposed to look like.\nReplacing Jalen Rose -- a flashy, talented scorer -- with Brad Miller, who is nothing but muscle and determination, is tough to swallow at first because Rose's style is so entertaining. But Miller brings the intensity, size and defense that can take a team from decent to championship material.\nThe Pacers offense now has a true focus. With Jamal Tinsley, a genuine point guard, and Jermaine O'Neal, a superstar-in-progress, there is a sense of order every time the team comes down the court. Too often before the trade with Chicago, which brought Miller along with Ron Artest, Kevin Ollie and Ron Mercer, Rose's determination to run the offense and tendency to abort the scheme would backfire and not allow for any kind of offensive consistency.\nNow, the team knows exactly what it is trying to do. Coach Isiah Thomas wants O'Neal to get his points. The Pacers are 13-5 when he scores 20 points or more this year, compared to just 15-23 when he does not. Bringing in a true center, Miller will give O'Neal more chances to get to that 20-point mark, as opponents' bigger defenders will be forced to play Miller, not O'Neal.\nThe offense is now solid all around. If defenses overplay O'Neal with guards, Reggie Miller will make them pay with jump shots, or Tinsley will find a way to get to the basket. If they leave Brad Miller open under the basket and try to stop O'Neal, he will destroy them with high-percentage shots.\nSure, the pace is slower, and the highlight reels may not have as much eye-candy, but this team now eerily resembles the same foundation that the Pacers used in the 1990's and 2000 that helped them reach the Eastern Conference Finals five times and the NBA Finals once. \nThey used to rely on Rik Smits's jumper, which would often require double teams. Now Indiana is using the same strategy. The scary thing, though, is that O'Neal and Tinsley are far more gifted talent-wise than Smits and Mark Jackson were. Once this offense gets into a groove, it could be extremely dangerous for many years.\nBut it doesn't stop there. Adding Miller to the lineup along with Artest makes the Pacers stronger on defense, too. All season, Indiana has lacked the size inside to compete with powerful teams. Miller replaces Jeff Foster in the starting lineup. While Foster would get his rebounds, he had a hard time stopping scorers. Foster has moved to the bench, where he can work against less forceful centers and continue to bring in rebounds.\nNow, teams will have to work a little bit harder, and rely more on jump shots in order to put points on the board. Artest, who replaced Rose in the starting lineup, is far better defensively than the former Pacer. he gets his hands in on dribblers, hounds jump shooters and is always in someone's face.\nThis team fits the championship mold that a coach and general manager could want. It is now up to Thomas to continue the improvement of his young stars. If he can, the Pacers will be back among the NBA elite for years to come.