Pacers hope new identity pays off for playoff run

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Pacers waited until the end of the regular season to figure themselves out, and what they've found doesn't resemble what they once were.\nThe Pacers entered the season with a reputation as a hard-nosed, defense-oriented team that occasionally struggled to score. Now, after a blockbuster trade and a slew of injuries, the Pacers have become a high-scoring team that hopes to play defense well enough to win.\nIndiana has averaged 104 points in their last five games. The Pacers have won four of those games and have clinched a playoff spot heading into Wednesday night's regular-season finale at home against Orlando. But the Pacers (40-41) are still trying to improve their playoff seed and avoid their first losing season since 1996-97.\n"It's not what we had in mind coming in, but it's a meaningful short-term goal," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said.\nThe Pacers were forced to evolve when they traded Ron Artest to Sacramento for Peja Stojakovic in January. Artest is one of the NBA's best defensive players, while Stojakovic is a dangerous shooter.\nInjuries forced more evolution. The Pacers have used 31 starting lineups this season, and only Stephen Jackson and rookies Sarunas Jasikevicius and Danny Granger have played in more than 70 games. Carlisle said the team finally has had a chance to adjust to all the changes.\n"We've gotten to the point where we understand that we're a veteran team that has to play to our strengths," he said. "We have to be efficient and have a certain toughness about us. We've shown a lot of those qualities over the last week."\nJermaine O'Neal has averaged 22 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.6 blocks and Stojakovic and Jackson each averaged 20 points during the last five games.\nThe Pacers scored a season-high 120 points Monday against Toronto. They hope to take their offensive momentum into Wednesday's game with Orlando, a team that won eight in a row before losing to Chicago on Monday.\n"We now have to prove we can put two great games together," Carlisle said. "Orlando has proven over the second half of the season that it's one of the better teams in the league."\nStojakovic said the game is important so the Pacers won't have to play Detroit in the first round. The Pistons have the league's best record, and Chicago, Milwaukee or Indiana could face them. The Pacers could finish as high as sixth or as low as eighth in the Eastern Conference standings.\n"Obviously, we all know that Detroit is the best team in the East right now," Stojakovic said. "They're playing good basketball. All three teams are trying to avoid Detroit."\nForward Austin Croshere said the Pacers could be dangerous once the playoffs begin. Though the Pacers haven't met their goal of being a championship contender, the team is as healthy as it has been all season.\n"Obviously, the talent we have is a lot better than a seven seed," he said. "I think the big question is which team is going to show up."\nJackson still said the Pacers can make a run in the playoffs.\n"My attitude, my mind has never changed," he said.