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(07/02/09 12:08am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA is finished with the latest Kelvin Sampson saga.The NCAA on Tuesday rejected an appeal from the former IU basketball coach, who was slapped with five years of potential penalties for taking part in more than 100 impermissible calls to recruits while coaching the Hoosiers.The NCAA said its infractions committee upheld the violations found in the case, which prompted an overhaul at the storied program and led to Sampson’s departure after just 1 1/2 years. An NCAA spokeswoman said Sampson has used his only appeal, and the case is closed.Sampson, now an NBA assistant for the Milwaukee Bucks, is essentially barred from coaching in college until 2013.The NCAA ruled that Sampson ignored signed compliance agreements with IU, ignored the recruiting restrictions he was already under from a similar case at Oklahoma and deliberately lied to infractions committee members.In his appeal, Sampson claimed the penalty was too harsh, the NCAA misinterpreted evidence and that the infractions committee was biased against him.The NCAA rejected each claim, saying “it found no basis on which to conclude that the findings of violations were contrary to the evidence.”Sampson’s new publicist, Chris Capo, said Sampson “will not be making any comment on the recent NCAA ruling.” Sampson defended himself last September in a statement made through his former publicist, Matt Kramer.“In no way did I ever hide or withhold information from Indiana University’s compliance department,” the statement said. “I vehemently deny the inference that I made and concealed impermissible calls. The NCAA has never alleged that I initiated any illegal phone calls to recruits while serving as the head coach at Indiana. I always provided Indiana with everything they requested, including all documents and phone records.”He later acknowledged that he and his staff had made mistakes, though not deliberately.“I think they were wrong,” he said of the NCAA in January. “They were wrong in every way. If I didn’t think they were wrong, I wouldn’t have appealed.”The fallout from the case created major changes at IU. Sampson’s assistants all left the school, the compliance department was restructured, Athletics Director Rick Greenspan resigned and new coach Tom Crean has had to rebuild while accepting the school’s self-imposed recruiting penalties.IU hired Sampson away from Oklahoma in March 2006 and signed him to a seven-year contract worth an average of $1.5 million a year, despite knowing he faced an NCAA investigation into 577 impermissible phone calls that he and his Oklahoma assistants made to recruits.Months before Sampson even coached his first game at IU, the NCAA banned him from calling recruits and visiting them off-campus for one year and determined he deliberately broke its phone call rules while coaching at Oklahoma.IU found in a self-review that the impermissible phone calls continued. The school revoked a $500,000 raise due Sampson and one team scholarship for the 2008-09 season, and reported the violations to the NCAA.In February 2008, an NCAA report accused Sampson of major rules violations and said he and his assistants gave false information to University and NCAA officials. Later that month, Sampson accepted a $750,000 buyout from IU and waived his right to sue the University.The NCAA added a charge of failure to monitor against IU in June 2008, and the NCAA placed IU on three years of probation in November.Sampson has said he likely wouldn’t pursue coaching in the NCAA again.“You never say never,” Sampson told The Associated Press in April. “But I’m really excited about the NBA, and I’m excited about the possibility of becoming a head coach in the NBA one day, maybe. And if it works out, it works out. If it does, it does. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. But just being here with the Bucks, being part of this rebuilding, is exciting for me.”
(03/15/09 10:09pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>INDIANAPOLIS — Purdue finally lived up to its billing.The Boilermakers, the preseason favorites in the Big Ten, fell to a No. 3 seed in the conference tournament by losing three of their final four regular season games. They found their groove at Conseco Fieldhouse.E'Twaun Moore scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half, and No. 24 Purdue rallied to beat Ohio State 65-61 on Sunday for its first Big Ten tournament title.Moore made 4 of 8 3-pointers in the second half."My teammates did a good job of distributing and finding the openings," he said. "I just got a few open looks. Once I got the first one (3-pointer), that gave me a little confidence."JaJuan Johnson scored 16 points, and Robbie Hummel added nine points, 11 rebounds and five assists for the Boilermakers (24-9).The Boilermakers committed 17 turnovers in the three tournament games, a departure from their sometimes sloppy play late in the regular season. Purdue coach Matt Painter said the team responded well to being challenged."I think it makes you stronger," he said. "Any time you lose three out of four games, there's two ways to look at it. You can complain, or you can say we should have done this, we should have done that, or you can stick to what you've done the whole year and try to do a better job of what you do."Hummel was named the tournament's most outstanding player.The Boilermakers, the No. 5 seed in the NCAA tournament West Region, will play Northern Iowa in the first round. Ohio State, the No. 8 seed in the Midwest, will play Siena.The Buckeyes were happy with their Big Ten tournament performance overall."This tournament this weekend gave us a lot of confidence," Ohio State's Evan Turner, who led his team with 22 points and 10 rebounds in the championship game, said. "Three great teams we played against. Nobody expected us to go this far in the tournament."Jon Diebler and William Buford each added 15 points for the Buckeyes (22-10), who were was chasing their second title in three years. The loss snapped the Buckeyes' four-game winning streak.Purdue beat Penn State and Illinois to reach the final. Fifth-seeded Ohio State beat Wisconsin and No. 7 Michigan State to advance to the championship game.The Boilermakers enjoyed a virtual homecourt advantage over the weekend. Conseco Fieldhouse is about 65 miles from Purdue's campus in West Lafayette, Ind.Ohio State led 33-27 early in the second half before Purdue went on a run. A 3-pointer by Moore and a putback by Hummel cut the Buckeyes' lead to one point, then Johnson tied the game by making the second of two free throws with 15:44 to play.Purdue finally took the lead on a 3-pointer by Moore that made it 43-41 with just over 12 minutes left. Another three by Moore fewer than two minutes later made it 48-41.Ohio State chipped away, and a free throw by Turner trimmed Purdue's advantage to 58-55 with 1:33 left. Purdue's Moore shot a 3-pointer and missed, but Purdue rebounded and got a new shot clock. Keaton Grant made a three with 42.2 seconds to play to make it 61-55, and the Purdue fans started to celebrate.Moore missed a free throw, then Turner converted a 3-point play at the other end to make it 61-58 with 16.7 seconds remaining.Kramer was fouled with 14.7 seconds left and made both free throws to extend Purdue's lead to 63-58. Buford's three at the other end missed, then Kramer rebounded and made two more free throws to end the threat."Purdue is a great team, and they just came out in the second half and got us," Ohio State guard P.J. Hill said. "It happens."The Buckeyes are excited to have reached the NCAA tournament this season after settling for winning the National Invitational Tournament title last year."It's just an amazing accomplishment," Turner said. "You kind of want to pat yourself on the back for a second. We're just really excited. We're fortunate enough to be in this position."
(11/05/08 6:41am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>INDIANAPOLIS – Thousands of people formed long lines at polling sites across Indiana on Tuesday for the last chance to cast a ballot in the state’s historic election season.Voters lined up an hour before polls opened in cities including Hammond and Bloomington, and larger precincts reported waits of up to two hours throughout the day despite record early voting.“I would say this is probably the most important election we’ve ever voted,” said John Hughel, 75, of Indianapolis, who gave his first vote for president in 1960 to John F. Kennedy.Sporadic problems developed, including poll workers who didn’t show up, machine and power glitches, and voters going to the wrong sites, but election officials and watchdog groups appeared pleased overall with the voting process.“Given the volume, we’re breathing big sighs of relief,” said Julia Vaughn, director of the government watchdog group Common Cause.Even Lake County seemed to proceed smoothly, despite a history of political corruption, a late vote tally in the May primary and a dispute over early voting that had left many nervous.“Things are going along well,” said Lake County Election Board attorney Fred Work.Lake County has not chosen a Republican for president since Richard Nixon in 1972 and was seen as a crucial factor in Democrats’ efforts to win the state’s presidential votes for the first time since 1964. The county is the state’s second most populous and most diverse and was expected to heavily favor Barack Obama over John McCain.Bryce Smedley, a Democratic poll inspector in Monroe County, said some voters tried to present driver’s licenses from other states or forgot ID cards altogether. The county is home to IU and many out-of-state students.“Some people have been very emotional about it,” Smedley said. “We had one guy who said he had lived here for nine years and was looking forward to casting a vote. He did cast a provisional ballot.”Smedley said his precinct averaged about 200 voters per hour.“We’ve had a lot of students, so whoever said students wouldn’t show up was wrong,” Smedley said. “The students have shown up to have their voice heard.”Statewide, a record 4.5 million voters were registered. Almost 669,000 people voted early, either in person or by mail-in ballot, by Tuesday morning. During the last presidential election in 2004, about 260,000 residents voted early.
(09/04/08 3:44am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>INDIANAPOLIS – For many New Orleans Saints veterans, Hurricane Katrina was a disaster; comparatively, Gustav was a minor inconvenience.Just 15 players remain from the 2005 team that played the entire season on the road as New Orleans reeled from Katrina and the damage it caused. That season, the Saints sometimes walked through practice plays in a parking lot and used a tent for their weight room.The players who experienced that season understand that being safe in Indianapolis, staying at a five-star hotel and practicing at a brand-new stadium is a scenario to beat most alternatives. They say better planning by the organization and cooperation from the Indianapolis Colts have given them a chance to prepare in relatively normal conditions for their opener Sunday against Tampa Bay.“It feels great,” safety Josh Bullocks said after a Wednesday afternoon practice at Lucas Oil Stadium. “The whole plan makes us feel comfortable about where we’re at and what’s happening. During Katrina, we were out there in California for four or five days, then we knew we were going to San Antonio. We (weren’t) really concerned about the game, because a lot of things (were) going on, but here, our main focus is on the game.”The Saints planned for evacuation well in advance of Gustav’s landfall on Monday.“The players and staff, everyone involved with this trip had a lot of time Friday and Saturday to make sure that their families were taken care of first,” said Saints coach Sean Payton. “Really, the plan was twofold. The first part was family members and getting them squared away, and then part two to the plan was our relocation to Indianapolis. Really, all of it has gone really smooth.”Now that their families are safe after Gustav and damage to their homes was minimal, Saints players can get excited about playing the opener at their home stadium. Saints owner Tom Benson said Tuesday that Louisiana Superdome officials assured him the facility would be ready in time for the game. The team plans to return to New Orleans on Friday.“That’s the biggest difference, and that’s the best part about it,” said running back Deuce McAllister.The Saints paid attention to what was happening on Monday, but didn’t dwell on it.“I don’t think you necessarily insulated yourself, but you’ve still got a job that you’ve got to prepare for,” McAllister said. “We still have to think about our work at the same time.”Even as Gustav hit the Gulf Coast, defensive end Will Smith said players didn’t waste time thinking about their belongings.“Nobody was really worried about it,” Smith said. “Everybody’s insured, everybody’s family was in a safe place. Nobody was really worried about the storm. If it hit, it hit. There’s nothing we could do to stop it or control it, so we just had to go with the flow.”They know that worrying won’t speed up the recovery effort, either.“As far as services, hospitals up running, power – we can’t control that,” McAllister said. “All we can control is playing a game.”Smith noted it was the third time he had been displaced because of a storm. Hurricane Ivan forced the Saints to practice in San Antonio briefly in 2004.The veterans say football has kept their lives relatively normal.“If the hurricane didn’t come, we’d still be doing the same thing,” said offensive tackle Jammal Brown. “I think football, even though it’s our job, keeps our minds off the negative of the hurricane.”The circumstances aren’t ideal, but McAllister said it could be much worse.“We’re making the best of it,” McAllister said. “We’d rather be at home, but this is what we’ve got, so this is what we’ll deal with.”
(05/22/08 1:22am)
INDIANAPOLIS – Helio Castroneves has been living life at a relatively pedestrian pace since he got back behind the wheel of a race car.\nIn the months following his “Dancing With the Stars” title last November, he called off his engagement, went on a national tour with the other dancers and participated in a seemingly endless stream of interviews and appearances.\nAnd, oh yes, he has also been racing his Team Penske IndyCar.\nNow, the charismatic Brazilian with the big smile and fancy footwork is focused on his true passion – driving.\n“After the ‘Dancing’ and the tour, I couldn’t wait to get back into a race car because it slowed down (my life),” Castroneves told The Associated Press last week in his garage at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “Literally, the speed is going faster, but the rest of the outside stuff really slowed down a lot.”\nCastroneves said his appearance on one of America’s most popular television shows served its purpose because it brought the Indy Racing League to a new group of potential fans. He hopes some remember him and watch the Indianapolis 500 on May 25, when he tries to add to his wins in 2001 and 2002.\n“People that have no idea about racing know my name,” he said. “Probably now, they’re going to be tuning into racing. That’s what I want. It obviously helped my name, and I believe it helped this series to be out there. I think it was a win-win situation.”\nNew fans could see Castroneves join an elite group. Only three drivers – Mauri Rose in the 1940s, A.J. Foyt in the 1960s and Al Unser in the 1970s – have won three Indy 500s in a single decade.\nCastroneves has driven in seven Indy 500s, placing in the top three four times and the top 10 six times. He finished third last year, and will start fourth in the 33-car field this year.\n“I do feel I have a great car,” he said. “Inside second row is a fantastic place to start.”\nCastroneves’ popularity off the track did not cost him with die-hard fans, either. MainGate, a company that tallies merchandise sales, said last week that Castroneves’ numbers at tracks were up 68 percent from last year at the same time.\nCastroneves says none of that affects him.\n“Certainly, I got a little more exposure, but I’m still the same,” he said. “I love what I do, I enjoy being here in race cars. This is my world, and that’s what I’ve lived for all my life.”\nCastroneves, whose resume still lacks a series championship, leads the IRL points standings even though he has not won a race this year. He placed fourth in the opener at Homestead, second at St. Petersburg, second at Twin Ring Motegi in Japan and fourth at Kansas Speedway last month.\n“It’s consistency,” he said. “So far, we’ve been in the right place at the right time. I do believe this year, it’s going to take that to win the championship.”\nHe would like to balance his consistency with a few victories.\n“Yes, you do have to win as well,” he said. “Certainly, other teams seem to be a little more aggressive, but we’re right there. We just need to find a little more, and work a little more to get that win.”\nCastroneves did not wait until May to show up in Indianapolis. He and partner Julianne Hough danced between the first and second quarters of an Indiana Pacers game on Nov. 2, nearly a month before he was announced as the season five winner.\n“It was scary at first because people know me here as a race car driver,” he said. “I can’t thank enough the Indianapolis and Indiana area for the support because I received a lot of votes from here. Without those votes, I wouldn’t have been able to win.”
(04/17/08 5:04am)
Indiana Pacers co-owner Herb Simon thinks he’s found the perfect person to replace CEO Donnie Walsh – himself.\nSimon announced Wednesday that he is moving into day-to-day operations as chairman and chief executive officer of the franchise after years of mostly hands-off ownership. Walsh resigned last month after leading the Pacers for more than two decades, then accepted a job as president of the New York Knicks.\n“When Donnie left, there was some reason for me to get more involved than I ever have been involved, and it’s a time in my life ... where I have more time to devote to it,” the 73-year-old Simon said.\nLarry Bird will remain as the team’s president of basketball operations.\nSimon named Jim Morris as president of Pacers Sports and Entertainment, the Simon-owned company that runs the Pacers, the WNBA’s Indiana Fever and Conseco Fieldhouse. Morris is a former president of the Lilly Endowment and had been an executive with the Pacers for the past year.\nBird and Morris will report directly to Simon.\nThe Pacers reached the Eastern Conference finals six times and won the Central Division four times under Walsh. They made the NBA finals in 2000, when they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers, and had the league’s best record in 2004.\nBut the past three seasons have been a troublesome mix of losing and off-the-court problems. The Pacers have had back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 1987-88 and 1988-89 and missed the playoffs for the second straight year.\nSimon sees potential in the team, which enters Wednesday’s game against New York having won 10 of 15.\n“I’m getting energized myself over this, and I’m getting excited,” he said. “I should have done this a long time ago. It seems like it’s going to be hard work, but it’s going to be rewarding, I believe, for everybody.”\nBrothers Herb and Mel Simon have owned the Pacers since 1983 but have allowed others to oversee things. Now, Herb Simon plans to look at the franchise from top to bottom and make it more responsive to fans and sponsors.\n“Before, I was a ‘hands-on, hands-off’ owner. Now, I’m going to be a ‘hands-on, hands-on’ owner.”
(10/12/07 4:35am)
INDIANAPOLIS – Joey Crawford officiated his first NBA exhibition game Wednesday night after being suspended for the end of last season and the playoffs for improper on-court conduct.\nCommissioner David Stern suspended Crawford in April for his conduct toward San Antonio’s Tim Duncan. Crawford ejected Duncan from San Antonio’s loss to Dallas after calling a second technical foul on the Spurs star while he was laughing on the bench. Duncan contended the official challenged him to a fight.\nStern met with Crawford and reinstated him on Sept. 15 after a favorable professional evaluation.\nCrawford officiated Indiana’s 101-96 exhibition win over New Orleans. The only technicals he called were against the Pacers for defensive three-second violations.\n“It’s good to see him back out there,” Pacers forward Jermaine O’Neal said. “I’ve always had a pretty good relationship with him. He’s always been understanding to me.\n“That was just one isolated situation where he had an off day – and things happen.”\nCrawford enters his 32nd season as an NBA referee. He has officiated more than 2,000 games during the regular season and 266 in the playoffs, including 38 in the NBA finals.\n“Everybody knows that his tolerance level is a lot shorter than some of the other guys, but he’s a proven official,” O’Neal said. “He’s been around for years, and when you’re around that long, it’s because you’re pretty good. I think he’s one of the best to ever officiate games.”
(08/23/07 3:45am)
INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA placed Purdue on two years’ probation Wednesday after it determined that a former assistant women’s basketball coach wrote a paper for a player and made more than 100 impermissible recruiting calls.\nThe women’s basketball program will also lose two scholarships, reducing the number to 13 for 2007-08. The university already cut one scholarship for the 2006-07 academic year.\nFormer assistant Katrina Merriweather admitted to typing, correcting and revising a paper for former point guard Cherelle George during the 2005-06 season, the NCAA said. Both were suspended indefinitely before the Big Ten tournament that season, and neither returned to the program.\nMerriweather’s contract was automatically terminated when coach Kristy Curry left Purdue and accepted the Texas Tech job in March 2006. Curry will not be punished, though the NCAA said the infractions committee was “troubled” that she had been told about the violations twice and did not immediately report them.\nInvestigators also found that Merriweather made 105 impermissible telephone calls to two prospective players. The NCAA considered it a major violation because it was not an isolated incident.\nProbation means the school must make annual reports to an NCAA committee detailing corrective actions in the program.\nThe Division I Committee on Infractions made the decision after Purdue performed an internal investigation and self-reported the violations last year.\nBecause of the violations, if Merriweather wants to coach at another NCAA school during the next three years, she and the school must appear before the committee to determine whether her duties should be limited.\nCommittee Chair Josephine Potuto said the fallout could have been worse if Purdue hadn’t self-reported the violations. Potuto said Purdue will be more severely punished if it commits any more violations.
(08/05/07 10:26pm)
TERRE HAUTE – Before last season, Marlin Jackson had started one NFL game.\nNow, with key defensive starters lost to free agency, he’s a full-time starting cornerback for the defending Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts and a team leader who is expected to help mentor younger players.\nThe departures of Nick Harper and Jason David left Jackson and Kelvin Hayden as the team’s most experienced cornerbacks.\nCoach Tony Dungy said he believes both are ready to blossom and help second-year defensive backs Tim Jennings and T.J. Rushing and rookies Daymeion Hughes and Michael Coe develop. More pressure will be on Jackson, who has 10 career starts to Hayden’s one.\n“They’re looking forward to showing they can handle things and kind of guide the younger guys that we’ve got back there,” Dungy said after Friday morning’s practice.\nJackson has bounced between cornerback and safety because of injuries to others the past two years. After seeing limited work as a rookie in 2005, Jackson started eight regular-season games last year at safety, then started once in the playoffs at cornerback. His last-second interception of a Tom Brady pass sealed the Colts’ 38-34 win over New England in the AFC championship game.\nNow, Jackson is practicing full-time at cornerback, and Dungy thinks that’s good.\n“If we can get him zeroed in at one spot, he’s got a chance to be a really good player,” Dungy said. “He loves to play. That’s the thing that you notice.”\nJackson said he learned from Harper before he left for the Tennessee Titans and hopes to pass his knowledge along.\n“He was a guy who really worked hard in the weight room and on conditioning,” Jackson said. “He watched a ton of film, and he really understood the whole aspect of playing corner – recognizing routes, formations. I really picked up all that stuff from him.”\nJackson, 6-foot and 196 pounds, said once he learned he’d be a starting cornerback, he focused on running and showed up to camp in the best condition of his career.\nJackson has been switching between cornerback and safety since playing college football at Michigan. He was a cornerback his sophomore year, a safety as a junior and a cornerback as a senior. Now, he needs to regain the mental sharpness of being a full-time cornerback.\n“It takes you a while to get your technique back,” he said. “If you’re a safety, you’re not used to always being down and covering somebody all the time. The switching is a negative and a positive sometimes.”\nJackson said playing safety improved his awareness as a cornerback. He said he notices personnel more than a normal cornerback would, and can anticipate a formation quickly after an opponent breaks the huddle. He’ll need those safety skills when he defends slot receivers in nickel packages.\n“I look at myself as a football player,” he said. “When I’m on the outside, I’m a corner. When I’m on the inside, I’m a corner with a safety’s mentality.”\nWith four new starters on defense, the Colts will spend much of training camp trying to build a cohesive unit.\n“We need to go out there and get used to playing together,” he said. “Just get on the same page, and when we get to the regular season, just start running right away.”\nThe Colts struggled defensively last season before improving in playoff wins over Kansas City and Baltimore and the Super Bowl win against Chicago. Jackson said the Colts want to play well all season, but the new starters will have to come through for that to happen.\n“We went through the regular season and played horrible run defense,” he said. “We didn’t have the energy we needed to be out there and be a good defense in the NFL. We definitely want to go out there and prove that we can play the way we played in the playoffs all season.”
(08/02/07 12:52am)
INDIANAPOLIS – Ball State University plans to name its new communication building after David Letterman, a 1970 graduate.\nLetterman has often mentioned Ball State on his CBS “Late Show” talk show. The school has had a Letterman Scholarship in the Department of Telecommunications since 1985.\nBall State President Jo Ann Gora said the idea to name the facility for Letterman was first mentioned among trustees about a year ago but he was reluctant because he didn’t want the attention.\n“It is entirely fitting that the university should respond in (this kind of way) with this public demonstration of our admiration and respect for such an accomplished and loyal alumnus,” Gora said.\nLetterman’s mother, Dorothy Mengering, attended Monday’s announcement by the board of trustees in his hometown of Indianapolis.\n“I’m so thrilled that David finally decided to let them do this for him,” said Mengering, 86. “He’s a very special young man, and I’m very proud of him.”\nLetterman and Mengering, who lives in the city’s northern suburb of Carmel, are expected to attend the building’s Sept. 7 dedication.\n“I am proud to have been a student at Ball State, and I’m deeply honored to have this recognition for me and my family,” Letterman, 60, said in a statement.\nThe $21 million communication and media center on the main campus in Muncie currently houses Indiana Public Radio. It will open for students at the beginning of the 2007-08 school year, though some construction work is in its final stages. The building is expected to provide much-needed space for the university’s emerging digital media content production facilities.\nThe 75,000 square-foot building brings the Center for Information and Communication Sciences, communication studies, journalism and telecommunications departments under one roof. It includes studio and office space and will be open to students 24 hours a day.
(06/27/07 11:21pm)
INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird says he plans to improve the team and make the playoffs next year. He just isn’t sure how yet.\nThe Pacers don’t have a draft pick Thursday. But Bird said there’s a 50-50 chance the team will work its way into the draft.\nIn the meantime, the Pacers continue to assess prospects.\n“There’s a lot of talk that, if you don’t have a pick, do you still prepare yourself for the draft?” Bird said during a pre-draft news conference Tuesday. “We would do that whether we had five picks or no picks, because you’ve got to know. At the last minute, if the phone rings, somebody might want to sell their pick, or trade a future pick for one now. So we prepare just like we had a lottery pick.”\nThe Pacers missed out on a top three pick in the draft lottery and had to send their No. 11 pick to Atlanta as part of the trade that brought Al Harrington to the Pacers last summer. Harrington was later traded away in a multiplayer deal. The Pacers lost this year’s second-round pick when they traded to get James White in last year’s draft.\nNow, the Pacers are scrambling to fill their primary need – perimeter shooting. Bird wouldn’t say if that could be done with a draft pick or through a trade.\n“We will get a good shooter,” he said. “We’ll get one of the top shooters in the league. May not be one of the biggest names in the league, but we will get a guy that can shoot the basketball.”\nBird also wouldn’t say how many picks the Pacers were trying to get, or who might be traded to get them.\n“It’s according to what we do,” he said. “I’m not going to sit here and say we have multiple picks, but if we can do something to get into the draft and we like it, we will.”\nJermaine O’Neal has been consistently linked to trade rumors since the Pacers’ season ended. The team’s top player averaged 19.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in one of the best seasons of his 11-year career. He’s a six-time All-Star who finished third in fan voting this year for the Pacers’ 40th anniversary team.\nEarlier this summer, O’Neal denied reports that he had demanded a trade to the New York Knicks. He has clearly stated that he doesn’t want to be part of a rebuilding project, but Bird has said he wants to win now and add pieces.\nPart of Bird’s hesitance in jumping into the draft is that he doesn’t know if what’s out there is better than the young talent he already has. Danny Granger, David Harrison, Ike Diogu and Shawne Williams all are under 25.\n“We’ve had a lot of discussions about it, a lot of calls,” Bird said. “We like our corps of young players, and so does everybody else in the league. They’re trying to get them and trade them for draft picks. We don’t know if we want to go that route.”
(05/24/07 12:04am)
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh said his team could obtain one or more picks in the upcoming draft, despite having traded both of this year’s selections away in deals last summer.\nWalsh said Wednesday he was sure the Pacers would maneuver to try and get back into the June 28 draft.\n“This is the time of year where you’ve got to do those kinds of things,” he said. “Trades will be focused around the draft. Of course, they won’t all be for draft picks, but draft picks are a possibility.”\nWalsh didn’t say who the team would consider trading or for what, but he expects nonstop action before the new season begins.\n“I think it’s safe to say we will be active, and we will continue to be throughout the summer,” he said.\nThe top trade contenders are All-Star forward Jermaine O’Neal and point guard Jamaal Tinsley, the team’s top veterans.\nO’Neal averaged 19.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in one of the best seasons of his 11-year career. He’s a six-time all-star who finished third in fan voting this year for the Pacers’ 40th anniversary team.\nBut O’Neal missed 13 games with various injuries and illnesses. He had successful surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his left knee that hobbled him the last two months of the season. He has missed 82 games the past three seasons – a number that equals an entire regular season’s worth of games.\nO’Neal has denied reports that he demanded a trade to the New York Knicks.\nTinsley had one of his best seasons and was more durable than usual. He averaged 12.8 points and 6.9 assists in 72 games, the most games he’s played since the 2002-03 season.\nBut Tinsley’s off-the-court problems include a felony charge he faces from a February bar fight in Indianapolis. He also was at a fight outside a strip club in October that has former Pacer and current Golden State Warrior Stephen Jackson facing charges for firing a gun.\nThe Pacers missed out on a top-three pick in Tuesday’s draft lottery and had to send their No. 11 pick to Atlanta as part of the trade that brought Al Harrington to the Pacers last summer. Harrington was later traded away in a multiplayer deal.\n“I think we were realistic when we went up there,” Walsh said of the lottery. “There’s always some disappointment. You always like to see a Hail Mary pass caught. But I think we went in there knowing what our percentages were.”\nThe Pacers lost this year’s second-round pick when they traded to get James White in last year’s draft.\nThe Pacers are still looking for a coach. The front-runner reportedly is former Miami coach Stan Van Gundy, who wouldn’t say if he was the choice.\n“Let’s just say as far as my situation is concerned, we have a resolution,” he said Wednesday in a telephone interview. “I’ve talked with Larry Bird, and we both know what’s going on.”\nLanding a new coach would be a key step toward the Pacers regaining some stability. Indiana finished 35-47 this season and missed the postseason for the first time in 10 years.\n“I think we’re excited about re-forming the team, about a new beginning,” Walsh said. “We’re starting a process to put us in position to get back to contender status. How long that will take, I don’t know. But we’re pushing for sooner rather than later.”
(02/16/07 4:57am)
WEST LAFAYETTE -- This is why David Teague went through all the grueling rehab.\nTeague, a senior guard who missed last season with a torn ACL, was at his best Thursday night, scoring a career-high 32 points as Purdue beat No. 24 IU 81-68.\n"This is why I put in the extra work, fought through the pain," Teague said. "I wanted to do something special."\nTeague made 11-of-18 field goals, including 6-for-8 from 3-point range, to help the Boilermakers snap a five-game losing streak in the intrastate rivalry. Teague has averaged 22 points in the Boilermakers' last three home wins.\n"This isn't a fluke with him," Purdue coach Matt Painter said. "When you do it against Illinois, you do it against Michigan State, then Indiana, and you do it at key times. ... He's been very consistent for us in big games at home."\nCarl Landry added 22 points and 11 rebounds and Tarrance Crump added 13 points for Purdue (17-9, 6-6 Big Ten). The Boilermakers improved to 14-1 at home and boosted their NCAA Tournament hopes with their second win over a ranked team this season.\n"That's our recipe," Teague said. "Get it to Carl Landry and get it to him some more. When teams go to double-team and trap him, Carl's such a great player and he's so unselfish that he's always looking for the open man. We play off of him."\nThe Boilermakers shot 50 percent from the field and outrebounded the Hoosiers 32-28.\nD.J. White scored 20 points, Armon Bassett scored 16 and Rod Wilmont added 15 for IU (17-7, 7-4).\nPurdue led 34-32 at halftime, but IU took a 50-48 lead on a 3-pointer by Bassett with 13:15 to go.\nA bad IU pass and a scramble led to an uncontested layup by Teague, then Gordon Watt's steal and layup gave the Boilermakers a 55-52 lead. A bucket and a 3-point play by Landry, followed by a 3-pointer by Teague, pushed Purdue's lead to 63-54 with 7:29 left. Purdue led by at least six points the rest of the way.\nThe tension between the rivals became evident when White went for a rebound with 8:27 left in the first half. Purdue's Chris Kramer tied him up and it led to a minor skirmish that got the sellout crowd more involved.\nWhite said Purdue defended him well in the second half. He made just one field goal and scored four points after halftime.\n"Just more attention," White said. "They switched up a lot of things defensively, and they did a good job of doing that. I'll give them credit."\nIt was IU's third straight road loss in the Big Ten.\n"Down the stretch, not able to come through," White said. "We're in the game all the way until the end. We've got to find a way to finish. We just don't finish"
(11/08/06 1:48am)
Officials from two Indiana counties said early problems with electronic voting machines had been fixed Tuesday as residents cast ballots to decide three of the nation's most closely watched congressional races and determine what party controls the Indiana House.\nIndiana's voter ID law received its first test in a general election, but that was not what was causing the problems, clerks in two counties said.\nIn Delaware County, an apparent computer error prevented voters from casting ballots in 75 precincts, County Clerk Karen Wenger said. A court order extended voting to 8:40 p.m. local time, 2 hours and 40 minutes past the scheduled 6 p.m. close.\nBlue start cards that activate the push-button machines for voters were programmed incorrectly by MicroVote General Corp., the company that installed software in 47 Indiana counties, Wenger said. By 11 a.m. the problems in all 75 precincts, affecting 225 machines in the east-central Indiana county, had been fixed, the clerk's office said.\n"We haven't done anything wrong here. The poll workers haven't done anything wrong," she said.\nIn Marion County, Indiana's largest, electronic optical-scan machines that read paper ballots were not working correctly in more than 100 precincts. Poll workers must use a computer port device to connect optical-scan machines to new touch-screen models, which handicapped voters use, said Marion County Clerk Doris Anne Sadler.\nSome workers, many of whom are in their 70s, had trouble connecting the machines, so they did not work, she said. Technicians had turned on the machines, and all problems had been fixed by late morning, officials said.\nThe new electronic technology was put in place in Indiana and across the country after problems with ballots in the 2000 presidential election, Sadler said.\n"Everything since the election of 2000 has complicated things for poll workers," she said.\nVoters were able to cast ballots without any noticeable disruption, a news release from the Secretary of State's office said.\nStatewide, a higher turnout was expected than in the last midterm election in 2002, when 38 percent of registered voters cast ballots in Indiana. About 30,000 people manned the state's 5,500 precincts. Jen Fanger, spokeswoman for Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita, said as of noon, the office had not received reports of turnout from the counties.\nShe also said that of 350 calls the office had received, none had been about problems with voter ID.\nTo make sure, Democratic U.S. Rep. Julia Carson, who is running for her sixth term in the 7th District, brought three forms of ID to her Indianapolis polling place.\nIn the May primary, the first time ID was required, Carson was delayed when the congressional ID card she presented to confirm her identity didn't have the expiration date required under the new law.\nIn Evansville, where voters are choosing an 8th District congressman, lines of people had reached into the hallways of Plaza Park Plaza Middle School shortly after voting started.\nGOP Rep. John Hostettler is running against Vanderburgh County Sheriff Brad Ellsworth.\nEllsworth brought his family along as he voted.\n"It's been a long one," Ellsworth said about the race. "We've put thousands of miles on the car and talked to thousands of people."\nHis goal if he won: "I want to put some trust back in Washington."\nHostettler, who voted later, said he was optimistic with his chances.\n"The national trend seems to be going our way," he said.\nIn St. Joseph County, in the 2nd District, more than 8,500 people voted absentee. That is close to 3,000 more than poll workers saw in 2002, the last midterm election, county officials said.\nThat district has seen a tight race between GOP Rep. Chris Chocola and his opponent for a second time, Democrat Joe Donnelly.\nSome voters leaving Charles Martin Youth Center just west of South Bend said they voted for Donnelly because they don't believe Chocola had done a good job the past four years.\n"I don't think Chris Chocola has done a darned thing for the people of Indiana," said voter Rebecca Kaiser. "He's voted the way Republicans want him to."\nDemocrats hope to knock off three of Indiana's Republican congressmen in their quest to gain at least 15 seats nationwide and regain control of the U.S. House.\nThe national parties and outside groups have spent millions in the 2nd and 8th districts and the 9th, a tight race between Republican Rep. Mike Sodrel and former Rep. Baron Hill in their third consecutive matchup.\nVera Chester, 47, voting at Evansville's Plaza Park Middle School, called the election "incredibly important" to America.\n"There are burning issues -- the war, the economy, things that are not being addressed. I don't like the direction we're going," she said.\nMike Lantry, 49, a Republican, was voting at the Peace Free Will Baptist Church on Indianapolis' south side.\nHe said Indiana influence on control of the U.S. House was important to him, although he was voting in the 5th District, held by GOP Rep. Dan Burton and considered safe.\n"It makes you feel like you should be involved in a race this close you can really make a difference," he said.\nBoth state parties have said control of the Indiana House is their top priority this election. Democrats narrowly controlled the chamber for eight years before Republicans gained a 52-48 majority two years ago.\nFour statewide contests are also on the ballot. Republican Sen. Dick Lugar was expected to cruise to a sixth term, as Democrats did not field a contender. Other statewide contests were for secretary of state, treasurer and auditor.
(10/12/06 3:37am)
Indiana Pacers guard Stephen Jackson was charged with criminal recklessness Wednesday following last week's confrontation outside a strip club.\nJackson was charged with felony and misdemeanor counts of battery and disorderly conduct by the Marion County prosecutor five days after he fought with another group of men at the club.\nTeammates Jamaal Tinsley, Marquis Daniels and Jimmie Hunter were also at the club but were not charged.\nJackson was hit by a car, and police say he fired a gun in the air at least five times. He originally told police he was punched but later said he was not, prosecutors said.\nOn Tuesday, Jackson apologized for the fight, saying he was "happy to be alive." His comments came hours after police arrested another man on several charges in connection with the fight.\nJackson was expected to turn himself in Wednesday or Thursday, prosecutors said. The felony count carries a prison term of six months to three years.\nIn September 2005, a judge in Michigan ordered Jackson to serve a year of probation for his role in the brawl with Detroit Pistons fans at the Palace of Auburn Hills in 2004. But the court ordered him to serve an extra year of probation because he did not complete the terms of his sentence, prosecutors in Michigan said.\nMarion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi said Jackson could be ordered to serve three months in jail if authorities there determine the new charges violate his probation.\nThe Pacers did not immediately return a phone call from The Associated Press.\nPolice on Tuesday charged Deon Willford, 23, in the fight. He faces felony counts of criminal recklessness and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, and a misdemeanor count of driving without a license.\nWillford drove the car that hit Jackson, sending him tumbling over the hood, police Sgt. Matthew Mount said. Police said Jackson fired a gun in the air during the fight at about 3 a.m.\n"Firing the shots in the air at that point is criminal recklessness," Brizzi said. "Those bullets, once they come up, have to come down, and they come down at least 90 miles per hour, and they do absolutely have the ability to take someone's life."\nBrizzi said between 30 and 35 people were in the parking lot.\nJackson returned to training camp Tuesday with stitches in his lip, scrapes and bruises. Prosecutors say the injuries were all caused by the car hitting him.\nOfficers said they found a small amount of marijuana in the passenger-side door of point guard Tinsley's car, but no arrests were made at the time because there were three others in Tinsley's car and police could not determine who owned the marijuana, authorities said.\nNone of the other players were charged but were listed as witnesses for the prosecution.\nTinsley and Hunter told investigators they heard gunshots but did not see who was shooting, according to an Indianapolis police report.\nDaniels told police he saw Jackson struck by a car but was not sure if he heard any gunshots.\nThe Pacers were to open the preseason Wednesday night against the New Jersey Nets, but Jackson was not expected to play.\nProsecutors said Jackson kicked a man who police said has a deformed arm. Jackson told police that the man, Quentin Willford, started the brawl.\nAnother man, Raymel Mattox, was charged with misdemeanor counts of battery, disorderly conduct and marijuana possession. Police say he also hit Quentin Willford.
(08/23/06 3:56am)
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Pacers finally completed a sign-and-trade deal Tuesday with the Atlanta Hawks for forward Al Harrington.\nThe Pacers acquired Harrington and center John Edwards in exchange for a 2007 first-round pick. Harrington spent the first six years of his career with the Pacers before spending the last two in Atlanta.\n"We've had Al before," Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh said. "He was a good player for us when we had him the first time. He comes back with more seasoning. Most importantly, he fits in with what we're trying to do at this point."\nWalsh and team president Larry Bird considered Harrington one of the summer's top three free agents, along with Ben Wallace and Peja Stojakovic. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 18.6 points and 6.9 rebounds for the Hawks last season and was the central figure to the Pacers plans to recover from a 41-41 season that ended with a first-round playoff exit.\nThe deal followed weeks of speculation. Negotiations slowed when Harrington fired agent Andy Miller and replaced him with Arn Tellem earlier this month. Reports then surfaced that Harrington was likely headed elsewhere, but Walsh said Tuesday that negotiations never died.\nHarrington is expected to be key to Indiana's transformation from a defense-oriented team to an up-tempo, athletic squad. The Pacers also have added rookies James White and Shawne Williams, guards Jimmie Hunter, Orien Greene and Darrell Armstrong and forwards Marquis Daniels, Maceo Baston, Rawle Marshall and Josh Powell. In all, the Pacers have added 11 players since the end of last season.\nHarrington, by far, was the most important one.\n"We're very pleased to have Al back in Indiana," Bird said. "We think he brings an added dimension to our team. We know what he can do, and he'll make us a deeper team and a better team."\nThe sign-and-trade deal that sent Stojakovic to the New Orleans Hornets gave the Pacers a $7.5 million trade exception that Walsh said made the sign-and-trade with Harrington possible.\nThe trade brings the Hawks additional financial room as well as the draft pick.\n"We feel this move brings us valuable assets, including additional salary cap flexibility as we move forward," said Hawks general manager Billy Knight. "When Al came to us, he brought a winning attitude to our franchise, and he always put the team first. We are certainly in a better position now having had Al as a member of the Hawks."\nWalsh is glad to finally have the deal done. He said it has been a media blitz since the beginning, though no one with the Pacers organization was talking to reporters.
(07/05/06 11:27pm)
INDIANAPOLIS -- Tamika Whitmore's favorite player is Dennis Rodman, so it makes sense that she has taken great pride in being a superstar's sidekick for the Indiana Fever.\nWhile Michael Jordan got the glory for the Chicago Bulls, Rodman grabbed rebounds and played lockdown defense while winning NBA titles. And while Tamika Catchings has become an MVP candidate for the Fever, Whitmore has pushed her way into All-Star contention by embracing her role as the ultimate team player. She has averaged a team-best 16.2 points to help the Fever start the WNBA season at 12-6.\nIndiana coach Brian Winters said Whitmore has proven that she deserves to make the first All-Star appearance of her eight-year career, but the final selections won't be made until later this week. The game will be July 12 at New York's Madison Square Garden.\n"I don't think I have to make a case for her, quite frankly," he said. "I think she's made her case on the court. If you compare her statistics to any top forward in the Eastern Conference, her statistics are comparable, and she's on a winning team. We're one of the best teams in the East and we wouldn't be that without her, so she should be an All-Star."\nCatchings said Whitmore, a 6-foot-2 forward, is the best second option she has played with in her five-year career.\n"She has brought a totally different dimension to our team," Catchings said. "Scoring wise, defensive-wise, she just gives so much more to our team. She comes out and brings it every night."\nWhitmore scored a career-high 29 points against Charlotte on June 18, and has set personal best marks in almost every offensive and defensive category.\nShe said she was capable of similar numbers with the Los Angeles Sparks and the New York Liberty, but she has never averaged more than 12.7 points in a season. She has career averages of 9.2 points and 3.7 rebounds a game.\n"It's just a different feeling you have when an organization and a coaching staff believes in you," she said. "I've always been able to score, it's just something teams just never utilized me for. What you're seeing now is not even the tip of the iceberg."\nDetroit coach Bill Laimbeer had no choice but to agree that Whitmore has been a difference-maker for the Fever after she scored 22 points in the Fever's win over the Shock last week, though he fell short of saying she deserved to be an All-Star.\n"I think she's a very confident player this year," he said. "She's making perimeter shots to open up her drive, and she's taking a leadership responsibility. So far, she's got good numbers she's putting up, and her team's in good shape."\nThe key to Whitmore's success has been her willingness to be a secondary option, even though she often is the leading scorer. She wears number 91 as a tribute to Rodman's work ethic and selfless willingness to defer to Jordan.\n"Catch is like my Michael Jordan," Whitmore said. "I just try to do whatever I can to make her load not so heavy to carry."\nWhitmore said Catchings, last season's defensive player-of-the-year, inspires her because of her intensity.\n"To be able to lock somebody down on defense, I like that more than scoring," she said. "And I like to get that assist from a teammate more than I like actually putting the ball in the hole."\nCatchings doesn't mind being the second-leading scorer after four years of leading the team.\n"I've always been that player that people have to focus on," she said. "Now we have two people they have to focus on"
(05/18/06 12:25am)
Peja Stojakovic believes he and Jermaine O'Neal could be cornerstones for the Indiana Pacers for years to come.\nBut first, the free agent and the Pacers need to agree on a contract.\nStojakovic came to Indiana from Sacramento in a midseason trade for Ron Artest. He wants to stay, even though he'll officially become a free agent next month, his agent David Bauman said.\n"There's no question Peja was happy in Indiana," Bauman said. "He would like to re-sign, and he would like to finish his career as a Pacer."\nPacers president Larry Bird has said keeping the 28-year-old Stojakovic is a priority. The 6-foot-10 forward averaged 19.5 points in 40 regular-season games after the trade.\n"We want to do what's best for the franchise," Bird said recently. "Hopefully, we can get a deal done with him."\nBauman said Stojakovic and O'Neal could become one of the best inside-outside tandems in the league.\nO'Neal averaged 20.1 points and 9.3 rebounds this season, despite playing hurt during much of the second half. Stojakovic, an eight-year veteran, has career averages of 18.4 points and 5.1 rebounds.\n"He thinks that with him and Jermaine ... they can build around them," Bauman said.\nBut Stojakovic also missed 11 games this season and 16 last season because of injuries, including a protruding disc in his lower back, a sprained right pinkie finger and a strained groin. He missed four of Indiana's six playoff games with a sore right knee as the Pacers lost the first-round series to New Jersey.\nStill, Bauman said he left a meeting with Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh feeling confident the Pacers would try to get a deal done.\n"We're making a lot of phone calls, but he asked me to give the Pacers every opportunity to re-sign him. If the Pacers do what they say they're going to do, that should happen."\nStojakovic had an early termination clause in his six-year contract that allowed him to choose after the fifth year whether to finish the final year of his contract or declare himself a free agent. His current contract would pay him $8.125 million next season.
(05/11/06 12:19am)
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Pacers don't expect to make major changes this summer despite a disappointing season, team president Larry Bird said Wednesday.\nThe Pacers entered the season with championship aspirations, but they traded an unhappy Ron Artest and dealt with numerous injuries on their way to a 41-41 record and a first-round playoff exit.\n"Are there going to be wholesale changes? No," Bird said during a news conference. "We'll talk to people throughout the league and see if we can make our team \nbetter."\nBird said he expects forward Jermaine O'Neal to be back.\n"Jermaine O'Neal is our best player on this team. Everybody on this team knows Jermaine's our guy," Bird said. "I can't sit here today and say we're going to pursue to trade Jermaine O'Neal. There's not one time that we ever called anybody and said 'hey, are you interested in Jermaine O'Neal.'\n"I don't know who out there you could trade Jermaine for and get somebody better."\nThe Pacers also want to re-sign sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic, who came from Sacramento in the Ron Artest trade. He averaged 19.5 points in 40 regular-season games but missed four of Indiana's six playoff games.\n"When I talked to Peja, he said he really likes it here and tells me he'd like to be here," Bird said.\nThose who do return will need to help the team work cohesively.\n"I know that a lot of guys were frustrated," Bird said. "There's a lot of things that happened in the locker room. I don't think our chemistry is as good as it could have been."\nPlayers were critical of the team's performance after the Game 6 playoff loss to New Jersey.\nPoint guard Anthony Johnson said the culture needs to change, forward Austin Croshere said the team underachieved and O'Neal said the team needs help at center.\nBird didn't argue with Croshere's assessment and made observations similar to Johnson's Wednesday.\nAs for center play, he said David Harrison is a young, raw talent who is improving, and Jeff Foster and Scot Pollard are hard workers who missed a combined 55 regular-season and four playoff games.\n"That's frustration," Bird said. "I sort of felt bad when I heard that for Jeff and Scotty and David. You have those three guys healthy and playing, that's a pretty powerful unit there."\nStephen Jackson also has been considered possible trade bait, but his return could depend on his attitude. He played in all but one game and averaged 16.4 points this season, but Bird said Jackson spent too much time talking to officials and taking poor shots.\nJackson also blamed rookie teammate Danny Granger for allowing Vince Carter to score too easily on a key play late in Game 5.\n"It's up to Stephen to do the right thing," Bird said. "I don't like some of the things he did this year. If he's back here, which I expect him to be, there's going to be some changes. I don't like our fans booing our players, but some of the things Stephen was doing out on the court frustrated me. I was embarrassed at times."\nBird isn't just blaming Jackson.\n"Chemistry's got to be a little better, and the attitudes during games," he said. "Arguing with officials, not running back on defense, taking bad shots. All that stuff's got to stop."\nBird said Rick Carlisle deserves some of the blame for the team's lack of discipline.\n"I think with everything that happened last year, you could probably look and say yes, he did lose the team at times," Bird said. "But they're good guys and they know what to do to win ballgames. He's a great coach, there's no question."\nSarunas Jasikevicius was one of the few Pacers who played most games. The 30-year-old rookie from Lithuania got off to a good start but tailed off. He played in 75 regular-season games and was among the league's best in free-throw shooting.\n"I think he was a little shocked when he came over here and realized how many games we do play," Bird said. "He'll admit about halfway through the season, he hit the wall. If he gets out there and gets his minutes and gets his confidence, he's a very good player."\nThe surprise of the season was Anthony Johnson. The journeyman point guard averaged 20 points per game in the playoffs. Bird said he has proven to be capable of \nstarting.
(05/05/06 4:46am)
INDIANAPOLIS -- The New Jersey Nets overcame Anthony Johnson's 40-point effort to beat the Indiana Pacers 96-90 on Thursday night and advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.\nRichard Jefferson scored 30 points and Vince Carter added 24 for the Nets, who won the best-of-seven series 4-2. Jason Kidd approached a triple-double with eight points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds.\nJermaine O'Neal scored 21 points for the Pacers, who played without Peja Stojakovic for the fourth time in the series because of a sore right knee. The team's second-leading scorer in the regular season, Stojakovic played in Indiana's only two wins in the series.\nThe Nets will play the winner of the Chicago-Miami series in the second round.\nEvery time it looked like New Jersey might pull away, Johnson, a former Net, had an answer. He scored the first 12 points of the fourth quarter for Indiana, then Austin Croshere dunked and O'Neal followed with a basket to cut New Jersey's lead to 87-85 with 3:25 left.\nNenad Krstic scored and drew O'Neal's fifth foul with 2:30 left. Krstic converted the three-point play to bump New Jersey's lead to 90-85.\nO'Neal scored again to cut the deficit to 90-87, but Carter blew by him for a layup with 1:07 left, knowing O'Neal wouldn't risk a sixth foul, to give the Nets a 92-87 lead.\nJohnson hit a 3-pointer with 57 seconds left to make it 92-90, and after a miss by Carter, Indiana had a chance to tie. Johnson missed in close and O'Neal got the rebound, but Jefferson blocked his putback.\nNew Jersey worked time off the clock and the Pacers fouled Krstic with 14 seconds left. He made both free throws for a 94-90 lead. Johnson then missed a 3-pointer and Jefferson made two free throws.\nNew Jersey outrebounded the Pacers 44-30.\nThe Pacers shot 61 percent in the first quarter to take a 26-21 lead. Johnson scored 12 points in the period while drawing fouls from both Carter and Kidd on baskets.\nCarter shot 1-for-6 in the first quarter but fueled a second-quarter comeback. He scored the last eight points of the half as New Jersey tied the score 41-all.\nKidd missed all five of his field goal attempts in the first half, several of them badly, while struggling to guard Johnson. Jefferson picked up the slack by scoring 14 points.\nKidd made two 3-pointers early in the third quarter to give New Jersey a 49-45 lead, then Carter and Jefferson combined for 17 points in a 19-11 run that gave the Nets a 68-56 lead.\nDanny Granger hit two 3-pointers late in the quarter to help the Pacers cut New Jersey's lead to 73-69 heading into the final quarter.