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« Return to 2003 Playoff Central
Meet The Competition
With the Celtics taking on the Indiana Pacers in the First Round of the 2004 NBA Playoffs, here’s your chance to bone up on the competition and see how they relate to the some of your favorite Celtics.
Kenny Anderson
On The 2003-04 Campaign: Anderson started off the 03-04 campaign as the Pacers starting point guard, but eventually gave way to Jamaal Tinsley in midseason. Anderson averaged 6.0 points and 2.8 assists this season in 20.6 minutes per game.
2003-04 Versus Boston: Kenny played 3 games vs. Boston, starting once, with averages of 1.0 point and 4.5 assists.
How He Relates: Kenny was the Celtics point guard for 5 years, leading the C’s to the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals. In 5 years in averaged 11.6 points per game for the Green.
Ron Artest
On The 2003-04 Campaign: Artest stepped up his game to another level this season. Previously known as a defensive stopper, Artest scored 18.3 points per game this season and is arguably just as important to Indiana as Jermaine O’Neal. Artest made his first all-star appearance in 2003-04.
2003-04 Versus Boston: Averaged 17.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, but his role vs. Boston is defending Paul Pierce. His best game was a 28 point effort in the Pacers 103-90 win at Boston (1/2).
How He Relates: Ron Artest (1999) and Chris Mihm (2000) were both drafted by the Chicago Bulls, though they never became teammates because Mihm was traded for Jamal Crawford on draft night.
Jonathan Bender
On The 2003-04 Campaign: Bender once again had an injury-riddled season, appearing in just 21 games. The 7-0 g/f averaged 7.0 points and 1.9 boards in 12.9 minutes per game, shooting 40.9 percent from the three.
Versus Boston: Appeared in just one game versus the Green (3/12), scoring a season-high 16 points on 7-for-13 shooting in 19 minutes off the bench.
How He Relates: This one is a little bit of a stretch, but Jonathan’s grand mothers name is Willie Mae, and if you’ve tuned into FSNE for Celtics games, then you know our sideline reporter is “Coach” Willie Maye.
Austin Croshere
On The 2003-04 Campaign: Croshere played in 77 games for the Pacers, averaging 5.0 points and 3.2 boards in 13.6 minutes per game, as he struggles to regain his form from the 2001 NBA Playoffs.
Versus Boston: In four games vs. Boston he averaged just 4.5 points and 1.5 boards in 11.5 minutes per game.
How He Relates: Austin played his college basketball at nearby Providence College.
Jeff Foster
On The 2003-04 Campaign: With the departure of Brad Miller, Foster moved into a starting role, averaging 6.1 points and 7.4 boards per game.
Versus Boston: Foster was pretty steady vs. Boston this season scoring 6.8 points and pulling down 7.5 boards per game.
Al Harrington
On The 2003-04 Campaign: Harrington had his best season, averaging 13.3 points per game off the Pacers bench. He should be a front-runner for the Sixth Man of the Year Award.
Versus Boston: Harrington was a force against Boston, leading the Pacers in scoring at 19.3 points per game in four games. His best game was a 27-point outburst in the Pacers 99-98 win over Boston Jan. 31, in Indiana.
How He Relates: Harrington’s 2001-02 season was cut short on Jan. 23, when he went down with a season-ending knee injury in Boston.
Anthony Johnson
On The 2003-04 Campaign: Johnson has become one of the most reliable backup point guards in the NBA, this season he averaged 6.2 points and 2.8 assists in 21.9 minutes per game.
Versus Boston: Johnson played well vs. Boston this season, scoring 6.0 points and dishing out 5.3 assists per game in three appearances. His best outing was an 11-point 6-assits effort Jan. 31.
How He Relates: Johnson was a member of the New Jersey Nets each of the last two seasons, as he helped eliminate the Celtics from the playoffs each year.
Fred Jones
On The 2003-04 Campaign: Jones was much improved after a 2002-03 rookie season in which he played in only 19 games. This season he appeared in 81 games, averaging 4.9 points per game.
Versus Boston: Jones averaged 5.3 points in 18.3 minutes per game. He scored 9 points in the Pacers 99-81 win at the FleetCenter March 12.
How He Relates: Fred Jones was the Oregon High School Player of the Year twice, in the same state where Danny Ainge played his high school basketball and is a member of the Hall of Fame.
Reggie Miller
On The 2003-04 Campaign: This is Jermaine O’Neal’s team now, but Reggie still puts up respectable numbers at 10.0 points per game on 40.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
Versus Boston: Miller has struggled against the Celtics, especially in last year’s playoffs. This season he scored 13.0 points per game vs. Boston in 28.3 minutes per contest.
How He Relates: Reggie Miller and Paul Pierce were teammates when they played for Team USA at the 2002 World Championships of Basketball in Indianapolis.
Jermaine O’Neal
On The 2003-04 Campaign: O’Neal had an MVP type season, averaging 20.1 points, 10.0 boards and 2.55 blocks per game. The 6-11 forward made his third consecutive All-Star appearance, helping lead the Pacers to the best record in the NBA.
Versus Boston: O’Neal struggled a bit against Boston scoring just 14.5 points and pulling down just 8.0 boards per game. His best outing was a 25-point, 11-rebound effort in the Celtics only win over the Pacers, November 11 in Indiana.
How He Relates: O’Neal was also a member of Team USA in 2002, and has also played with Pierce in each of the last three All-Star Games.
Scott Pollard
On The 2003-04 Campaign: Scot Pollard was expected to replace Brad Miller, but the former King had a disappointing season, averaging just 1.7 points and 2.7 boards in 11.1 minutes per game.
Versus Boston: Pollard appeared in two games vs. Boston, averaging 1.0 point and 4.0 boards in 12.5 minutes per game.
How He Relates: Pollard played three seasons at Kansas with Paul Pierce and played all four of his season with Raef LaFrentz.
Jamaal Tinsley
On The 2003-04 Campaign: Tinsley began the season having lost his starting position, but won it back on his way to averages of 8.3 points and 5.8 assists per game in 2003-04.
Versus Boston: Tinsley played in three games vs. Boston, averaging 5.7 points and 6.3 assists in 26.3 minutes per game. His best game came in the Pacers 99-98 win over Boston (1/31) when he scored just 2 points, but dished out 10 assists.
How He Relates: The Celtics passed on Tinsley three times in the 2001 NBA Draft, as the Pacers selected him with the 27th pick.
Compiled by: Brian Gleason
