PACERS: Caught in the Web 071203

Some would point to the 5-1 record in games he’s missed this season as evidence the new system works better in his absence, and claim the 4-8 record when he’s played only reinforces that fact.

You are what you are and records don’t lie, but this is an example of adding two and two and getting 22.

The fact of the matter is the Pacers haven’t really had O’Neal all season long. When he’s been on the floor he hasn’t been anything close to 100 percent. And J.O. at 50 percent is, well, Mark Blount. The point being, any judgment on O’Neal’s ability to fit with, and contribute to, the team as constituted under Jim O’Brien, must be withheld until the real J.O. finally stands up.

Given his performance against the Clippers Sunday, when he reported no knee pain for the first time this season and was battling the after-effects of a shoulder stinger from Friday’s game in Seattle, it appears he’s getting to his feet. O’Neal scored 20 points with 15 rebounds and the Pacers outscored the Clippers by 23 points when he was on the floor.

So give it some time. That the Pacers have managed to go 9-9 while adapting to a 180-degree change in offensive philosophy and getting relatively limited contributions from their franchise big man is a good thing. It’s safe to assume that, as O’Neal regains his form, the Pacers will only get better. If not, then we’ll talk.

But if you insist on obsessing about the won-lost record with and without him, consider this: since the beginning of the 2005-06 season, the Cavaliers are 6-3 without LeBron James. Somehow, I doubt this debate is raging in Cleveland.

REGGIE MAKING MORE HEADLINES IN NEW YORK

Miller

Reggie Miller’s love-hate relationship with the Knicks and their fans was the stuff of legend during his playing career. Apparently, the rivalry lives on.

Reggie referred to the Knicks as “a league-wide joke” in an interview with the New York Daily News last week – and this was before they were demolished by the Celtics on TNT, with Miller at courtside serving as the analyst.

"All I know is that Isiah (Thomas) has the talent to make them a playoff-caliber team," Miller said. "With the talent New York has, they should easily be in the top six.”

Thomas, who of course coached Miller when both were with the Pacers from 2000-03, didn’t take his former player’s comments personally.

Thomas

“I'm sure there was probably a lot more said in that conversation than those things,” Thomas told the Daily News. the day after the quotes were published. “Again, we understand the place we play in, we understand the market we're in, and I think Reggie also said that we have the potential to be a playoff team, too, so it depends on what comment you decide to look at."

Asked what his reaction would be the next time he crossed paths with Miller, Thomas said:

"I'll give him a big hug and a kiss, and say, 'What's up?' "

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Dunleavy

After the Pacers survived to win in Denver despite a phantom 3-point foul call on Mike Dunleavy against J.R. Smith in the closing seconds, the Pacers’ normally soft-spoken wing offered up a gem when asked what was going through his mind at the time.

"What was going through my mind was that I am a Christian,'' Dunleavy said. "I go to church and God may not be a Pacer fan, but he gives us fairness and he was going to come through and basketball never lies. I knew he was going to miss one of those, but it was disappointing that it ever got to that point.''

Smith missed the third free throw, which would’ve resulted in a tie.

INTERNOTES …

While Reggie was in Boston, Celtics coach Doc Rivers said he kidded his former rival about coming out of retirement. "He said no again,” Rivers said. “On (ESPN’s) 'Pardon the Interruption' he said one percentage point (chance of un-retiring). That's all we need to know. I like our odds.”

Miller also re-hashed his decision to remain retired for the Boston Globe, saying, “I almost was coming back. It was up to the 23d hour. I was like, 'I'm doing it. I'm just going to do it. I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it.' Then I slept on it and I was like, 'I just don't think I can do it.’ ” Miller’s TNT partner, play-by-play man Marv Albert, had the punchline. "It's just as well that Reggie's comeback with the Celtics didn't work out because Spike Lee had intended to buy season tickets to heckle Reggie for all 41 Boston home games."

While the Pacers were in Denver, former University of Colorado standout David Harrison was asked if he was interested in signing with the Nuggets next summer when he becomes a restricted free agent. "Not really,'' he told the Rocky Mountain News. "It'd be kind of like going back to college for me. It's like regressing. But, at the same time, this is a job and, if Denver offers me the most money, I will sign with Denver.''