TEAM STATUS The veteran Pacers "know how to play" -- an oft-used expression to connote experienced players who have learned to work together in subtle harmony within the rules of the NBA game and in accordance with the coach's game plan. Bird gives them a lot of latitude, but is demanding when it comes to effort and unselfishness -- two of his strongest traits as a player. The team is a tad old -- only Rose is under 30 among the starters -- and this has exacted a slight cost in foot speed and reaction time. But the players are in great physical condition and are fierce competitors with the knack of winning close games at the wire. The "young Turks" make the Pacers an intriguing team. There's enormous potential among Al Harrington, who's putting up nice numbers in only his second year out of high school; Jonathan Bender, described by Bird as "the best player I've ever seen" (Gulp!!); and rookie Jeff Foster, who shows promise of becoming a relentless rebounder. Mix in Rose, Best and Croshere -- already getting valuable playing time -- with the above trio and the Pacers have a nice nucleus for the future, when the old pros have faded into the Indiana sunset. And Bender might be just what the Pacers need to generate a second-half surge this season.

Analysis
General manager Donnie Walsh and his staff have done an excellent job building the franchise into a contender. Eight of its roster players (including one on the injured list) were Pacers draft selections. They include starters Reggie Miller, Rik Smits and Dale Davis; and valued reserves Travis Best, Al Harrington and Austin Croshere. There are two other picks on the current squad -- the young phenom Bender, who sits out while his broken wrist heals; and rebounder Jeff Foster, who waits on the bench for a chance to play.

The trades that brought Mark Jackson, Jalen Rose (current starters), Chris Mullin and Derrick McKey (former starters) have turned out well; and free agent signings (only Sam Perkins and Zan Tabak remain) provide insurance against injury.

Strengths and weaknesses
The Pacers' greatest strengths are its solid game plan, the acceptance of roles by players, and their skill in carrying them out. Bird has an unusual coaching style in which he turns over the offense to assistant Rick Carlisle, and the defense to assistant Dick Harter -- both of whom do fine work. Bird oversees the total operation and makes critical in-game decisions. It's a unique system, but the Birdman has somehow made it work.

The Pacers possess several players -- Miller, Smits and Jackson in that order -- who love to make big offensive plays down the stretch. Miller has made a career of knocking down game-winners. Jackson is excellent at setting his team up and finding the open man in traffic, and Smits has great shooting touch from 17-feet in. But Bird isn't reluctant to use other players when he feels it's necessary. Starters and reserves appear to accept the coach's decisions willingly and there's a high level of camaraderie on the team. The Pacers are well-poised and confident in the pressure moments of a game, and won three of four overtime games last season; but were strangely only 7-8 in games decided by 3 points or less.

I attribute the latter shortcoming to a gradual softening of the Pacers' defense, which was among the league's best in the coaching staff's first year together. Now, even if the Pacers get a critical score, they're not able consistently to stop their opponent from retaliating. In 1998, the Pacers ranked sixth in field goal percentage allowed (.432); in '99 they ranked 10th (.434); and this year they rank 16th in that category (.447). This weakness is noticeable in both the interior, where opposing big men drive at Smits, and at the perimeter, where point guards go at Jackson.

The team feels the loss of Antonio Davis, whom it gave up to get Bender. For all of his inconsistencies, Davis was a pretty good defender of big men and a consistent rebounder. The Pacers miss both of those qualities. Bird is left with Smits, Dale Davis, Perkins and Croshere. That's not good enough. In the Pacers' loss to Miami this year, Smits was in early foul trouble defending Alonzo Mourning and P.J. Brown, played only 23 minutes, and was 5-for-13 from the field.

Best takes over for Jackson when the Pacers need defense at the point. Travis is tough, a quick and determined penetrator, who will also make crucial shots. But he doesn't have Jackson's instincts for playmaking, and his decision-making in traffic isn't as good.

It will be interesting to observe what impact, if any, Bender has on this team. He's only 18 years old, but he's 6-11, with 205 pounds spread sparingly over a reed-like frame. He has startling quickness for a big man, can put the ball on the floor, and is an excellent shooter.

After hearing how great a prospect Bird thinks he is, I asked the coach if he would play him when Jonathan's wrist healed. The Birdman smiled and said, "I'll play him if he shows he knows how to play."

Bender has watched from the wings, listened in at team meetings and practices, and is now starting to work out with the team. He needs a crash course on the NBA game, and then some hands-on minutes in real games. It's an enormous challenge for so young a player with no college playing experience.

My hunch is that the Pacers will need him, and that Bird will play him. Then it's up to Jonathan.

The Future
This is Bird's last season as coach. He'd like nothing better than to go out as a championship-winning coach to complement his great career as a player. He has a core of quality veterans who are determined to advance beyond the conference finals, and some young players with high-level potential who may help achieve that goal. Bird's Pacers appear to have as good a chance as many to reach the NBA Finals in the wide-open Eastern Conference.