“There are much better places to be than Indiana at this time of year, but sacrifice is what it’s all about.”MARK JACKSON INDIANAPOLIS – The three-hour workout was nearly complete, an exhausting series of cross-court and full-length sprints had been run, but there were shots to be taken.
Chris Mullin glided around the three-point arc and fired jumper after jumper. Life has always been like this for Mullin, but on this frozen and snowy day in America’s basketball heartland, Mullin wasn’t the only Hoosier in the gym.
Ten other Pacers worked alongside him. Indiana, which vanquished the Knicks in five games in the second round of the playoffs last season, has become a team of gym rats.
“This is ideal,” Mullin, 35, explained when the workout finally ended. “I probably would have been doing this no matter what, but by myself.”
Under the lockout leadership of Mark Jackson and Reggie Miller, the Pacers have been sweating together since early October. When you lose to the Bulls in seven games, coming within three minutes of victory over Michael Jordan, you are left with a gnawing in your stomach that doesn’t go away over summer vacation.
While other teams like the Knicks struggle to field a full complement of players for informal workouts, the Pacers have gone the extra mile with formal practices.
Jackson, one of the finest leaders to come out of the New York playgrounds, and Miller, the California Kid, hired their own trainers, a strength and conditioning coach, arranged for a two different facilities, bought the equipment needed and made the daily practice sessions as close to the real deal as possible. All that’s missing is some gimpy old Celtic guy with a whistle.
On Day One, A.J. – After Jordan – in the NBA there was fire in the Pacers’ eyes.
“We just didn’t want to be 11 guys running up and down, we wanted this to be organized,” Jackson said. “If you’re late, you get fined. The rookies are bringing the orange juice and the donuts, just like always. There’s the drills, the running.
“To have the guys come from all over the country is impressive. It shows the commitment. There are much better places to be than Indiana at this time of year, but sacrifice is what it’s all about.”
If you’re a Knick fan, listen to forward Antonio Davis’ answer to the question: Whom do you view as your chief rivals in the East?
“I see Atlanta. I see Miami,” Davis began. “Some of these other teams are just scary if they can ever get all their guys to get on the same page. Teams like Philadelphia, those other teams.”
What about the Knicks?
“I’ve got a question mark by the Knicks,” Davis said, not looking to make anybody’s bulletin board but just being honest. “The Knicks were good because they were a team together that dominated. They’d overpower you, outwork you and I don’t know if they can sustain that level of play now. I don’t know if they still have that edge. Until I see them play those first 10 games or so, you never know.”
Davis then smiled.
“I don’t think they’ve had as many guys out there as we’ve had.”
The only key Pacers missing yesterday were Rik Smits and Travis Best, both free agents. The Pacers are too old and too wise to think these workouts will carry them to the Eastern Conference championship. They know that will have to happen during playoff time, but they have learned that if they make a commitment now, “we put ourselves in a good position,” Jackson said.
“Coming off a seventh game against the world champion Bulls really lit a fire under these guys,” Miller, 33, said. “Understanding we were so close, down to the last three minutes … you always have a lot of ‘what ifs.’ It could have been early conditioning that made the difference.
“Even though there was a lockout, guys took it upon themselves to be committed and come back here when they could have been all over the country relaxing,” he said as he prepared to lift weights in Phase II of the workout in the state-of-the-art Healthplex Sports Complex.
Jackson still has a home in New Jersey, but made sure to be here for his teammates even though this is a difficult time in his life. His dad Harry is ill in a New York hospital.
“We’re thinking about him all the time,” the son said quietly of the father as his own son, Mark Jr., 7, looked on. “I love him dearly.”
This experience isn’t just all about basketball. High school rookie and No. 1 draft pick Al Harrington was taken in by Davis and his wife, and two children, learning what NBA life is all about. After the workouts, the players get together socially.
Jackson, 33, never has seen one team, one organization like this. “We’re family here,” he said. “That’s why we’re successful. This is rare. We have 12 guys who care about each other and they watch your back.”
The point guard can’t help but think how his life has come full circle with Mullin and Miller. When Mark was coming out of St. John’s, Pacer GM Donnie Walsh told Harry Jackson he was going to grab Mark in the draft, “but he took some skinny guy from California named Miller,” Jackson said with a smile.
“Reg and Chris are as good a friends as I’ve ever had,” he said. “To attempt to win a championship with these guys, it doesn’t get any better.”
Mullin calls Jackson and Miller, “Batman and Robin.”
“I’m Robin,” Miller said. And what does Batman think the workout package will mean to his team? “Not to say we start off at 15-0, but over the long haul, we’re going to have something a little extra,” Jackson promised, knowing the East will be a battle. “This is an opportunity. You don’t get many. We want to capitalize.”
That is what it is all about.