1989–90 Indiana Pacers season

The 1989–90 Indiana Pacers season was the 14th season for the Indiana Pacers in the National Basketball Association, and their 23rd season as a franchise.^[1] The Pacers received the seventh overall pick in the 1989 NBA draft, and selected shooting guard George McCloud out of Florida State University,^[2][3][4] and signed free agents Mike Sanders, and Rickey Green during the off-season.^[5][6]

1989–90 Indiana Pacers season
Head coach	Dick Versace
General manager	Donnie Walsh
Owner	Herbert Simon
Arena	Market Square Arena
Results
Record	42–40 (.512)
Place	Division: 4th (Central) Conference: 8th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	First round (lost to Pistons 0–3)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	WXIN–TV 59 Prime Sports Midwest (Bill Hazen, Clark Kellogg)
Radio	WNDE–AM 1260 (Mark Boyle, Bobby "Slick" Leonard)
< 1988–89 1990–91 >

The Pacers got off to a fast start by winning their first four games, on their way to a solid 19–9 start to the regular season. However, the team struggled losing 14 of their next 18 games, and held a 25–23 record at the All-Star break.^[7] The Pacers played around .500 in winning percentage for the remainder of the season, finishing in fourth place in the Central Division with a 42–40 record,^[8] and earning the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.^[9]

Reggie Miller continued to show improvement averaging 24.6 points, 3.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game, and also leading the Pacers with 150 three-point field goals. In addition, Chuck Person averaged 19.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, while sixth man Detlef Schrempf provided the team with 16.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game off the bench, second-year star Rik Smits provided with 15.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game, and Vern Fleming contributed 14.3 points and 7.4 assists per game. Meanwhile, LaSalle Thompson averaged 6.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, while off the bench, Sanders contributed 6.2 points per game, and Green provided with 3.5 points and 2.6 assists per game.^[10]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Miami Arena in Miami, Florida, Miller was selected for the 1990 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team; it was his first ever All-Star appearance.^[11][12][13] In addition, Miller also participated in the NBA Three-Point Shootout for the second consecutive year.^[14][15] Miller finished in second place in Most Improved Player voting, behind Rony Seikaly of the Miami Heat, while Schrempf finished tied in sixth place;^[16][17] Schrempf also finished in second place in Sixth Man of the Year voting, behind Ricky Pierce of the Milwaukee Bucks.^[18][17]

However, in the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1990 NBA playoffs, the Pacers were swept by the defending NBA champion Detroit Pistons in three straight games.^[19][20][21] The Pistons would go on to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers in five games in the 1990 NBA Finals, winning their second consecutive NBA championship.^[22][23][24]

Following the season, Green signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Draft picks

Main article: 1989 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	7	George McCloud	SG/SF	United States	Florida State

Roster

1989–90 Indiana Pacers roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From C 54 Greg Dreiling 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1962–11–07 Kansas G 10 Vern Fleming 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1962–02–04 Georgia G 12 Rickey Green 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1954–08–18 Michigan G/F 20 George McCloud 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1967–05–27 Florida State G 31 Reggie Miller 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1965–08–24 UCLA F 42 Calvin Natt 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1957–01–08 Louisiana–Monroe F 23 Dyron Nix 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1967–02–11 Tennessee F 45 Chuck Person 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1964–06–27 Auburn F 33 Mike Sanders 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1960–05–07 UCLA F 11 Detlef Schrempf 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 214 lb (97 kg) 1963–01–21 Washington C 24 Rik Smits 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1966–08–23 Marist F/C 41 LaSalle Thompson 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1961–06–23 Texas F 14 Randy Wittman 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1959–10–28 Indiana

Head coach Dick Versace Assistant(s) Mel Daniels Bob Hill George Irvine Bob Ociepka Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Updated: October 31, 1989

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Detroit Pistons	59	23	.720	–	35–6	24–17	22–8
x-Chicago Bulls	55	27	.671	4	36–5	19–22	20–10
x-Milwaukee Bucks	44	38	.537	15	27–14	17–24	14–16
x-Cleveland Cavaliers	42	40	.512	17	27–14	15–26	14–16
x-Indiana Pacers	42	40	.512	17	28–13	14–27	16–14
Atlanta Hawks	41	41	.500	18	25–16	16–25	15–15
Orlando Magic	18	64	.220	41	12–29	6–35	4–26

#	Eastern Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Detroit Pistons	59	23	.720	–
2	y-Philadelphia 76ers	53	29	.646	6
3	x-Chicago Bulls	55	27	.671	4
4	x-Boston Celtics	52	30	.634	7
5	x-New York Knicks	45	37	.549	14
6	x-Milwaukee Bucks	44	38	.537	15
7	x-Cleveland Cavaliers	42	40	.512	17
8	x-Indiana Pacers	42	40	.512	17
9	Atlanta Hawks	41	41	.500	18
10	Washington Bullets	31	51	.378	28
11	Miami Heat	18	64	.220	41
12	Orlando Magic	18	64	.220	41
13	New Jersey Nets	17	65	.207	42

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Game log

Regular season

1989–90 game log Total: 42–40 (home: 28–13; road: 14–27)
November: 8–4 (home: 5–1; road: 3–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 November 3, 1989 @ Atlanta W 126–103 The Omni 1–0 2 November 4, 1989 Cleveland W 106–98 Market Square Arena 2–0 3 November 8, 1989 Detroit W 95–74 Market Square Arena 3–0 4 November 10, 1989 Miami W 102–98 Market Square Arena 4–0 5 November 15, 1989 @ L.A. Lakers L 94–117 Great Western Forum 4–1 6 November 17, 1989 @ Utah L 100–114 Salt Palace 4–2 7 November 18, 1989 @ Sacramento L 102–107 ARCO Arena 4–3 8 November 21, 1989 Boston W 119–111 Market Square Arena 5–3 9 November 24, 1989 @ Boston W 118–111 Boston Garden 6–3 10 November 25, 1989 Philadelphia L 103–111 Market Square Arena 6–4 11 November 27, 1989 @ Milwaukee W 101–97 Bradley Center 7–4 12 November 29, 1989 Utah W 100–88 Market Square Arena 8–4
December: 11–5 (home: 7–1; road: 4–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 13 December 1, 1989 Orlando W 125–110 Market Square Arena 9–4 14 December 6, 1989 Denver W 136–117 Market Square Arena 10–4 15 December 8, 1989 Chicago W 106–104 Market Square Arena 11–4 16 December 9, 1989 @ Detroit L 93–121 The Palace of Auburn Hills 11–5 17 December 12, 1989 Minnesota W 113–112 (OT) Market Square Arena 12–5 18 December 14, 1989 @ New Jersey W 102–78 Brendan Byrne Arena 13–5 19 December 15, 1989 Milwaukee L 98–103 Market Square Arena 13–6 20 December 17, 1989 @ Portland L 113–121 Memorial Coliseum 13–7 21 December 19, 1989 @ L.A. Clippers L 102–128 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 13–8 22 December 20, 1989 @ Phoenix W 131–130 (OT) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14–8 23 December 22, 1989 @ Golden State L 124–150 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 14–9 24 December 23, 1989 @ Seattle W 98–95 Seattle Center Coliseum 15–9 25 December 26, 1989 Orlando W 98–90 Market Square Arena 16–9 26 December 27, 1989 @ Orlando W 106–101 Orlando Arena 17–9 27 December 29, 1989 Houston W 103–97 Market Square Arena 18–9 28 December 30, 1989 Atlanta W 105–98 Market Square Arena 19–9
January: 4–12 (home: 4–4; road: 0–8) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 29 January 2, 1990 @ Dallas L 106–110 Reunion Arena 19–10 30 January 3, 1990 @ Houston L 103–117 The Summit 19–11 31 January 5, 1990 @ Detroit L 99–122 The Palace of Auburn Hills 19–12 32 January 6, 1990 @ Charlotte L 111–117 Charlotte Coliseum 19–13 33 January 8, 1990 @ Philadelphia L 116–120 The Spectrum 19–14 34 January 10, 1990 Chicago W 120–113 Market Square Arena 20–14 35 January 12, 1990 New York L 96–101 (OT) Market Square Arena 20–15 36 January 13, 1990 Milwaukee W 111–109 Market Square Arena 21–15 37 January 15, 1990 Golden State W 144–105 Market Square Arena 22–15 38 January 17, 1990 @ Miami L 111–121 Miami Arena 22–16 39 January 19, 1990 @ Boston L 104–109 Boston Garden 22–17 40 January 24, 1990 L.A. Lakers L 111–120 Market Square Arena 22–18 41 January 26, 1990 Miami W 115–105 Market Square Arena 23–18 42 January 27, 1990 Cleveland L 84–91 Market Square Arena 23–19 43 January 30, 1990 @ Orlando L 111–129 Orlando Arena 23–20 44 January 31, 1990 Philadelphia L 108–112 Market Square Arena 23–21
February: 7–6 (home: 4–2; road: 3–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 45 February 2, 1990 Seattle L 86–87 Market Square Arena 23–22 46 February 3, 1990 @ New York L 98–112 Madison Square Garden 23–23 47 February 6, 1990 @ Denver W 138–130 (OT) McNichols Sports Arena 24–23 48 February 8, 1990 @ San Antonio W 105–100 HemisFair Arena 25–23 All-Star Break 49 February 13, 1990 Charlotte W 128–105 Market Square Arena 26–23 50 February 14, 1990 @ Cleveland W 133–131 (OT) Richfield Coliseum 27–23 51 February 16, 1990 @ Minnesota L 105–111 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 27–24 52 February 18, 1990 @ Washington (at Baltimore, MD) L 97–116 Baltimore Arena 27–25 53 February 21, 1990 Atlanta W 123–96 Market Square Arena 28–25 54 February 23, 1990 Dallas L 91–102 Market Square Arena 28–26 55 February 25, 1990 Portland W 117–112 Market Square Arena 29–26 56 February 27, 1990 New Jersey W 118–113 Market Square Arena 30–26 57 February 28, 1990 @ Atlanta L 99–102 The Omni 30–27
March: 6–7 (home: 5–4; road: 1–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 58 March 3, 1990 L.A. Clippers L 105–107 Market Square Arena 30–28 59 March 4, 1990 @ Detroit L 105–111 The Palace of Auburn Hills 30–29 60 March 6, 1990 Washington W 113–98 Market Square Arena 31–29 61 March 9, 1990 Phoenix L 130–134 Market Square Arena 31–30 62 March 10, 1990 @ Chicago L 105–117 Chicago Stadium 31–31 63 March 13, 1990 San Antonio L 102–103 Market Square Arena 31–32 64 March 16, 1990 Atlanta L 104–106 (OT) Market Square Arena 31–33 65 March 17, 1990 @ Cleveland L 102–118 Richfield Coliseum 31–34 66 March 20, 1990 @ Miami W 112–98 Miami Arena 32–34 67 March 21, 1990 Milwaukee W 112–96 Market Square Arena 33–34 68 March 23, 1990 New Jersey W 125–109 Market Square Arena 34–34 69 March 27, 1990 Boston W 101–96 Market Square Arena 35–34 70 March 29, 1990 Sacramento W 111–101 Market Square Arena 36–34
April: 6–6 (home: 3–1; road: 3–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 71 April 1, 1990 @ Cleveland L 91–121 Richfield Coliseum 36–35 72 April 3, 1990 @ Chicago L 102–109 Chicago Stadium 36–36 73 April 4, 1990 @ Milwaukee L 116–121 (OT) Bradley Center 36–37 74 April 6, 1990 @ Orlando W 123–115 Orlando Arena 37–37 75 April 8, 1990 New York W 99–97 Market Square Arena 38–37 76 April 10, 1990 Washington W 107–105 Market Square Arena 39–37 77 April 12, 1990 @ New York L 100–108 Madison Square Garden 39–38 78 April 14, 1990 @ New Jersey W 124–113 Brendan Byrne Arena 40–38 79 April 16, 1990 Chicago W 111–102 Market Square Arena 41–38 80 April 18, 1990 @ Philadelphia L 113–124 The Spectrum 41–39 81 April 20, 1990 Detroit L 115–121 (OT) Market Square Arena 41–40 82 April 22, 1990 @ Washington W 127–117 Capital Centre 42–40
1989–90 schedule

Playoffs

1990 playoff game log
Eastern Conference First Round: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 26, 1990 @ Detroit L 92–104 Detlef Schrempf (26) Detlef Schrempf (7) Vern Fleming (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,454 0–1 2 April 28, 1990 @ Detroit L 87–100 Reggie Miller (23) Chuck Person (12) Vern Fleming (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,454 0–2 3 May 1, 1990 Detroit L 96–108 Reggie Miller (22) LaSalle Thompson (8) Reggie Miller (4) Market Square Arena 15,301 0–3
1990 schedule

Player statistics

Ragular season

Player	POS	GP	GS	MP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	MPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Reggie Miller	SG	82	82	3,192	295	311	110	18	2,016	38.9	3.6	3.8	1.3	.2	24.6
Vern Fleming	PG	82	82	2,876	322	610	92	10	1,176	35.1	3.9	7.4	1.1	.1	14.3
Rik Smits	C	82	82	2,404	512	142	45	169	1,271	29.3	6.2	1.7	.5	2.1	15.5
LaSalle Thompson	C	82	60	2,126	630	106	65	71	554	25.9	7.7	1.3	.8	.9	6.8
Mike Sanders	SF	82	13	1,531	230	89	43	23	510	18.7	2.8	1.1	.5	.3	6.2
Detlef Schrempf	PF	78	18	2,573	620	247	59	16	1,267	33.0	7.9	3.2	.8	.2	16.2
Chuck Person	SF	77	73	2,714	445	230	53	20	1,515	35.2	5.8	3.0	.7	.3	19.7
Rickey Green	PG	69	0	927	54	182	51	1	244	13.4	.8	2.6	.7	.0	3.5
Randy Wittman	SF	61	0	544	30	39	7	4	130	8.9	.5	.6	.1	.1	2.1
Greg Dreiling	C	49	0	307	87	8	4	14	65	6.3	1.8	.2	.1	.3	1.3
George McCloud	SF	44	0	413	42	45	19	3	118	9.4	1.0	1.0	.4	.1	2.7
Dyron Nix	SF	20	0	109	26	5	3	1	39	5.5	1.3	.3	.2	.1	2.0
Calvin Natt	SF	14	0	164	35	9	1	0	57	11.7	2.5	.6	.1	.0	4.1

Playoffs

Player	POS	GP	GS	MP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	MPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Reggie Miller	SG	3	3	125	12	6	3	0	62	41.7	4.0	2.0	1.0	.0	20.7
Detlef Schrempf	PF	3	3	125	22	5	2	1	61	41.7	7.3	1.7	.7	.3	20.3
Chuck Person	SF	3	3	123	20	12	1	0	40	41.0	6.7	4.0	.3	.0	13.3
Vern Fleming	PG	3	3	113	13	18	2	1	40	37.7	4.3	6.0	.7	.3	13.3
Rik Smits	C	3	3	96	16	3	2	4	37	32.0	5.3	1.0	.7	1.3	12.3
LaSalle Thompson	C	3	0	54	15	2	0	1	18	18.0	5.0	.7	.0	.3	6.0
Rickey Green	PG	3	0	31	1	3	1	0	2	10.3	.3	1.0	.3	.0	.7
Mike Sanders	SF	3	0	24	6	2	0	0	11	8.0	2.0	.7	.0	.0	3.7
Calvin Natt	SF	2	0	14	2	1	0	0	2	7.0	1.0	.5	.0	.0	1.0
Randy Wittman	SF	2	0	11	1	0	0	0	0	5.5	.5	.0	.0	.0	.0
George McCloud	SF	1	0	4	1	0	0	0	2	4.0	1.0	.0	.0	.0	2.0

Awards and records

• Reggie Miller, NBA All-Star Game

Transactions