51? 51 points, are you kidding me? A few days ago I didn't think the Pacers could beat a high school team by 51. Granted the Bulls aren't the cream of the NBA crop but still, beating another professional team by 51 points (during what I am now calling a drought, not a slump) is unheard of. It is the biggest margin of victory in a NBA game this year. And almost more impressive it was done mostly by the bench, as each starter only played between one and two quarters. So how did this happen, and more importantly, what does it mean? Is this all Tim Haraway's doing? Will the Pacers get two win for their effort? Okay probably not, but it may be the final shove to get them back on track for one last run this season. Tonight the Pacers won again against a playoff team from "dominant" Western Conference, even though they were basically out played for most of the game. The Pacers won the hustle points as they got every loose ball and they played extraordinary defense. Eric Strickland stuck to Stephon Marbury like white on rice, in what possibly was the best defensive effort Marbury has ever faced (he scored only 10 points). Ron Artest finally showed us why he IS worth having on the team as he basically set the tempo on both ends of the court. The Pacers are beginning to look like the team that was once 33-13 (seems like along time ago doesn't it) the way they have played defense and have played unselfishly on offense. They are getting healthy, with the exception of Reggie who is still playing injured, and Tinsley who is having family problems; and seem to be getting a new spark of the bench from Tim Hardaway. Yes, there is finally some optimism for the Pacers, and isn't ironic the on the night they begin to look like their former selves, they clinch a playoff berth? Is it an omen, I hope so. Weekly Predictions: The Pacers are hot, this may be fun again! Last Week:2-2 Season Total:17-15 VS. Kings: This will show us what the Pacers are really made of. A win would be huge for both teams but the Pacers are at home where they seem to thrive. Pacers by 2. @ Cavs: Pacers don't "thrive" as much on the road, but the Cavs have basically mailed in the season and are looking for losses ? hey you would be too if it meant a chance at Lebron. Pacers by 1300(okay not really but you get the idea) @ Pistons: If the Pacers win the two aforementioned games this game will be the biggest to this point in the season. I'm sticking with Pacers even if it is on the road. Pacers by 1 (a Reggie Miller three, hopefully)

Mark Monteith of the Indianapolis Star reports: While Tim Hardaway is living out of a hotel, has only a bag of clothes, and is driving a yellow rental car, he is looking more than presentable on the court starting to influence the Pacers already.

"That's the way I am," he said after scoring 14 points, passing out seven assists and getting three steals in Indiana's 140-89 victory over the Chicago Bulls. "I talk and I lead and I try to get people to go out there and play right."

Hardaway, for one, is eager to teach and happy to be back on the court.

"Coach (Isiah Thomas) told me there was a lot more chatter this game than in the previous five or six games," said Hardaway, 36. "When I talked to them, they listened.

"They're not looking for the little things, like slips, like dump-downs. That's what I'm here for, to teach them. You'll get the pass back, you'll get the layup. If you come off (a screen) and can't catch-and-shoot, don't frown. Just pass it in. You'll get another chance and when you get another chance, make the shot. Don't worry about it."

Back up point guard Erick Strickland is trying to soak it all in while the former All-star is here.

"I love it," Strickland said. "He talks to me, stays on me, shows me what's going on. I'm glad he's around."

Mark Monteith of the Indianapolis Star writes: The Pacers 51-point victory over the Chicago Bulls makes one wonder whether one teams defense was so bad or the winning team was so dominant.

"Probably 50-50," Al Harrington acknowledged after the Pacers' 140-89 adjective-defying win.

"We had to make shots regardless of how bad the defense was. But they didn't play great defense. I don't know what their excuse is. I know we have to see them again, so I don't want to say anything about it."

The Pacers could do no wrong on this night. The shot 62% from the field and outrebounded Chicago 59-27.

"It was a total embarrassment," said former Pacer Jalen Rose, who scored 12 points on 5-of-14 shooting. "Our play on the road is almost like a basketball travesty.

"A loss is a loss when you lose the game, not at the end of the first quarter. I don't know if I've ever lost this bad at anything in my life, whether it be pool, video games, anything. Playing the game of basketball starts on the left side of the chest. We have not mastered that concept yet."

The struggling Indiana Pacers broke out of their recent slump in dramatic fashion tonight, crushing the visiting Chicago Bulls 140-89.

The hot-shooting Pacers (42-30), who had dropped 15 of their last 19 games, dominated from the start. They led 39-28 at the end of the first quarter, then blew out the Bulls in the second quarter for a 74-46 halftime bulge.

Indiana didn't stop there, racing to an insurmountable 105-68 lead heading in the final quarter.

The Pacers hit 63 percent of their shots from the field, and put seven players in double figures. Brad Miller led the way with 22 points, hitting 8-of-11 shots. Al Harrington added 19 points in just 12 minutes, while Jonathan Bender had 18.

Chicago (26-47) was led by Eddy Curry with 18.

The role Tim Hardaway envisions for himself with the Indiana Pacers is reflected in his jersey number.

Through all but one of his previous 12 NBA seasons, Hardaway wore No. 10. Jeff Foster wears that number for the Pacers, however, so Hardaway -- drafted 14th by Golden State in 1989 -- settled for No. 14.

He made no plea, nor an attempt to pay off Foster to get the desired digits on his jersey.

"That's his number," Hardaway said Thursday after completing his first workout with the Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse. "I'm not coming in here trying to cause no ruckus; I'm just trying to help the team."

Hardaway knows about ruckus-raising in the NBA. He was named to five All-Star teams while playing for Golden State and Miami, was a first-team all-league selection in 1997 and a second-team selection three times. He's also Miami's all-time assists leader and was a member of the U.S. Olympic gold medal-winning team in 2000.

Now, however, he's 36 and coming off a year's worth of inactivity. He finished last season on Denver's injured list with a broken left foot, and hasn't played in a regular-season game since last March 23. Receiving no contract offers over the summer, he has been living in Miami and working as an studio analyst for ESPN's NBA coverage.

So what can he do for the Pacers, who play the first of their remaining 11 regular-season games tonight against Chicago at the fieldhouse?

"If you can play, you can play," he said. "It's like riding a bike. It's getting out there and just doing what you know how to do."

Coach Isiah Thomas, who pushed for signing Hardaway, views the veteran point guard as someone "who's not going to get too rattled if he misses a couple of shots or if we have a bad quarter."

The idea was to have him on hand for the playoffs should Jamaal Tinsley or Erick Strickland get hurt, as Tinsley did in last season's series with New Jersey. But he might be thrust into a quick-fix role.

Tinsley is in Brooklyn, N.Y., where funeral services for his mother will be conducted this morning. He has been away from the team since Monday and is not expected back tonight. Strickland strained rib muscles on Wednesday, sat out Thursday's practice and is questionable for tonight.

With Jamison Brewer on the injured list, the Pacers have no other point guards on their active roster. Primoz Brezec was placed on the injured list Thursday to make room for Hardaway.

Is he ready for such a sudden and drastic change?

"We'll see," he said. "No question, I'm not in NBA basketball shape. But I'm in good enough shape to sustain some minutes. I know that for sure."

Hardaway said he tried to stay sharp during his involuntary layoff but found it difficult to get into a game.

"Florida is not a basketball state," he said. "Just to get some people in the gym regularly is very hard. (I played) probably twice a week. The rest of the time I've tried to run, do cardio, not get fat, stuff like that."

Hardaway took his physical Thursday and signed a contract (pro-rated share of the minimum for a veteran of 10 or more years, which is $1,030,000) that will take him through the season, then participated in a practice that focused on the half-court offense.

He then sat with Thomas -- his boyhood idol -- on the scorer's table and took a crash course on the offense and his new teammates.

He hopes not only to contribute but to earn a contract somewhere next season. The Pacers, meanwhile, will be satisfied if he can reach his goal of "just trying to help the team."

"When it comes down to it, it's just basketball, and he's a very good basketball player," Reggie Miller said.

K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reports that Jalen Rose knows exactly why the Pacers had to sign Tim Hardaway to a contract. He says it all boils down to the trade the Pacers made with the Bulls last season, a deal that included Rose and Travis Best.

"In the trade, (Indiana) lost their two leading assist guys in Jalen and Travis (Best). Now I guess you didn't get what you want out of that spot," Rose said.

Maybe someone is a bit bitter about the trade?

"I have a lot of love for the fans and my former teammates," Rose said. "I still even have love for Isiah (Thomas) and management. It was the best time that I've had so far in my career," admitted Rose.

The Pacers maintain the move for Hardaway was to add experience to the team. Especially in light of Jamaal Tinsley dealing with his mother's death and Erick Strickland has injured ribs.

The Associated Press reports: Tim Hardaway signed with the Indiana Pacers, who are trying to bolster their backcourt for the stretch run.

The 36-year-old point guard, a five-time All-Star, has not played this season. He is eligible for the playoffs because he is a free agent and not a waiver pickup.

Hardaway, who has been working as an analyst for ESPN, was expected to practice with Indiana on Thursday and could be in uniform for Friday's game against Chicago.

"I'm happy to be back in the league with a team that feels I can help them out with veteran leadership going into the playoffs,'' Hardaway said.

To make room for him, the Pacers placed center Primoz Brezec on the injured list with a sprained left ankle.

Hardaway averaged 17.9 points and 8.3 assists in 12 seasons with Miami, Golden State, Denver and Dallas.

"Tim is a solid veteran who can provide us some insurance at point guard if needed,'' Pacers president Donnie Walsh said.

The Pacers (41-30) are fourth in the Eastern Conference and have lost 15 of their last 19 games.

"I'm not asking him to play a lot of minutes,'' coach Isiah Thomas said Wednesday. "If someone was to go down, he's the best out there on the market. If he can still do it, if he can still play, it would be great for us.''

Mark Montieth of the Indianapolis Star reports: The Indiana Pacers have decided to sign Tim Hardaway for the remainder of the season after a week of contemplating whether or not to do so.

Hardaway could be in uniform as early as Friday night's home game against Chicago.

Hardaway had been working for ESPN but two months ago his role was reduced.

Last season, Hardaway averaged 9.6 points per game in 68 games with Dallas and Denver.

Pacers president Donnie Walsh is happy to be signing Hardaway.

"The one position we're not covered if one or two guys went out is point guard," Pacers president Donnie Walsh said Tuesday. "He's a proven veteran, a guy who's been there. I have no doubt that he can make shots and that he can get you into your offense. I'm confident he'll be able to play; at what level, we'll have to see."

While with the Pacers, Hardaway will earn a pro-rated share of the minimum salary for a veteran of ten or more years of service, which is $1,030,000.

It was fitting that Jermaine O'Neal wore a Bob Pettit St. Louis Hawks retro jersey to the Indiana Pacers' game Friday.

Putting up numbers that would have made the Hall of Fame forward proud, O'Neal led the Pacers through a stunning comeback from a 19-point third-quarter deficit to a 101-92 victory over Memphis that squeezed the Eastern Conference playoff race.

O'Neal tied his career high with 38 points, grabbed 18 rebounds, blocked three shots, had three steals and made hustle plays in what most of the Pacers considered the best performance of his seven-year NBA career.

"It's getting to the point he's getting scary," coach Isiah Thomas said of O'Neal. "He put us on his back and we rode him for as long as he could go. He was fantastic.

"It was the most dominant game he's had."

One of the most timely, too. The Pacers, playing without starters Ron Artest (suspended) and Brad Miller (injured), improved to 41-28. Thanks to losses by Detroit and Philadelphia, they're in third place in the Eastern Conference, 21/2 games behind the Pistons and a half-game behind New Jersey.

Momentum, of course, could be cut short when the Pacers play tonight in Atlanta, where a victory would match last season's win total. But that game will be followed by three more at home, starting with one against the 76ers Wednesday, by which time Miller and Artest will be in the lineup.

Midway through the third quarter on Friday, however, the Pacers weren't thinking optimistically about their future. Memphis was putting on a clinic, displaying the best of 69-year-old coach Hubie Brown's aggressive, fundamental approach.

Memphis, which had won seven of its previous eight games, shot 54 percent in the first half, outscored the Pacers 28-4 on fastbreak points and confused them with shifting defenses.

The Grizzlies' 12-point halftime lead reached 19 as the Pacers hit one of their first nine shots in the third period, and boos were ringing down from the 15,505 fans at Conseco Fieldhouse.

But it all changed suddenly. With the Pacers trailing 70-51, Reggie Miller hit a 3-pointer that started a 14-0 run. Miller scored the first seven points and the final three of that surge for 10 of his 14 points.

O'Neal took over from there.

"Pride kicked in," he said. "It's an important part of the year for us. To play the way we played in the first half is extremely unacceptable."

The game had begun improbably for him, as he was called for a technical foul 33 seconds after tip-off and missed all four shots in the first quarter. But he scored 14 in the second quarter to keep the Pacers from being blown out, then scored the first six of the fourth.

His short turnaround jumper on the first possession of the final period gave the Pacers a 77-76 lead and they never trailed again.

As good as O'Neal was, he was largely the primary beneficiary of a penetrating attack in which guards Jamaal Tinsley and Erick Strickland combined for 18 assists. Of O'Neal's 16 field goals, nine were dunks or layups.

"He did everything," Reggie Miller said. "There's not one thing he didn't do. He blocked shots, he scored, he rebounded, he assisted a few plays, and he dove on the floor."

The Pacers led 85-83 midway through the fourth when O'Neal caught the ball in the post and fed Tinsley for a layup. After Reggie Miller's steal, O'Neal drew a foul by Shane Battier on a dunk attempt and hit two fouls shots. He followed by beating Stromile Swift on the left baseline for a dunk that opened an eight-point lead.

"You do what you have to do to win the game," O'Neal said. "Guys dug down real deep."