Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
INDIANAPOLIS â€" They were punctual, loud and proud.
While that won't surprise those who know Indiana as one of America's cradles of basketball, it was a definite change from the crowds at Bankers Life Fieldhouse this season. The Pacers ranked 29th in the NBA in overall attendance, and 26th in percentage of capacity.
Just the Cavaliers, Bobcats, Nets and Pistons had a larger percentage of empty seats, and none came close to the Pacers' home record of 23-10.
Yet two former Pacers, Jeff Foster and Austin Croshere, both predicted earlier this week that the fieldhouse would be full and frenzied for the Heat's appearances.
"The stretch run this year, the fans were back into it," said Foster, who retired during the season - his 13th season with the franchise. "It's really good fan base, but it's taken them a while to get back into the building.
"I think that everyone has done a great job of putting a great product on the court that the fans can get behind, both as far as their play and the way they conduct themselves, which has been big for this fan base."
That was necessary, after the Malice at the Palace, which destroyed a Pacers contender in the middle of last decade, as well as the several unseemly off-court incidents. Pacers President Larry Bird rebuilt the roster with players who had spent three or four years at top-end college programs.
"I was part of the four lean years that we had, that we went through a tough time with the fans," Croshere said. "Yes, they were turned off by us. The last series against Orlando, the fieldhouse was rocking like it hadn't been since Reggie Miller left."
And it was rocking even more Thursday. Fans were given "Gold Swagger" T-shirts, a counter to the Heat's "White Hot" campaign. They held up signs such as "Built Not Bought," a reference to Roy Hibbert's comparison of the Pacers to the Heat.
LeBron defends Kobe: LeBron James isn't changing his stance, even when it applies to someone else.
Kobe Bryant butchered the last few minutes of the Lakers' 77-75 loss to Oklahoma City on Wednesday night by committing turnovers and taking terrible shots, but, naturally, the national narrative is mostly about the shot he didn't take.
Instead, Steve Blake took it, a wide open three-pointer from the right corner, after a pass from Ron Artest.
Blake missed it, and Bryant didn't look particularly pleased.
Since James' deference in crunch time is a popular topic in the national media, the Heat star was asked for his opinion.
"You guys know my answer. I thought it was a great play," James said. "Those are the same shots that Derek Fisher has hit multiple times for the Lakers. And if Steve Blake makes that shot, then it's a whole different story line.
"Ron Artest made the perfect play, and (Blake) just missed it." "
Noteworthy: One of the changes in the Heat locker room in recent weeks? Music. Loud music. James generally controls the play list, which means it's always rap. Thursday, players were rhyming along to Rich Ross and Kanye West - including verses that name James and Dwyane Wade - and Wade was translating Jay-Z lyrics for Mike Miller. Miller, a South Dakota native, prefers country. Heat rookie guard Norris Cole had more than 30 family members and friends in attendance, after they made the short drive from his Dayton, Ohio, hometown.
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