“What if” The malice at The Palace

[KissMySwag]

What if the malice at The Palace never happened?

The pacers had a very strong team that year and were either 6-2 or 7-2 heading into that game against the Pistons, which were the defending champions. The pacers had there way with the pistons that game making it look easy on their way to victory.

We all know what happened though. You had the shove on Big Ben that escalated into the brawl.

Aftermath is Artest suspended the remainder of the season and playoffs, Stephen Jackson got 30 games, jermaine O’Neal got 25 which was later reduced to 10 and Anthony Johnson also got 5 games.

The pacers end up 44-38 make the playoffs but end up losing to no other than the pistons in the second round 4-2.

Which ended with Reggie Miller retiring, Ron artest being traded away and many other roster moves.

If the malice at The Palace never happens what do you think becomes of this pacers team? Do you think they compete for the championship? Can they get by the pistons and eventually beat the spurs? If so what happens to Ron artests career? His legacy? What about Reggie Miller? Or even Stephen Jackson as he would be a two time champ at that point and would be looked at a a main component to a championship team?

It’s been awhile since I’ve had this discussion I figured I could ask what the people of ISH think on this subject.

[KennyPowers]

Pacers woulda won it all.

[Reggie43]

I dont know about a championship but they would definitely have beaten Detroit that year imo. They made the playoffs while being ravaged by suspensions and injuries and then pushed Detroit to six games. Imagine them being at full strength with a chip on their shoulder from their last playoff loss.

[KissMySwag]

Pacers woulda won it all.

I believe they make it to the finals and have a great series against the spurs although I don’t know which way it goes. What I really believe wether they win it all or not people will look at Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson much differently. They were labeled “thugs” afterwards and didn’t receive nearly enough praise or media votes/attention as they should have. Artest probably gets another dpoy or two plus all star ballots and all nba teams. Stephen Jackson probably could’ve squeaked in a 3rd team or maybe 2nd team defense plus more all star ballots.

If malice doesn’t happen I those two careers and the opinion most have on those players changes drastically

[Xiao Yao You]

Carlisle is a great coach doing what he did with that squad

[KissMySwag]

I dont know about a championship but they would definitely have beaten Detroit that year imo. They made the playoffs while being ravaged by suspensions and injuries and then pushed Detroit to six games. Imagine them being at full strength with a chip on their shoulder from their last playoff loss.

I agree.

[Smoke117]

It was so early in the season that it's impossible to say what would have happened. If they did in fact make the finals I think the Lakers matched up much better against them than they did the Pistons, though.

[KissMySwag]

It was so early in the season that it's impossible to say what would have happened. If they did in fact make the finals I think the Lakers matched up much better against them than they did the Pistons, though.

I feel like Indy poses the same problems to la that year that Detroit would’ve had they met in the finals. Great defensive wings in Artest and Jackson. Idk if jermaine defends as well against Shaq as Ben Wallace did but the pistons game plan in 04 was to let Shaq eat don’t double and it worked out so maybe it could play out the same way for the pacers. Unfortunately neither team made the finals so we’ll never know.

[Xiao Yao You]

I feel like Indy poses the same problems to la that year that Detroit would’ve had they met in the finals. Great defensive wings in Artest and Jackson. Idk if jermaine defends as well against Shaq as Ben Wallace did but the pistons game plan in 04 was to let Shaq eat don’t double and it worked out so maybe it could play out the same way for the pacers. Unfortunately neither team made the finals so we’ll never know.

but Artest was a headcase. He could just as easily blown it for them like he actually did

[Jay-B]

This is a tough one. Although that was Indiana’s strongest team, don’t forget how good Detroit was that year. If Rasheed Wallace doesn’t leave Robert Horry open in game 5 Detroit most likely would of been back to back champs.

[Jay-B]

I feel like Indy poses the same problems to la that year that Detroit would’ve had they met in the finals. Great defensive wings in Artest and Jackson. Idk if jermaine defends as well against Shaq as Ben Wallace did but the pistons game plan in 04 was to let Shaq eat don’t double and it worked out so maybe it could play out the same way for the pacers. Unfortunately neither team made the finals so we’ll never know.

Malice at the palace was the 2004-2005 season

[Jay-B]

It was so early in the season that it's impossible to say what would have happened. If they did in fact make the finals I think the Lakers matched up much better against them than they did the Pistons, though.

2004-2005 season

[pandiani17]

I believe they make it to the finals and have a great series against the spurs although I don’t know which way it goes. What I really believe wether they win it all or not people will look at Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson much differently. They were labeled “thugs” afterwards and didn’t receive nearly enough praise or media votes/attention as they should have. Artest probably gets another dpoy or two plus all star ballots and all nba teams. Stephen Jackson probably could’ve squeaked in a 3rd team or maybe 2nd team defense plus more all star ballots.

If malice doesn’t happen I those two careers and the opinion most have on those players changes drastically

Jermaine O'Neal's legacy would also change a lot without this brawl. It is rumored that his jersey is not hanging from the rafters in the Pacers arena because of this, and his career went downhill afterwards. I think Artest and Jackson careers panned out well after this, Artest won the chip and Jackson was a main part of the badass Golden State Warriors of the 2007 play-offs.

[pandiani17]

I believe they make it to the finals and have a great series against the spurs although I don’t know which way it goes. What I really believe wether they win it all or not people will look at Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson much differently. They were labeled “thugs” afterwards and didn’t receive nearly enough praise or media votes/attention as they should have. Artest probably gets another dpoy or two plus all star ballots and all nba teams. Stephen Jackson probably could’ve squeaked in a 3rd team or maybe 2nd team defense plus more all star ballots.

If malice doesn’t happen I those two careers and the opinion most have on those players changes drastically

Actually, I think Jermaine's legacy was hit the hardest, most of the people remember him for this and not for dominating the Eastern Conference frontcourts in the early 2000s, which by the way were much weaker than the Western Conference paint monsters.

[dankok8]

It hurt the Pacers enormously no doubt about it. I honestly think it had a lot to do with the softening of rules and going away from physicality in the 2005 offseason. They figured if guys can't foul hard then altercations like this wouldn't happen. Anyways the incident gave the Pistons a pretty bad image as well. Both of those teams played some real grown men basketball though. I loved watching them play.

[KissMySwag]

Malice at the palace was the 2004-2005 season

I know that’s why I said neither la or Indy made the finals. I was saying they may have been able to replicate Detroit’s success had la and Indy met in the finals.

[KissMySwag]

I know that’s why I said neither la or Indy made the finals. I was saying they may have been able to replicate Detroit’s success had la and Indy met in the finals.

Well that’s still wrong considering if la and Indy meet in the finals they’re against the post Shaq lakers so no real reason to consider that matchup.