The 2000–01 NBA season was the Pacers' 25th season in the National Basketball Association, and 34th season as a franchise. The Pacers were coming off of an NBA Finals defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games. During the off-season, the Pacers hired former Indiana University and Detroit Pistons legend Isiah Thomas as head coach, and acquired Jermaine O'Neal from the Portland Trail Blazers. With the departures of veteran players from the team that reached the Finals last year, the Pacers got off to a 5–2 start, but then struggled losing six of their next seven games, then later on holding a 21–27 record at the All-Star break. The Pacers played mediocre basketball all season long, and finished fourth in the Central Division with a record of 41–41. To qualify for the playoffs, the Pacers