Peeved Pacer

Peeved Pacer

By Marty Gitlin Contributing Writer

It worked for Allen Iverson. It appears Jermaine O’Neal hopes it will work for him as well.

That is, asking to be traded.

The talented Indiana power forward is disgruntled over his team’s mediocrity. The Pacers have been hanging around .500 for a while. They finished 44-38 two years ago, 41-41 in 2005-06, and own an 18-16 record this season.

It’s not O’Neal’s fault. Playing with an average team in a small market has resulted in a lack of recognition for his talent, but he remains one of the premier players in the . He is averaging 19.3 points a game and is among the NBA leaders at 10.6 rebounds and 3.2 blocked shots a game.

And as an 11-year veteran, O’Neal fears a championship will elude him if he remains with the Pacers. So for the first time, he’s hinting he wants out.

“We’re a very average team right now,” O’Neal told the Indianapolis Star. “We’re going to be average until we decide as players that we want to win and do the right things we’re supposed to do to win. If we don’t do it, we’re going to mingle around .500, get in the playoffs, and then be out.

“If I can’t take this team to another level, I truthfully believe we should go our separate ways at the end of the season. I’m saying in general, the bottom line is you play to win. If we don’t have a system set to win a championship, if we don’t have the crew to win a championship, then what are we doing? … I don’t want to play 82 games and then exit to watch somebody else pop champagne. I’m tired of that.”

Team CEO Donnie Walsh didn’t criticize O’Neal for the public airing of his frustrations.

“I think he’s played really well, and if the time comes for (talking about O’Neal’s future), then that will be the time,” Walsh told the Star. “We’ll see. We’re going through a difficult part of the season. I’m frustrated, the coaches are frustrated on occasion, and the team is frustrated.”

O’Neal might have been frustrated Saturday night, but he focused enough to score 22 points in a 100-93 defeat of New Orleans. Despite the mediocre play, Indiana remains just 3.5-games out of first place in the balanced Central Division.

ROLLING WOLVES: Among the surprises of the NBA this season has been Minnesota. After winning just 33 games a year ago, the Timberwolves have played consistently well and have now inched over .500.

A three-game winning streak has pushed Minnesota to 16-15 and just a half-game behind second-place Denver in the Northwest Division.

The Wolves are receiving plenty of points and rebounds from Kevin Garnett, as usual, but the guard tandem of Mike James and Ricky Davis has also proven productive.

The most notable difference, however, has been center Mark Blount, who is having a career year at 12.7 points and 6.1 rebounds a game. He’s shooting 55 percent from the field.

The Wolves can forge a tie with the Nuggets with a home victory against streaking Houston on Sunday afternoon. lists Minnesota as a 2.5-point favorite.

INJURY TO INSULT: Ben Wallace not only bolted Detroit to sign a free agent contract with Chicago during the offseason, but now he’s tormenting the Pistons on the court.

Wallace scored an unusually high 12 points and added 14 rebounds, six blocked shots, and three steals in the Bulls’ 106-89 victory Saturday night that knocked Detroit out of first place in the Central Division.

With Chauncey Billups still sidelined, the Pistons need replacement Ronald (Flip) Murray to produce. But Murray made just 1 of 9 shots against the Bulls and combined with Tayshaun Prince to hit 3 of 21 from the field.

DRIBBLES: Diminutive guards Earl Boykins and Iverson started in the same backcourt for the first time Saturday night, but the result was still Denver’s sixth loss in the last eight games. Utah guard Deron Williams took advantage of the height disparity to score 28 points in a 96-84 victory. … Power forward Drew Gooden’s third consecutive double-double helped Cleveland win its fourth game in five days, 96-91, over New Jersey Saturday night. The Cavaliers now boast the best record in the Eastern Conference. … The Game of the Night Sunday will be Dallas at the Los Angeles Lakers. The Mavericks are 2.5-point favorites to win their 14th straight game, according to WagerWeb.com.

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