"Now we can put some tapes together and concentrate on one team," Indiana coach Isiah Thomas said. "We wanted to have that momentum and positive feeling going into the playoffs."

Said Jalen Rose: "We want to be one of the hottest teams going into the playoffs. Especially with a young team, you want to carry over the emotion and excitement and know-how of winning."

The Pacers have eliminated the Sixers the past two springs in the East semifinals, but that was with a veteran crew that included center Rik Smits, forward Dale Davis and and guard Mark Jackson, three starters who all were lost last summer.

Smits retired, while Jackson signed a free-agent contract with the Raptors, then was shipped to New York in a Feb. 22 deal. Davis was traded to Portland as part of the youth movement that netted current starting power forward Jermaine O'Neal.

O'Neal, along with Al Harrington and Austin Croshere, have been the youngbloods who have taken the babysteps behind the guidance of veterans Miller and Rose. Against Philly, Pacers fans will see exactly how much progress the youngsters have made.

Personnel File

GOING BACK: The reigning Eastern conference champs punched their postseason ticket with a victory over -- who better? -- the Knicks last Wednesday in a game that rang at playoff decibels. Reggie Miller and Jalen Rose combined for 49 points in the victory that clinched the No. 8 seed in the conference and eliminated the Boston Celtics from playoff contention.

Miller had a season-high seven 3-pointers to lead Indiana to its fifth straight victory and ninth consectuive at Conseco Fieldhouse.

LET'S SEE BEST DEFENSE: The Pacers want to see Travis Best play better at the defensive end, especially with the team looking like it will face Philadelphia in the first round of the playoffs.

This would thrust Best into the spotlight because the Pacers would ask him to concentrate on slowing league-leading scorer Allen Iverson. Best's defensive play has been spotty all season, and Iverson is certain to put him to the test in the playoffs.

Noteworthy

EX-PACER DIES: Jay Miller, a member of the Indiana Pacers' first ABA championship team, died last week. He was 57.

Miller died April 5 of a heart attack while working out in Tempe, Ariz., where he lived the past 14 years. He spent 30 years with the FBI, and planned to retire this year.

Miller played briefly in the NBA with St. Louis and Milwaukee before jumping to the ABA with Los Angeles in 1968. He joined the Pacers during the 1968-69 season, and averaged 3.7 points in 1969-70 when the Pacers won their first ABA title.

14-4: That's what Thomas scrawled on the team's message board on March 28 when the Pacers were 28-36. Thomas figured that's what the Pacers needed to finish the season if they were going to reach the playoffs. That goal is reachable only if the Pacers win the last four games on their schedule.

SHOOTING STAR: Reggie Miller's numbers might be down in some categories, but he still shoots free throws as well as anyone. Miller leads the league in free throw shooting (.925).