Reek no more - Indiana Pacers' Rik Smits; includes related article

The Pacers go into their most critical stretch of games coming off their best month ever, thanks to their 7-foot-4 enigma

The Indiana Pacers blew through February like a cold Midwest wind, knocking down 11 victories in 13 games and climbing four games over .500 for the first time since Dick Vitale's hair was combed late in 1989.

It was the pacers' finest since joining the NBA in 1974 and further proof that Larry Brown is, indeed, the quickest remedy for an ailing franchise.

The Pacers face a critical stretch of games. From Tuesday through March 26, they eight games against playoff-bound teams: the Knicks and Cavaliers twice, the Suns, Hawks and Jazz at home, and the Bulls in Chicago. All those opponents have better records than the Pacers.

Brown has the Pacers playing tough defense,unselfish and hard every night, but the biggest reason for this club's success has been it's largest body -- and paycheck.

Rik Smits, whose future with the Pacers looked tenuous six weeks ago, awoke from his funk with a 15-game tear that tenuous six Market Square Arena and his opposition wondering, "who is this guy?"

The Dutch Dichotomy, a force one night and a farce the next during his 51/2 season in Indianapolis, came through with the most consistently pleasing and encouraging month of his career.

Smith average 19.2 points and eight rebounds and shot 59 percent to earn some long-sought respect and at least part of that $2.4-million salary.

He entered the month averaging 13.5 points and 6 rebounds per game, and was shooting 51 percent.

Smits can't explain his success, offering up lame explanations like "my teammates are getting me the ball." He did say, "I play better if i don't worry about it. Occasionally, after a game, I'll look at the box score. In the past, I'd get too caught up in the stats. Now, I just go out and play and don't worry about it.

His stats aren't the only reasons Pacers fans are suddenly excited about their 7-foot-4 center. They're juiced because Smith has abandoned fadeaway jumpers in favor of aggressive moves to the basket.. Instead of that feeble roll, he's been throwing down those in-your-face dunks. Rather than trailing plays, Smits keeps finishing off fast breaks.

Smits, who many had about a much presence under the basket as the Hornets' Muggsy Bogues, has rebounded and played defense more like someone 7-4 should.

Always a nice guy, on and off the court, he suddenly has been meaner between the baselines.

And, most important, that uninspired persona vanished.

"Rik Sits was aggressive tonight," Trail Blazers Coach Rick Adelman said after snits shredded his team for 13 rebounds and 24 points on 9 of shooting. "He was able to take it to the basket."

"This is the best I've ever seen hi play," the Bulls Bill Wenington said after Smits had rebounds and 25 points on 11 of 17 shooting against Chicago. "Now he seems to be very poised when he gets the ball in the post. When he has his rhythm, he commands double-teams and they have the perimeter shooters to make it work."

Smits not only showed heart during this stretch, but also he showed some emotion. Pumping his fist after a good play, yelling at a referee after a bad call and looking more like a member of a team after a victory.

Who is this guy?

"I think he likes playing more than before, and he seems to be enjoying himself out there," says Pacers President Donnie Walsh. "I think it's all Larry (Brown)."

Walsh made Smiths, a native of Holland who played for Marist College, the second selection of the 1988 draft. Walsh has been surrogate father, public relations director and cheerleader to Smits. I've told Walsh when his blind loyalty to Smits finally buries him, Smits should be a pallbearer.

Even though Smits has mostly been a bust, Walsh has refused to trade him.

"I've been pulling for Rik, but, yes, I've had my doubts," Walsh says.

Brown was skeptical. "I've been up and down with Rik," he says. "I didn't think he could play the way I'd like him to play. Then, early in the season, he surprised me. And then he hurt his shoulder and slacked off.

"I told Donnie no matter how hard he tried, I didn't think he could help.

"But he's really come on and I think Derrick (McKey) has really helped him, plus I think our guys like him. I get the feeling he respects the guys on our team and the players have confidence in him now."

Indiana didn't lack confidence as much as it did healthy bodies during the first three months of the season. Point guard Pooh Richardson went down after a quick start, McKey was slowed by a hamstring pull and durable Dale Davis was lost for a month with a broken wrist.

But veterans Sam Mitchell, Vern Fleming and Byron Scott, plus newcomers Haywood Workman and Antonio Davis, rallied around Reggie Miller to keep things respectable while their teammates healed.

"I don't think at any point in the year I've had a problem with this team . . . they've done what we've asked them to every night," says Brown, who surprised people by trading Detlef Schrempf to Seattle for Mckey just before opening night.

"I look at the sacrifies Reggie's made, the progress of Dale and Rik, and what Derrick means to this team . . . this is a great experience for all of us because we have a group that's trying to do the right thing every night and every practice."

After beating the Rockets, Sonics, Bulls and Trail Blazers during their February run, the Pacers are finally proving they can play with anybody.

"It's been a serious transformation," says Scott, a veteran of 10 seasons signed as a free agent on December 6. "Once you get to winning, it gets contagious.

"You get to a point where you almost fear losing again, and this team has all of a sudden found out what it feels like to win."

McKey's all-around lay has been quietly brilliant, Dale Davis is developing into an intimidating presence and Miller, averaging 20.6 points on only 14 shots a game, continues to back up his lip.

"This is the most excited I've been this late in the season and I think this team is just scratching the surface," says Miller, the NBA's most accurate shooter according to a statistical compilation by USA Today. "And Rik is the key.

"If he can contribute numbers like he has been, it makes it easier for Derrick and myself and the other guys on the perimeter."

Following Smits' rookie season, everyone was enthused about the Pacers' future. But, other than some sporadic moments, he was basically the tallest two-guard in the NBA. A great game against Patrick Ewing could easily be followed by a stinker against Benoit Benjamin.

Indianapolis Start sports writer David Benner once referred to him as "Reek Smits."

There didn't appear to be a heart in is chest nor any fire in his game. he was a rich kid with a poor work ethic.

"Some guys have inner motivation, some don't," says Walsh. "Rik would do whatever we asked of him and I always felt he needed a good teacher. He's not as emotional as Reggie (Miller), but I don't think he'll back down . . . I just don't think he's going to start it. It just takes a lot to get to him."

Brown watched old films and decided Smits needed more involvement and less weight.

"In the past, it looked like they would go to Rik early and if he didn't score he'd get pulled and sit," Brown says. "I didn't want him to think he's out there to score . . . the points will always come with his abilities. I had to convince him we needed him to rebound and defend.

"He was also too heavy and we got to drop 20 pounds and that helped. He's moving his feet better and he's much more athletic. He can dribble fairly well and he can pass. He's very coachable."

Says Smits, "This is the best I've felt since I've been in the league."

There is no simple, logical reason for Smits' emergence. As Miller says, "I really don't know. If I had a clue, I'd have done it a long time ago."

Keep in mind that the Pacers have been beating the teams that they should, and Smits has been dominating the centers he should. Also, excellent play from your highest-paid player should be expected.

And four strong weeks doesn't erase four week years.

But, if indeed, Brown has finally inspired Smits to play hard every night, the next couple of months should be entertaining.

Smits still doesn't get any respect from the refs, but he's beginning to sway even some of his toughest critics.

Smits' big month

Rik Smits played in February the way the Pacers had hoped after making him the second pick of the 1988 draft. His game-by-game production:

Feb. opponent   Result      Reb   FG-A    Pts
1  Bullets      W 116-96     9     8-12    25
           3
2  at Hornets   W 124-112    7    10-11    23
4   Wolves      W 114-93     6     9-16    21
5  Hornets      W 111-102    8    10-16    24
7  Warriors     W 104-99    13    10-17    28
9  at Heat      W 102-98     6      1-3     3
           V3
15 at Spurs     L 109-100    7     7-13    14
17 at Mavs      W 84-73      5     4-11    10
           3
20 Sonics       W 101-95     6     7-10    15
22 Mavs         W 107-101   11    11-17    27
23 at Magic     L 103-99    11     7-17    16
25 Pistons      W 110-90    11    11-17    25
26 at Bulls     W 96-86     10     7-14    19

Stretch run

For the first time this season, the Pacers players are all healthy. On top of that, Rik Smits is playing well.

"Indiana's time to make a run is now," says Bulls Coach Phil Jackson.

The Pacers are part of the pack contesting for the final four of eight playoff spots among Eastern Conference teams.

"It's a battle," says Pacers Coach Larry Brown, "because Miami, New Jersey, Cleveland and Orlando are playing well. So we've got to play our best basketball now."

The Pacers are going into a brutal stretch. There are six back-to-back sets, including the Knicks-Suns and Hawks-Jazz next week, and the Cavs home-and-home and Knicks-Bulls the following week.

The Pacers will meet three of the East's top four teams (the Knicks twice, the Hawks and the Bulls) and two of their main competitors for the last four or five playoffs spots (the Cavs twice and Nets once).

Protecting their home court will be paramount. The Pacers didn't that in February, going 7-0. They have 14 home games remaining, more than any of their competitors for the playoffs.

"If we take care of hour home court," Brown says, "we could be a real factor."

The Pacers exceeded Brown's expectations in February. Brown says the turning point to the season was the win at Houston on January 29. It was the Pacers' first win in Houston in nearly 15 years.

The Pacers have now beaten three of the top four clubs in the East (the Hawks, Bulls, and Magic) and Nos. 1 and 2 in the West (Sonics and Rockets).

"I don't think we can take for granted we're going to make the playoffs," Brown says. "It's stupid for us to think we're definitely in the playoffs, and it's stupid for us to think we don't have a chance to get a home-court advantage."

Robin Miller is the sports columnist for the Indianapolis Star.

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