Editing Indiana Pacers (section)

=====Ron Artest's rise to stardom=====
The Pacers responded to Carlisle extremely well and had a breakthrough [[2003–04 NBA season|2003–04 season]] in which they finished 61–21, earning the best record in the NBA as well as a franchise record. O'Neal and Artest made the [[2004 NBA All-Star Game|All-Star team]], and Artest was named the [[NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award|NBA's Defensive Player of the Year]]; the Pacers swept the [[2003–04 Boston Celtics season|Boston Celtics]] in the [[2004 NBA playoffs|first round]] and squeezed by the [[2003–04 Miami Heat season|Miami Heat]] in the conference semifinals. But the [[2003–04 Detroit Pistons season|Detroit Pistons]] proved an impediment to Indiana's championship aspirations, as they defeated the Pacers in six games on their way to the [[2004 NBA Finals|NBA Championship]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.retroseasons.com/teams/indiana-pacers/2004/overview/|title=Indiana Pacers 2003-04 Season recap|website=Retroseasons.com|publisher=RetroSeasons|access-date=November 30, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/gameId/240601008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130113916/https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/gameId/240601008|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 30, 2022|title=Rip, Ben big again for Detroit|date=June 7, 2004|access-date=November 30, 2022|work=ESPN|location=Auburn Hills|agency=The Associated Press}}</ref>