Hooped Up

The Indiana Pacers don’t believe quick fixes and knee-jerk reactions are the way back to the playoffs, so they are giving Jim O’Brien the rare chance to keep guiding an NBA team after back-to-back losing seasons. In the past five years, just nine other coaches have received the chance O’Brien has been given. During that span, only four — Mike Woodson, Byron Scott, Mike Dunleavy and Bernie Bickerstaff — have lasted through at least three consecutive full losing campaigns. Pacers president Larry Bird plans to stick with O’Brien, and history shows his patience might pay off. 

AP