Xs and groans

[645]

It has become a ritual, almost a rite of passage for exiting Indiana Pacers.

They gather their belongings. They say goodbye. They take a shot at coach Rick Carlisle.

Ron Artest called his offense "boring," citing it as a reason he asked to be traded.

Anthony Johnson called for "a culture change" at the end of last season, before becoming a victim of one, and he and Austin Croshere indirectly criticized Carlisle for showing favoritism toward star players by emphasizing how their new coach in Dallas, Avery Johnson, holds everyone equally accountable.

Star