04/07/2008

By CLIFF BRUNT  / Associated Press

Finally, Mike Dunleavy is living up to the hype.

Many considered Dunleavy, the No. 3 overall draft pick from Duke in 2002, a disappointment in five years with the Golden State Warriors. He was ripped by the media and booed by the home fans before being sent to the Indiana Pacers in a midseason trade last year.

Now, with new scenery, a new coach and an offense that matches his skill set, Dunleavy is having the best season of his six-year NBA career. He entered the season with a career scoring average of 11 points per game, but he is averaging 18.7 this season.

Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said Dunleavy should get strong consideration for the Most Improved Player award.

"I would really not like to even think about what this year might have been like without Mike Dunleavy on our basketball team," O'Brien said.

Dunleavy said there are plenty of reasons for his growth, but the most important one is basic.

"First things first, just getting a fresh start with a new team, a new group of guys," Dunleavy said. "That's been probably the biggest key."

When Jermaine O'Neal missed 33 straight games with a bone bruise on his left knee, Dunleavy got a chance to shine. He is averaging 21.7 points per game since the All-Star break and has scored 30 or more six times in that span. He has scored 36 points, his career high, three times since Feb. 29.

Dunleavy's success has helped the Pacers remain in the playoff hunt. The Pacers (33-44) are three games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the final playoff slot in the Eastern Conference with five games left. The Pacers host the Hawks on Tuesday.

Dunleavy wouldn't mind winning the Most Improved Player award, but he'd rather make the playoffs.

"I've never been one for individual awards, but if people want to throw me in there, I'll take it," he said.

Opponents are starting to adjust to the more assertive Dunleavy.

"They're generally putting their best player on Mike," O'Brien said. "They understand that he gets a lot off the dribble, so they're putting smaller, quicker people on him with the idea that they can get under him to make dribbling difficult and make coming off pick-and-rolls difficult. He's getting a lot of attention."

That's a significant change from last season, when Dunleavy started just six of 39 games with Golden State. He started all 43 games as a Pacer last season after the trade, but he was limited in Rick Carlisle's structured system. O'Brien's system emphasizes quicker shots and a faster tempo.

"He's had more of an opportunity to show his offensive skills," said Troy Murphy, a forward who was part of the Golden State-Indiana trade. "I think at Golden State, he was more of a facilitator, more of a playmaker. Here, he's been called on more to carry more of the scoring load."

Now, instead of getting booed, Dunleavy gets some of the loudest cheers in pregame introductions at home games. Many Indiana fans questioned the trade that sent Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington to Golden State for Dunleavy and Murphy. But Dunleavy has reached double figures in 23 straight games.

"It's just his consistency," O'Neal said. "A lot of guys have good years, but they have droughts within that year. Mike has brought it every single game."

Dunleavy has improved his 3-point shooting from 28 percent to 42 percent, and he's shooting a career-high 47.5 percent from the field. He said a hand injury slowed him last season.

"I would like to say it was hard work and stuff like that, but that (the hand) had a little bit to do with it. I have worked on the shooting a lot more, but I think I'm a little bit healthier, too."

Dunleavy often has been at his best in the fourth quarter.

"I think he's elevated his game a level as far as being a go-to guy, especially late in games," O'Neal said. "He's hit some clutch shots, clutch free throws. I think he has to be at the top of that (most improved) list."