Bird feels that after a year in his system, the Pacers will be ready to start strong next season    (AP) Bird: Expect changes in Pacers next year Larry Bird, the NBA coach of the year, says he learned a lot during his rookie season with the Indiana Pacers and expects to make some changes in hopes of getting even farther into the playoffs next near. FULL STORY Bird putting coaching future in players hands Larry Bird proved he could coach in his rookie season. Now he's leaving his future with the Indiana Pacers in the hands of his players. FULL STORY   Bulls-Pacers finale highest-rated non-finals game ever The possibility of it being Michael Jordan's final game brought NBC the highest television rating in NBA history for a game not in the finals. It just won't be this year. FULL STORY JUNE 1 • Bulls outlast Pacers in grueling Game 7 MAY 31 • Zen master Jackson outwits Larry Legend • Crunch time not Miller time for Pacers • Jackson amused by 'whiners' label • Jackson warns anythingis possible in Game 7 • Kukoc cool under pressure MAY 30 • Pacers, Bulls ready for decisive 7th game • Jordan, Jackson question last-second play • Dale Davis a surprise force for Pacers • Pacers force Game 7 in Chicago with 92-89 victory • Indiana's Best steps up to rescue Pacers • Jordan closing in on playoff scoring record MAY 28 • Pacers still reeling from Game 5 stinker • Indiana can't get offense going MAY 27 • Pacers' Rose to miss Game 5 • Bird knows Pacers can defeat Bulls, wonders about his players MAY 26 • Smits picks up slack in Game 4 MAY 25 • Miller's last-second bomb blows away Bulls 96-94 • This time, it was Chicago's turn to gripe about the calls. • Cut eyelid slowed, but couldn't stop Jordan MAY 24 • Chicago displays cocky confidence going into Game 4 • Miller misses Sunday's practice, listed day-to-day MAY 23 • Pacers solve 3rd-quarter riddle, rally behind reserves • Indiana's reserves stand up to knock down Chicago • Hobbled Miller carries Pacers past Bulls in Game 3 MAY 22 • Jackson bars Bulls from speedway on race day • Pacers need to get over third-quarter woes • Pacers hope to find answers at home • NBA fines Bulls $50,000 MAY 21 • Jackson: Rodman might start Game 3 • Mullin relishing playoff experience MAY 20 • Bird still unhappy over officiating • Bulls breeze to 2-0 lead • Jordan closing in on another record • Jordan's game tells story: Keep Bulls together • Jordan scores 41 as Bulls go up 2-0 on bumbling Pacers • Riley, Van Gundy receive Stern lecture • Pacers star missing in action for second straight game MAY 19 • Pacers' Bird: Jordan may be older but he's better • Indiana must solve Bulls' defense MAY 18 • Jordan-Miller matchup failed to live up to hype MAY 17 • Bulls get defensive in Game 1 pasting of Pacers • Rodman the sub as productive as Rodman the starter • Pacers: Nothing's changed, Jordan's still dominant •Pacers' Rose recalls 'Fab Five' days, hungry for ring MAY 16 • Jordan, Miller eye first playoff battle • Rodman is back with lighter wallet MAY 15 • Rodman shows up late, doesn't practice • Pacers 0-2 in Eastern Conference finals • Knicks defeat Heat, but was Ewing's return helpful? MAY 14 • Bulls want to jump start offense against Indiana • Hornets winners on the court but not in stands MAY 13 • Chicago eliminates Hornets, will meet Pacers in Eastern finals • Indiana enters Eastern final with 99-88 triumph • Bulls look to close out Hornets MAY 11 • Charlotte admits that survival 'doesn't look good' • Bird wins Coach of Year honors • Hard-luck Knicks have felt this heartbreak before MAY 10 • Guard pours in 38 points as Indiana takes 3-1 lead • New York fans have seen it before • Did Jordan play final game in Carolina? • Bulls start slow, finish fast, whip Hornets 94-80 MAY 9 • Confident Jordan heads to golf course • Knicks' maligned guard rebounds to lead big comeback MAY 8 • Bulls stop Charlotte, unlock series • Knicks look to avoid 3-0 deficit in Indiana series • Reinsdorf denies he'll break up Bulls • Knicks, Ewing can't stop Pacers • Cowens uses Mason as a chess piece in Bulls series Copyright © 1998 CNN/SI. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines.