Bird already starting to sound like man in charge

INDIANAPOLIS - When Larry Bird watched the Indiana Pacers last year, he could tell something wasn't right.\nBird didn't take long to start making evaluations or sounding like one of the league's key decision-makers after being named the Pacers' president of basketball operations.\n"I think they've got a lot of talent on this team," he said. "I don't know about the chemistry."\nBird acknowledged Friday that he has much to learn about this team, one that hardly resembles the veteran-laden roster he left behind after leading the Pacers to the 2000 NBA Finals. The Pacers lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in his final season as coach.\nBut Bird already has compiled a wish list: He wants Reggie Miller to end his career in a Pacer uniform, he wants a veteran point guard to help solidify the team and he thinks it's about time some of the young players start reaching their potential.\n"They can talk all they want about being young," Bird said. "A lot of these guys got seven or eight years in. They've got to start playing like it."\nThe first order of business for Bird, like the man he replaces, Donnie Walsh, is re-signing the Pacers own free agents: Jermaine O'Neal, Brad Miller and Reggie Miller.\nO'Neal's deal is nearly complete and the Pacers hope to announce next week that they have a seven-year deal worth about $120 million with their franchise player and two-time All-Star.\nBrad Miller was a perfect complement to O'Neal last season, giving the Pacers a second major inside presence. Walsh, who has made the Pacers' decisions for the past 16 years and will continue negotiating for now, has said a deal for last year's All-Star center could take longer.\nBird also would like to take care of five-time All-Star Reggie Miller, calling him a "very valuable" part of the team and saying he wanted a deal completed as soon as possible.\nThen the real work begins with some of the burden falling to coach Isiah Thomas, some to Bird.\n"The biggest aspect of the whole deal is Isiah getting players to play to their capabilities," Bird said. "That's the hardest thing about being a coach. My job is to get those players in here."\nOnce the Pacers take care of their free agents, Bird will first look to improve the backcourt with a veteran presence at point guard. He's seeking a player who can push the tempo and shoot, and was asked about former Pacer Mark Jackson. Bird declined to mention any names.\nJamaal Tinsley has been the Pacers starter the last two years, and while Bird said he believes Tinsley can run a team, he believes Tinsley needs to "mature."\nThomas wasn't as definitive but agreed the Pacers need backcourt help.\n"At the end of the season, we all said the same thing," Thomas said. "We needed help in the backcourt."\nBird's job now will be putting the right players in place to make a deep playoff run, something Indiana hasn't done since Thomas succeeded Bird as coach.\nThe Pacers have made three straight first-round exits, so what Bird wants to see now are results.\n"I know Isiah has some different issues with some things," Bird said. "Hopefully, we can talk them out and see where we go. My job is to get him the best mix of talent with the best chemistry"