Ron Mercer has been conspicuous by his absence lately, particularly in the Indiana Pacers' 21-point victory over Miami on Sunday at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Although the Pacers led by as many as 31 in the fourth quarter, the only time Mercer got off the bench was during timeouts.

It marked the fifth consecutive game he did not play. He had played well in the three games before, averaging 8.0 points on 12-of-21 shooting.

Coach Isiah Thomas says Mercer has simply fallen out of the rotation because of the improved play of Jonathan Bender and Erick Strickland's move from point guard to shooting guard after the addition of Tim Hardaway.

Mercer shows no outward bitterness over his demotion, smiling and shrugging when asked about it.

"No coach in this league is asked to give your 10th, 11th and 12th man consistent playing time," said Mercer, who is averaging 7.7 points, 1.6 assists and 23.1 minutes in 70 games.

Getting back in step

Brad Miller is confident he'll fully recover from the sore left foot that kept him out of seven games.

But he's not there yet.

Miller has hit 19-of-60 shots over the eight games he's played since his return from the injury suffered when Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal stepped on him during a game in Los Angeles on March 5.

Those modest numbers are enhanced by 8-of-11 shooting against Chicago's passive defense in a 140-89 loss to the Pacers on March 28.

Miller jokes that his vertical jump has shrunk from two inches to one because of the injury, but the loss of mobility is obvious.

"There's no need for excuses, but it's hard to push off and cut," he said. "I have to set better picks and do other stuff and get back in the flow of the game."

Tinsley working inside

Thomas grabbed a broom following Monday's workout and went to work with Jamaal Tinsley.

Thomas held the broom high enough to simulate an NBA defender's reach and had Tinsley practice high-arching shots in the foul lane.

"Any guard can come in and get the long-range game down," Thomas said. "But can they get to the sweet spot? Can you get to that spot below the dotted line and live in that area comfortably?

"That's where his next stage of development is."

Tinsley, the last player off the court Monday, also spent time on his 3-point shot. He's shooting just 29 percent, but has hit 7-of-17 attempts over his past nine games.