Playoff drought is over for Pacers' Dunleavy

Indiana Pacers swingman Mike Dunleavy is glad to no longer have his name associated with the "list."

Dunleavy has watched his name move up that list each season the Pacers missed the playoffs.

Scratch Dunleavy off the list of active players to never appear in the playoffs now that the Pacers ended their four-year postseason drought.

After nine years, 627 regular-season games and a major knee operation, Dunleavy will make his playoff debut when he comes off the bench in Game 1 against the Chicago Bulls on Saturday at United Center.

"It felt like a long time in some regards, but in some ways it's gone fast," said Dunleavy, who trailed only former Pacer Troy Murphy for most games without reaching the postseason. "Realistically, looking back, I don't feel like I've been on a playoff team."

Dunleavy came to a playoff-rich franchise when he arrived in Indiana in January 2007. The Pacers had been to the playoffs in 16 of the previous 17 seasons before Dunleavy joined them.