Just like that, the 2020-21 NBA season is upon us as Christmas approaches. The accelerated offseason and preseason have come and gone and it’s time for the real games to begin again. The Indiana Pacers‘ season begins on Wednesday when the New York Knicks come to town for the opener. Indiana is not being given much attention in the Eastern Conference, despite finishing fourth in the conference this summer. This team is considered a playoff team once again, but not looked at as a serious contender in the East. The Pacers season will be their first under new head coach Nate Bjorkgren. He will try to bring out in his new team, the same grit, balance, and execution he helped build as an assistant with the Toronto Raptors.
Indiana Pacers Season Preview
Can the Pacers find success in the playoffs?
The NBA is a star-driven league. However, that doesn’t mean a team has to have a superstar to be successful. The Pacers season won’t hinge on the abilities of a mega-star, instead, it will be more about the consistency night in and night out. Indiana is built to be good during the regular season, with a solid roster and a pair of All-Stars to lead the way. The question for the franchise is can they find success in the playoffs.
Inside-Out
Victor Oladipo moved from talented player to All-Star in his first two seasons as a Pacer. He was hurt during year two and only played in 19 games a season ago as he tried to return to full strength. Domantas Sabonis took his step forward last year, averaging a double-double and making his first All-Star appearance. Unfortunately, he sustained an injury and did not participate in the NBA Bubble last summer. The success of the Pacers season ahead will be largely dependent on the health and cohesion of these two guys. If Oladipo and Sabonis can find a rhythm playing together at a high level then this team could become more of a threat when the postseason arrives.
Counter Points
While the two aforementioned players will lead the way during the Pacers season, they won’t have to carry the burden alone. Indiana has a built a solid roster around them. The best thing about the remaining pieces is that they include scorers to take the pressure off the All-Stars. T.J. Warren showed last season, especially in the bubble, that he can consistently get buckets night in and night out. He is a very reliable third option who can create and finish his own opportunities. The Pacers also have Malcolm Brogdon running the show at point guard. His play last season after coming over in free agency allowed Indiana to keep pace in the East even with Oladipo missing so much time.
The trio of Sabonis, Brogdon, and Oladipo are all excellent passers. Having your three best players all being capable and willing passers helps elevate the entire squad. Role players like Jeremy Lamb and Myles Turner need to take advantage. Lamb has proven he can be a reliable scorer off the bench and has the ability to explode on the offensive end on occasion.
Turner brings a defensive presence at the rim and is also a decent three-point option. He needs to work on his consistency and attacking the paint more often. Last season, he spent too much time settling as a spot-up shooter. He has the size and skills to have more impact than that.
Pacers Climbing the Ladder
Expectations for the Pacers season are the same as they have been for the last few years. They are a good team built to find success in the regular season. The new head coach has a playoff roster at his disposal, so how he gets his system and style implemented in a shortened offseason will be key. This team should be in the playoff hunt in an improved and deeper Eastern Conference. How well the trio of Oladipo, Sabonis, and Brogdon gel and develop will determine how much noise they can make once they get there.
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