October here and the NBA will be kicking off in just under a month. What better time to look at the Indiana Pacers schedule this season and take note of games that have a little more weight than the other games.
This could be a real breakout season for the Pacers if they are somehow able to get the division title and make some noise in the playoffs. All that is within this team’s reach as they have the talent to put together something special.
This week I’ll be bringing you two month previews of what games will be of note in that time span.
If the Pacers can get off to a great start in these months of November and December, things could get easier come March and April. It’s key to pick up those wins against the Chicago Bulls as they face off twice early on. That’s the team that the Pacers could be chasing for a division title, time to prove it’s back to Indiana for the Central Division title.
Notable Games
November and December
November 5th and November 23rd
@ San Antonio and vs San Antonio
I feel like these are the first two tests for this Pacers team. They travel to San Antonio in the fourth game of the season. Some people are ready to put away the Spurs, but they always show they are the same good team they’ve always been. That’s why if the Pacers can pick up some early season wins against the Spurs it could help build the team’s confidence and ability.
November 27
@Los Angeles Lakers
Part of a four game away trip that includes Chicago, so this will be important for the Pacers. They’ve won two games in Los Angeles after never winning there, and with this new look Lakers team, it’s going to be key to pick up the win. Show the league that this year’s Pacers team can go against the super star driven teams.
December 4th
@Chicago Bulls
Finishing up the four game road trip with a tangle in Chicago. If the Pacers want to win this division, they need to go through the Bulls. With no Derrick Rose, it should be very interesting to see how the Bulls come together. It would benefit the Pacers greatly to take advantage of this and put away the Bulls in an early season test.
December 9th
@Oklahoma City Thunder
The Pacers will travel to what some call the toughest home arena to play in. When listening to the team announcer talk about it on sports radio last season, he was saying it’s hard to even hear yourself think at times. This should be a great test for the Pacers, especially since the Thunder were runner ups in the NBA Finals. These two teams last season met with a Pacers win that could have been more. They lead by double digits most of the game until a late rally by the Thunder made it close. These two teams should put together a great game in Oklahoma City.
December 26th
vs Chicago
What better way to rest off the Christmas vacation with some Pacers and Bulls action. I don’t think there will be much gift giving between these two teams, especially if game one has that playoff atmosphere I expect it will have. This will be another great test for the Pacers to show they can control the Central Division this year.