Indiana Pacers’ Season Expectations by Fans
I’ve been talking plenty around here about my own expectations for the upcoming season, but I wanted to go out to the network of fans and see what people are expecting and respond to that. In my own expectations for the season, I’m thinking one of the top spots in the Eastern Conference with 50 or more wins. I don’t think it will take as many as 60 wins for to take the division title, but I do believe that the Chicago Bulls will be right there most of the way. Especially after the Bulls looked in that first preseason game against us. Derrick Rose looks fine, and ready to go.
On our end, I’m still hoping Danny Granger is ready to go. That might not be so key as Rose to the Bulls, but still an important enough piece for the Pacers to have.
I also would love to see Roy Hibbert and Paul George on the Eastern Conference All Star team, and if Lance Stephenson ends up coming off the bench, he should be in that consideration for Sixth Man of the Year. That might be on the unrealistic side of things, but it’s still an expectation for how good I think Stephenson could be in that role.
Overall, this team has to get back to the Conference Finals or I feel like this year would be a bust. Sure, all the wins are nice, but if they’re not in that same spot they were last year, fans will be sorely disappointed. Then you wonder what moves you can make to get back to that position. That’s the downfall with getting as good as the Pacers are, the expectations will be high, and I don’t think there’s been many seasons when expectations are as high as they are now.
Brandon A. “Winning the Central 52-30”
This is a fine expectation for the season as I do believe the Pacers should win in that 50 game range. The division is going to be battled back and forth between the Pacers and Bulls as those teams that just have all the right pieces. Derrick Rose looks to be in fine shape as the Pacers and Bulls just had a preseason game that felt like a post season one. Both teams will be fine as the regular season unwinds, and I do believe they’ll be at the top of the division and the conference.
Zachariah S. “Top Three in the East and a Finals appearance”
This is where I am set at as far as expectations. I think that appearance in the Finals is an excellent goal for this year’s team. Getting back to that Conference Finals should be expected. But getting over that hump of the Conference Finals, and somehow making it a fight in the Finals would be fantastic.
Dennise E. “No Less than a Championship”
The NBA Title might not run through Indy this year, but like I said before, the appearance in that Finals would be a fine enough ending to this year’s story. Sure, it would be lovely to be hoisting a trophy and having a parade, but I just don’t know if this year is that year. Even with the Pacers seemingly in win now mode with the moves that the team has made.
Rob A. “More than 60 wins”
More than 60 wins should equal the top of the Conference, but with this team I can’t see that many happening, which is fine. As long as they’re right there in the divisional race, and close to the top of the Conference. I would love to see the Pacers take that top spot, but until Miami shows me they’re not that top team, I find it hard to believe our team can win more than 60 games.