Now is the perfect time to set those goals for the New Year. For the Indiana Pacers, there’s one goal that’s been on the minds of fans and players, get to the NBA Finals. I do believe this is the season of NBA Finals or Bust. The goals that can get the Pacers to those Finals include a division title, a number one seed, a run to the Conference Finals, and winning that Conference Finals. That’s the road to the place, where the Pacers have only visited once before in their NBA history. What other goals are out there for the Indiana Pacers?
Grab #1 Seed for NBA Playoffs
This is the main goal for the team as they feel like and I do believe home court advantage would work in their favor. Now, last season, I don’t know if playing the game seven at home would have made that big of a difference, but this team around, the team looks much better and definitely has that energy at home that isn’t always present on the road. I think fans would love having to cheer their team on in a game seven, so home court is important. Plus, it’s an easier road to get to the Conference Finals when you’re the top seed, and you look to be the best team.
Four All Star players at the All Star Game
This is not as lofty as I once believed, but four guys is probably not going to happen. I do think that Paul George and even Roy Hibbert are locks. Hibbert is not up in the voting to get voted in, but he’s done enough this season to earn a spot. I think if Frank Vogel earns the coaching spot of the Eastern Conference, which looks to be a lock as well, he’ll strongly vouch for Lance Stephenson and one other guy of his team. I think David West would be that name to throw around and even George Hill is a name that’s garnered votes. Either guy would be a fantastic addition, but like I said, four guys there might be one too many.
Lead the League in Points Allowed Per Game
Right now, the team has achieved this goal, but I would love to see the points allowed even lower. Right now, it’s at 89.4, how about shooting for 88 or 87 points allowed per game? I think keeping teams under 90 points for a streak is a great goal as well. This is a team built upon the defense, so that’s why I picked a defensive goal to have. I think that it’s very doable for a team priding itself on the defensive end to lead the league in points allowed by the end of this season.
Finish with top record in NBA
Right now, the Pacers sit .5 game out of that top spot in the whole league. My stat finding skills aren’t up to par, but I believe it hasn’t happened often enough for the Pacers to have the best record in the league, so let’s go for that. Let’s become that top team in the whole entire landscape of NBA. The Pacers have sat at top of plenty of power rankings, but I want them to have the best record overall when it’s all said and done.
Get to NBA Finals
This is self explanatory, but get to the NBA Finals. I don’t care if you go through the Miami Heat, the Atlanta Hawks, the Washington Wizards, the Chicago Bulls, whoever is there in the Conference Finals, the Pacers need to get over that hump. Each season for the past few years, the Pacers have made that leap into further territory. You play a game seven of the Conference Finals last year, so what’s the next hump to jump over? That Conference Finals. This is NBA Finals or Bust territory and I’m fine with that. The other goals are great, but this season is built for that Finals run.
Win NBA Finals
Hey, you make the Finals, what other goal would you have for yourself? I do believe that an appearance in the Finals is great, but once we make it there, I’ll be all set for hoisting that Larry O’Brien Trophy. Come June, I’ll have to revisit these goals, and see how the Pacers did.