With the 2014-15 NBA season just a few weeks away, a lot of us are wondering how this Indiana Pacers team is going to turn out.
Some say the Pacers are playoff bound, while others believe Indiana should take the Indianapolis Colts’ #SuckForLuck approach and blow this season in exchange for a top-tier draft pick.
More from Pacers News
- 2 Studs, 1 dud from gut-wrenching Indiana Pacers loss to Charlotte Hornets
- Handing out early-season grades for Pacers’ Bruce Brown, Obi Toppin
- 3 positives, 2 negatives in Pacers In-Season Tournament win vs. Cavaliers
- 2 positives, 3 negatives from first week of Indiana Pacers basketball
- Should Isaiah Jackson’s days with Indiana Pacers be numbered?
With such a mix of emotions coming from the fans, you may wonder about the current state of the Indiana fan base. Will Bankers Life Fieldhouse be half full or half empty this season? Either way, I think we’re looking at a decline in ticket sales this year.
If you’ve ever purchased an Indiana Pacers ticket online or signed up for their newsletter, you’ve probably been getting the email updates about The Perfect 10 promotion they have going on right now.
Here’s how it works: You pick any 10 home games this year to build your perfect 10 package. By doing so, you also put yourself in the priority line for playoff tickets, God willing. In addition to your playoff priority, you also receive 20% off Pacers gear in the Home Court Gift Shop. With our top two jersey-selling players gone, chances are you’re going to need a new jersey for this season.
There are a few other perks you get with this 10-game package, including a pretty solid price discount when compared to buying these 10 games separately throughout the year. Upper balcony packages include tickets for as low as $14 a piece, while some of the lower level seating can be purchase for around $90 per ticket.
With that said, I think this is a great chance to see some quality basketball at an affordable price. I just purchased my package and barely spent $300 for a pair of tickets to each of the 10 games.
In my opinion, these are the top 10 must-attend games of the Pacers season.
October 31, 2014: Memphis Grizzlies
It’s Halloween — it doesn’t matter who the Pacers play, the place will be packed. If only this game were against Charlotte, fans could come dressed in costume as the ghost of Lance Stephenson. Definitely add this to your package. The Grizzlies are always a solid team and have had some great battles with Indiana over the last couple seasons.
November 19, 2014: Charlotte Hornets
This is the return of Lance Stephenson, you HAVE to be there for this. I’m sure he will have some on-court antics throughout the season, but he will pull out all the stops against his former teammates. Aside from that storyline, this is a great chance to see how Indiana stacks up against one of the better up-and-coming rosters in the East.
December 10, 2014: Los Angeles Clippers
The L.A. Clippers have always been right up there with the Pacers for my favorite team. I was obsessed with the trio of Darius Miles, Quentin Richardson and Lamar Odom when I was growing up, so don’t think I jumped on the Lob City bandwagon. You may not add this to your package, but I’d advise you to do so. This game will surely be entertaining with the Clippers’ high-powered offense against our gritty defense.
December 15, 2014: Los Angeles Lakers
This is your chance to see Kobe Bryant back in action, up close & personal. Anytime you have a chance to see Kobe play, you need to be there.
December 29, 2014: Chicago Bulls
The Bulls are arguably the Pacers’ biggest rival and somehow managed to stay relevant without Derrick Rose for multiple seasons. Now that he’s back and supposedly healthier than ever, the Bulls could be a monster in the NBA. This game gives you a chance to see a healthy D. Rose and compare the Pacers to a title contender.
December 31, 2014: Miami Heat
This is a must-add to your package. It’s New Year’s Eve and the Miami Heat are still a great team, even without LeBron James. If you really need more of a storyline, this could be the return of Danny Granger. Look at it this way: If Indiana gets a win, you go out a celebrate extra hard for NYE. If the Pacers take an L, you can go out and celebrate extra hard for NYE. You win either way.
January 29, 2015: New York Knicks
Just like I mentioned with Kobe Bryant, there are certain players you need to see play live whenever you have the opportunity. Carmelo Anthony, in my opinion, is one of those guys. With no Paul George to contain him, you could see one of those incredible Carmelo scoring nights.
February 6, 2015: Cleveland Cavaliers
This is the game that you’ve been waiting for. It’s not our first game against the new-look Cavs, but it’s their first visit to Bankers Life Fieldhouse. You need to be here for obvious reasons, it’s C.J. Miles against his old team. Duh?
February 22, 2015: Golden State Warriors
When the Splash Brothers come to town, you should probably be there. The season is winding down at this point so you’ll know if this game has any meaning at all. Hopefully there will be no starters rested and full effort on the court.
April 12, 2015: Oklahoma City Thunder
This is one of the final regular season games in the NBA and if all goes well, you’ll get a chance to see Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook play live. As long as the Pacers are still in playoff contention in April, this could be a competitive game with some unreal talent on the court.
I encourage you to go build your 10-game package. If $300-600 is a little steep for you, grab a couple buddies and make it a collaborative effort. This Pacers team is going to need all the support it can get this year. Get out to a few games, have a great time, see some of the top talent in the NBA and help cheer on your hometown team.
Let us know what games you included and which games I may have overlooked!