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The 5 Reasons the Pacers Will Make the Playoffs

By Jared Wade

Jan 29, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers guard George Hill (3) looks to make a pass against the New York Knicks at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats New York 103-82. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 29, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers guard George Hill (3) looks to make a pass against the New York Knicks at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats New York 103-82. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Indiana Pacers Newfound Health

I won’t recount the full decimation of injuries the Pacers have had to deal with this season. (Read this for an in-depth look.) Everyone knows about Paul George, and he isn’t coming back. But plenty of teams have to deal with a key player being out for a full season, right?

Sure, but this has been different. Much different.

I don’t think I’ve seen anything like it, and the Health Gods — who had blessed the Pacers with great luck for years prior — have wrought great vengeance and furious anger on this team.

Even putting PG’s broken leg aside, David West, George Hill, C.J. Watson, Rodney Stuckey, C.J. Miles, and Ian Mahinmi have all missed significant time. Throw in George and that makes eight rotation players who have collectively missed 182 games.

The full list of missed games:

  • Paul George: 47
  • George Hill: 39
  • Ian Mahinmi: 34
  • C.J. Watson: 28
  • David West: 15
  • C.J. Miles: 11
  • Rodney Stuckey: 8

And this doesn’t even count the four games Roy Hibbert missed (plus the others he played poorly in) following a sprained ankle.

The total also doesn’t include the minutes restriction that George Hill is sill on as he plays back into shape nor the minutes count that Rodney Stuckey started the year on. Nor does it include the several games in which a player (whether it be Hibbert, Miles, or Lavoy Allen) was injured in the first half and didn’t return.

It has truly been a minefield of a season for the Pacers.

And while I suppose there is no guarantee it will ever get back to quote/unquote normal, all the principle members of the rotation are healthy now.

And it cannot possibly remain as bad as it has been.

Next: The Leastern Conference

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