What Are Realistic Expectations for the Pacers This Season?

The Pros

Many fans are expecting Paul George to return to his stellar ways as one of the best two-way players in the NBA. The man donning the cape in the picture above is not just the player the city wants — he is the player the city deserves.

Ultimately his return is the biggest pro to the entire year. He means everything to this team, and now with veterans Luis Scola, David West, and Roy Hibbert gone he will be looked up to for leadership in addition to his on-the-court prowess.

That is  a lot to ask of a 25-year-old coming off of a catastrophic leg injury. Fortunately, he is surrounded with a new, capable group of supporting characters. The big “get” of the off-season free agent madness was shooting guard Monta Ellis. Scoring has been Indiana’s biggest weakness for, oh, the past decade or so, and Ellis will remedy that immediately. A plethora of other new faces adorn the roster, and two players people should be really excited about are Joe Young and Myles Turner.

After my interview with Myles Turner I was blown away by both his maturity and his candor. He is a mere 19-years-old but shows the professionalism of a veteran. I think what gets lost sometimes in his calm and collected demeanor is the fiery competitor that lurks underneath all that. He wants it all and he wants to be great and that means nothing but great things for Indiana. It appears that got two steals in their young rookie duo and that could lead to great future for the Pacers.

“I think we have a good shot at being in the Top 3 in in the East.” – Paul George

The Pacers could elevate themselves within the Eastern Conference if everything plals out perfectly. You do need to set your goals high and it seems as if the leader of the team has after his quote at media day. He said, “I think we have a good shot at being in the Top 3 in in the East.”

This team is hard to get a read on right now. They could finish anywhere between 35-50 wins because they have so much potential – although it hasn’t meshed yet. But, we all know potential is one of the most dangerous words in sports.

There are so many pros it is hard to list all of them out here. C.J. Miles’ shooting, George Hill’s stepped-up production last season, and Rodney Stuckey’s emergence as a sixth man are all valid positives.

There are plenty of things that give this roster a higher ceiling then many expect. Especially if Paul George returns to form and Monta Ellis proves a perfect fit this team could easily rise up the ranks of the Eastern Conference. Coach Frank Vogel is one of the best in the league and has a great staff and let’s face it — people love Larry Bird.

This organization has so many positives and with a rough Roy Hibbert situation now in the past, the sun is beginning to rise on the bright future of the Pacers and their complete rebirth.

Next: The Cons