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What Are Realistic Expectations for the Pacers This Season?

By Jordan Yant

Sep 28, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; (left to right) Indiana Pacers guard Monta Ellis (11), forward Paul George (13), and guard George Hill (3) pose for a photo with coach Frank Vogel during media day at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; (left to right) Indiana Pacers guard Monta Ellis (11), forward Paul George (13), and guard George Hill (3) pose for a photo with coach Frank Vogel during media day at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Cons

What may be so interesting about this season is that so many of the supposed pros for this team could very quickly turn into cons. Paul George’s return is not necessarily a sure thing. Everybody hopes and thinks it is, but in a league where things can quickly turn on a dime (PG’s leg injury last summer) you can never just expect something to go well all the time.

That doesn’t mean he doesn’t expect it to. “I still understand I’m coming off the injury, but I’m trying to block all that out,” said Paul George at media day. “I’m trying to come into this year as if I played last year, I had another amazing season and I’m going into my sixth year now. I have the same goal. I wasn’t the MVP last year, I want to be the MVP this year.”

There are just so many what ifs on this roster.

What if Monta Ellis doesn’t fit in? What if the new front court struggles? What if George Hill reverts back to his non aggressive ways? Sure, if the answers to all these questions are they don’t then Indiana could very well surprise some people.

“I’m going into my sixth year now. I have the same goal. I wasn’t the MVP last year, I want to be the MVP this year.” – Paul George

One big issue that faces this team in the unproven big men they look to employ. Let’s look at the cast of characters that will be the front line for the Pacers this season.

  • Ian Mahnimi: Career back-up big man who has never averaged 20 minutes per game in his career.
  • Myles Turner: Promising but unproven rookie who will take some time to adjust to the NBA.
  • LaVoy Allen: Efficient in spurts, but there is no concrete evidence behind him maintaining that success with limited minutes.
  • Jordan Hill: Has not lived up to his hype as the 8th pick in the 2009 Draft. Is efficient around the rim but seems to settle for too many mid-range jumpers.

Those four appear to get the majority of the front court minutes and it seems to be fairly obvious why Paul George will see time at the 4. Bird clearly thinks he will succeed there and with some convincing it seems as if George may be coming around to the idea.

The George playing the power forward will be talked about ad nauseam until the season begins. For now, only time will tell. The truth is that it may be a necessity for him to do that some nights this season. If the big men prove ineffective the Pacers best chance at winning games will be a small ball lineup with George playing power forward.

So much this season hinges on current question marks it is hard to imagine them all working out. Coach Frank Vogel is one of the best- but with a new system, new players, and a new approach it would be easy to see how this season could be a struggle.

Next: The Indiana Pacers According to NBA2K

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