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We found love in a hopeless place: The Indiana Pacers rebuilding season

By Ben Gibson

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 10: Domantas Sabonis #11 of the Indiana Pacers handles the ball during the preseason game against the Maccabi Haifa on October 10, 2017 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 10: Domantas Sabonis #11 of the Indiana Pacers handles the ball during the preseason game against the Maccabi Haifa on October 10, 2017 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers
CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 6: Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers shoots the ball during the preseason game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 6, 2017 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Indiana Pacers’ season won’t be great, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be watching the start of a new era for the team.

Abandon hope, all ye who enter this Indiana Pacers season.

Those are the sage words of Jon Lafollette over at Nuvo before the season began. The Pacers weren’t ready to transition from the Paul George era, as a rotation with Damien Wilkens and an anachronistic Al Jefferson getting minutes shows.

Unless you prefer unhinged optimism, there isn’t a way to spin the reality of this team into something beyond a fringe playoff team — or worse. The reality of the situation is that the Indiana Pacers are starting a rebuild. Kevin Pritchard may say differently, and Myles Turner may be optimistic about the Pacers, but that doesn’t make them a better team.

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But you know what? I like certain parts of this team and they are very fun to watch at times. We saw that in the season opener as the Pacers raced around the floor. This season is serving as a tryout for Indiana’s future. Pritchard is betting on some players while taking fliers on others, which is exciting in a weird way. If any of these players over-achieve, that’s a building block for Indiana’s future. The Pacers are likely a team that wins fewer than 40 games, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it.

One thing that’s very different about this season is the expectations. Yes, they are low, but that also makes games more enjoyable to watch. Instead of the weight that’s been on the team since 2012, this is just basketball. Of course, fans want higher expectations, but there is something to be said about this season filling less like a chore.

Every game doesn’t have to be a referendum of playoff expectations. For once, the Pacers can enjoy wins instead of fearing what this means for the star player’s future with the team. Yes on a long enough timeline, the survivability rate of everything drops to zero, but right now we don’t have to worry about Myles Turner being in a Paul George situation. So stop, enjoy this.

While I understand the Lafollette’s nihilism, there are a few reasons you might fall in love with this team — or at least certain players.

Obviously, Myles Turner and Victor Oladipo are expected to stick around for the next few seasons, but here are a few other guys you should be getting excited about.

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