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8p9s Roundtable: The Pacers are better than expected, but is trouble ahead?

By William Furr

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 06: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers points to the court in celebration during the game against the Chicago Bulls at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 6, 2017 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. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 06: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers points to the court in celebration during the game against the Chicago Bulls at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 6, 2017 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. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis of the Indiana Pacers screens
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – NOVEMBER 12: Tarik Black #28 of the Houston Rockets passes the ball while defended by Domantas Sabonis #11 and Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers during a game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 12, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Rockets defeated the Pacers 118-95. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

What is one bold prediction you have for the rest of the season?

Eggers: I figure my negative predictions about the team’s record is bold enough for everyone, but to throw in an additional one: Sabonis will be starting in some capacity by playoff time. My guess and hope is that he’ll be thrown in alongside Turner, but who knows what will happen with Turner’s current injury.

His production is solid, and I figure once the Pacers start slipping in the standings, Nate McMillan is going to start looking for answers. Sabonis is likely going to be one of them.

Furr: Domantas Sabonis starts more games than Myles Turner the rest of the year. Turner has seemed to be a slow healer at times, and the brace he had on his elbow didn’t look minor. I don’t think Sabonis starts while Turner is healthy, but I think that Turner misses half of the remaining games (or comes back through the 2nd unit while shaking off the rust), and Sabonis starts at least 19 in the last 37.

Thaddeus Young silences the doubt about him being replaced as a starter. — Tony East

Renz: Dipo scored a career-high 47 points last month, but I’m gonna predict he gets a 55-point game before the season is over. He takes enough shots, and one of these nights, the Pacers are gonna need him to take more shots, and he’s gonna step up.

As a squad, the Pacers are shooting 38% from deep this year – good for second in the league – and sure, I’ll boldly predict that they keep that up. I’m far less confident in this prediction, but ya know, whatever.

East: Thaddeus Young silences the doubt about him being replaced as a starter. Eventually, it may make sense to start Sabonis alongside Turner, but Thad Young is a damn good player. Once his thigh is fully healed and he is more comfortable playing again, he could have a few nice games that make you forget about any idea of changing the starters. His impressive performance against the Jazz could be a start of a nice run of games for Thad.

Gibson: The Pacers trade Bojan Bogdanovic. I like him, but I could see the Pacers trying to package him with someone else — maybe even Darren Collison — to try to get a pick or some younger talent.

Kevin Pritchard wisely signed both to two-year contracts. If they keep them, their salaries are off the books in the summer of 2019. And that’s why other teams might target them in trades. For a contender or any team looking to improve, they offer them something in the short-term while allowing them to dump their salaries if things don’t work out.

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