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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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AUBURN HILLS, MI – JANUARY 03: Paul George #13 of the Indiana Pacers celebrates after a second half basket with Jeff Teague #44 and Monta Ellis #11 while playing the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills on January 3, 2017 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Indiana won the game 121-116. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Bonus question: Would this season’s pacers (23-20 after 43 games) beat last year’s Pacers (22-21)?

Eggers: Probably not. I think people are looking at Paul George with garbage-tinted glasses, but he’s still an elite player and defender. Turner is also a little worse this year than last year. And last year’s Jeff Teague probably tops Darren Collison. The X-factor though? C.J. Miles. Overall, I think that team was better than its record showed and would beat this year’s team more times than it wouldn’t.

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Furr: I don’t think so. Oladipo’s numbers (and gravitas in the clutch) have been fantastic, but PG contained him pretty well when they played earlier this year. PG probably wins that matchup, last year’s Myles Turner probably beats this year’s, Teague/DC is a relative wash, and Bojan wins out of Ellis. I think it’d be close, and maybe Oladipo’s late game panache carries this year’s squad, but I don’t think so.

Bonus question: Would this season’s pacers (23-20 after 43 games) beat last year’s Pacers (22-21)? *

Renz: Of course they would! This team has heart. This team doesn’t talk out of the side of its neck. This team has Victor Oladipo!

Look, Paul George did some invaluable things for this franchise, etc etc. But he has proven, at 27, he is NOT a leader. Dipo looks to be that leader for this Pacers squad. I’ll take the team with the leader over the team without one, any day.

East: Nope. Last year’s team could defend pretty well on the wing between GR3 and Paul George, so I would guess they have enough defense to overcome this years team. Though that would be an excellent game to watch.

Next: The depths of Pacers 3-Point shooting

Gibson: In a game? Yes. In a series? No. The current teams volitile nature allows them to beat almost any team on a given night, but in a series it’s harder to beat superior talent.

There was a reason why the Pacers put up more of a fight than any other team in the East than the Cavaliers. They had talent. It wasn’t gelling, but we’ve seen enough Playoff Paul George to know they ultimately would overpower this year’s team.

Maybe when Sabonis, Myles, and some of the others are a little older and a little more polished, but the current roster wouldn’t hold up in a best of seven series.

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