8 points, 9 seconds
Fansided

Ranking Pacers 12 nationally televised games

By Dylan Hughes

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 13: Indiana Pacers Center Myles Turner (33) puts in a dunk over Philadelphia 76ers Center Joel Embiid (21) in the first half during the game between the Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers on March 13, 2018 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 13: Indiana Pacers Center Myles Turner (33) puts in a dunk over Philadelphia 76ers Center Joel Embiid (21) in the first half during the game between the Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers on March 13, 2018 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 24: Darren Collison #2 of the Indiana Pacers passes the ball away from Jeff Teague #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game on October 24, 2017 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 24: Darren Collison #2 of the Indiana Pacers passes the ball away from Jeff Teague #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game on October 24, 2017 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

5. Minnesota Timberwolves — Thursday, February 28, 7 p.m. EST (TNT)

Karl-Anthony Towns vs. Myles Turner should be awesome, and Jimmy Butler is an all-around boss. But there is something more important with Minnesota traveling to Indianapolis…

JEFF TEAGUE RETURNS.

Paul George playing against the Indiana Pacers
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 13: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder defends Victor Oladipo #4 of Indiana Pacers during the game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 13, 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 Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

4. At Oklahoma City Thunder — Wednesday, March 27, 8 p.m. EST (ESPN)

Come on, NBA. What’s even the point of having these two teams play on national TV if the game is not in Indiana?

I had no problem with Paul George’s desire to leave Indiana and play in a place he’d be happier. I am in the minority among Hoosiers in that, however.

After shooting just 3-of-14 from the field in his return to Indiana last season, it would’ve been nice for George to have a shot at redeeming himself on national TV this season. He won’t get the chance, though.

Nonetheless, these should be two of the league’s 10 best teams firing at all cylinders just a couple weeks away from the postseason. This has the chance to be an awesome game.

MILWAUKEE, WI – MARCH 02: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks the ball past Myles Turner #33, Thaddeus Young #21, and Cory Joseph #6 of the Indiana Pacers in the first quarter at the Bradley Center on March 2, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI – MARCH 02: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks the ball past Myles Turner #33, Thaddeus Young #21, and Cory Joseph #6 of the Indiana Pacers in the first quarter at the Bradley Center on March 2, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

3. At Milwaukee Bucks — Thursday, March 7, 8 p.m. EST (TNT)

After firing Jason Kidd and hiring Mike Budenholzer in the offseason, Milwaukee finally has someone capable of teaching Giannis Antetokounmpo how to play basketball.

More from 8 Points, 9 Seconds

Or, maybe just helping him get better. He seems like he knows what he’s doing.

Khris Middleton is very good as well, meaning the Bucks could be fighting for a top four seed in the East this season.

March is when things get real in the NBA. That’s when watching the standings becomes a daily habit, with just about five weeks left in the season and only so many games remaining.

Indiana and Milwaukee could certainly be competing for a playoff seed at the end of the season, and this will be the last time these two teams see each other. This game may determine who wins the four-game series.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 13: Philadelphia 76ers Guard Ben Simmons (25) guards Indiana Pacers Forward Bojan Bogdanovic (44) on an inbound pass in the second half during the game between the Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers on March 13, 2018 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 13: Philadelphia 76ers Guard Ben Simmons (25) guards Indiana Pacers Forward Bojan Bogdanovic (44) on an inbound pass in the second half during the game between the Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers on March 13, 2018 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. At Philadelphia 76ers — Sunday, March 10, 3:30 p.m. EST (ABC)

Sunday matinee? Check. Last meeting between the teams? Check. First and only ABC game? Check.

This could be a big one. Like the Milwaukee game just a few days before this one, this could determine the winner of the series and shuffle some playoff seedings.

And maybe it’s just me, but Sunday afternoon games on ABC almost always seem to be awesome. Hopefully, this one ends up as so.

Victor Oladipo of the Indiana Pacers
BOSTON, MA – FEBRUARY 09: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers drives to the basket against Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on February 9, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /

1. Boston Celtics — Friday, April 5, 8 p.m. EST (ESPN)

It is hard to make predictions this far in advance, as a lot of things happen in an NBA season. Injuries and trades could shake things up and are things we just can’t possibly predict at this point in time.

On paper, though, Boston should be the first or second seed in the East. Indiana probably won’t be fighting for either of the top two seeds in the conference.

But it is not out of the question. And this game, Indiana’s third-to-last game of the regular season, could mean something if the two teams are close.

Sure, it is risky putting this as Indiana’s best nationally televised game. That Thunder game could be awesome, and the Pacers will more likely by fighting with Philly and Milwaukee for a playoff seed over Boston.

Boston probably had all of its bad karma dumped on them last season, with Gordon Hayward getting hurt in Game 1 and Kyrie Irving missing the postseason due to injury. But, maybe they still have something coming. And, after last season, it’s hard to count Indiana out of anything.

Next. 3 reasons why Pacers will benefit from stability this offseason. dark

We will have to let the season play out to see where all the pieces land.

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