The Indiana Pacers are starting to turn heads around the NBA. After a strong win against the Boston Celtics this week, the Pacers can claim a successful start to the season. Here are three factors that have propelled the team.
With nine games remaining in 2019, the Indiana Pacers will face the likes of six Eastern Conference foes and three Western Conference teams to round out the calendar year.
Of the nine remaining teams on the schedule, five of them have records above .500, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat, and the Philadelphia 76ers.
The other four, the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Sacramento Kings, and New Orleans Pelicans fall below a winning record.
The Pacers, currently sitting at 16-9 along with the sixth place in the Eastern Conference need to continue a successful season thus far by closing out 2019 strong.
Finishing strong offers the opportunity to solidify space between the bottom spots of the potential playoff race.
A solid stretch to end the year brings the Pacers the possibility of passing up the likes of Toronto, who holds the fifth spot or catching up to fourth place, Philadelphia.
There is, of course, a ton of season left, but the foundation set by the Pacers early in the season will pay dividends as the schedule becomes more of a challenge.
So far this season, the Pacers have proved that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The team has had contributions from every position and both starters and the bench.
The cohesive production has allowed the Pacers to overcome adversity and place themselves in a comfortable position as a new year arrives.
Despite a slow start to the season, the Pacers have turned the corner and have met the expectations of fans worldwide.
By taking a look at what has worked for the Pacers so far, I will highlight three of the biggest factors that have propelled an Indiana team to a successful start.