Indiana Pacers: Staff predictions for the 2020-21 season
By Luke Parrish
How will the 2020-21 season shape up for the Indiana Pacers?
The Indiana Pacers hope to return to the playoffs once again in 2021 as they bring back a near-identical roster from last season. Members of our staff have supplied their predictions for the upcoming season. Aaron Braaksma, Rhett Bauer, George Moser, Sam Black, and Luke Parrish have each put their predictions on the table.
Regular season record and finish for the Indiana Pacers
Bauer: I think the Pacers will finish with the No. 6 or 7 seed with a record of 42-30. Decent enough record, but a lot of the top teams got better through trades/signings. Having brought everyone back, the Pacers’ only avenue for improvement is internal through health, coaching/scheme, or young player development, and I’m not sure that’s enough to get a top-four seed.
Moser: In a 72 game season, I’m expecting some oddities to happen. My gut says the Pacers will have about a 60% win rate or a record of 43-29. I’m optimistic that they’ll side into the fifth seed. While I expect some teams such as the Nets to get a lot better, I would not be surprised to see other teams falter.
Black: I actually have a new-found optimism for this team and the overall potential for what it could start growing into this season. That being said, teams like the Bucks, Nets, Celtics, and Heat either are as elite as they were last year, will see a massive growth via the offseason moves, or even both, (I’m looking at you Milwaukee and Brooklyn). Because of a continuously loaded Eastern Conference, I can see the Pacers comfortably being a competent, and now efficient team under the new philosophy of Nate Bjorkgren.
Braaksma: I don’t want to come off as a super Pacers fanboy but I have some high optimism for this team. I think they could finish anywhere from 4-7. They were the 4th seed last year with their starters barely playing together at all. They didn’t make any moves but still improved internally.
Parrish: I see the Pacers as a very good team still but they will see some challenges in another weird season. They will win 41 games and finish with a lower seed in the playoffs. Seventh in the Eastern Conference is my best guess.