The Indiana Pacers are going to make the playoffs
The fact that this even needs to be said means that people are putting into question, which doesn’t make much sense. The Indiana Pacers ended last season as the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference with the team being plagued with an absurd amount of injuries. The starting lineup only played five total games together with Malcolm Brogdon and Domantas Sabonis both going down with injuries at the end of the season.
Yes, the Pacers did get swept in the playoffs to end off the season but if you look at the context it’s not terrible. Our All-Star on the season was out for the playoffs, we had a coach that couldn’t make adjustments or run a good offense to save his life, and we lost to the Eastern Conference champions.
Going into next season a big argument that people are using to put down the Pacers is that all the other teams are improving and the Pacers didn’t do anything. Just because no big flashy moves were made means nothing. Bringing back Justin Holiday to keep the continuity after having his best season is a big move for Indiana, especially with his contract being such a steal, he is so good on and off the court.
A big move that people on the outside looking in don’t see as huge is the hiring of Nate Bjorkgren after firing Nate McMillan. I don’t want to come off as a huge McMillan hater but he needed to go. Bjorkgren has come in and won the hearts of most fans and it seems like the players love him already and only speak highly of him. He is ready to come in and run a modern and fast-paced offense which I think can really take this team up a few notches.
Improvement doesn’t have to come from huge free agency signings, it can come from within through keeping continuity and a new coach. Unless we are even more injury-riddled this season, I see no way the Pacers miss the playoffs, I think we will actually make some noise, this roster is too talented not to.