Indiana Pacers: 4 historical teams to emulate next season

While the Indiana Pacers are raring to prove in the following campaign that last season was an aberration and that the team can still compete in the East, they certainly won’t enter the season as the darlings of the NBA. Without a household name who can consistently hoist the team on headlines, the Blue and Gold will never stand out in any early season forecasts. Championship odds? You’d be hard-pressed not to find the team on the bottom.

All these, however, are rooted in a semi-logical reason. With the Eastern Conference’s all-around improvement and depth coinciding with Indiana missing the playoffs last season after a long stretch of quality seasons, many are penciling the Pacers to remain on the outside looking in.

The Indiana Pacers could look into some historical teams for inspiration next season

The lack of a marquee player makes the competitive picture much staler for the Indiana Pacers. While they have an All-Star in Domantas Sabonis, the roster is led by silent, above-average starters who lack the pizazz or the hardware enough to amplify their wildcard status with a bit more conviction and certainty from fans and pundits alike.

However, the team should embrace an identity predicated on the “strength in numbers” mantra. Most teams are led by the brightest names in the game, and while the team isn’t exactly empty-pocketed on that department, a team-oriented style fits them better and gives them a bigger chance to sneak up on their more glamorous and talented competitors. Entering next season, the Indiana Pacers can look into these four historical teams for some inspiration.