Indiana Pacers: One advantage over each Eastern Conference team

To animate a rather stale period of waiting before the 2021-22 NBA Season kicks in, it’s interesting to wonder how teams match up against each other in game scenarios, especially with free agency having reached its conclusion for the most part. For Indiana Pacers fans, while the team didn’t quite move the needle as much over the summer, there’s still a lot to look forward to with matchups as the team treks to move back into the playoffs after a one-year absence.

However, unlike before, the Pacers will have to jockey tightly for positioning in the Eastern Conference, which is arguably in its strongest ambit since the previous decade. The reigning NBA champions and a transcendent super team lords above many, while possible contenders filled with veteran All-Stars and young up-and-comers closely follow suit.

The Indiana Pacers will have a lot on their plate next season, especially against teams in their own conference

As I’ve said many times before, Indiana will enter this season as an underdog instead of the wild card status that has been tethered to the team for quite some time. Still, with a new coach, healthier components and some new additions in the offseason, the Pacers can’t be counted out. After last season’s anomaly, this team may be in line for a surprising campaign and sneak on its more headline-savvy competition next season.

In a deep pool of talented teams, even the smallest edges matter. These may be difference between carving out wins or settling for losses, where even the slightest margins define playoff positioning and matchups. Against every Eastern Conference foe, where do the Indiana Pacer hold an edge?