Worst case scenario for the Indiana Pacers this season
By Luke Parrish
The Indiana Pacers are not guaranteed to bounce back
In a tough Eastern Conference, the Indiana Pacers will have to grind out a lot of difficult wins if they want to return to the playoffs. They nearly reached the postseason in 2021 after qualifying for a spot in the Play-In tournament, which is making its return this season.
Indiana’s ninth-place finish last season was quite underwhelming after some of their preseason expectations but injuries and a poor head coaching debut set them in the wrong direction. When things got tough, the Pacers folded and let their opponents have their ways. With no big moves yet to happen this summer, that is very much in play once again this season.
Continuing to run a two-big lineup while also adjusting to their third head coach in as many years is not going to be easy for the Pacers. Rick Carlisle is a proven leader but there is no guarantee that he can turn things around given the current roster. With so many key players having a history of injuries, Indiana may never get the consistent production they hope for.
Because of those ailments that always seem to linger in the background, we should not get too excited about the immediate future of the Indiana Pacers. If Brogdon, Warren, Sabonis, or Turner continue to wear down throughout the season, the ceiling of this team becomes a lot shorter.
As much as I love Indiana, they do not have the star power to compete with the best of the East and that could leave them out of the mix by the time the season winds down. A tough January slate will derail the squad and leave them scrapping for a final playoff spot that they ultimately will not acquire.
Worst case scenario: The Indiana Pacers finish the season with a record of 38-44 and miss the playoffs while also not securing a high lottery selection.