Indiana Pacers: 5 storylines to watch for in training camp

Will the Indiana Pacers get a good prognosis on their injured key cogs?

The hope that the Indiana Pacers will start off the season with a clean bill of health was incredibly short-lived. Almost like a given, the Blue and Gold will once again trot out an incomplete lineup after succumbing early to injuries left and right.

TJ Warren‘s indefinite absence given his foot’s slow recuperation was given a bit more clarity on media day, with coach Rick Carlisle maintaining that the scorer being sidelined may be a matter of weeks and not months. However, given the pattern of his scans, which are taken every three weeks, the margin of error here is big enough to hold that an early return for the forward may be too optimistic. Not only are foot injuries pesky in nature, but Warren himself has been injury-prone in his entire career.

More surprisingly, Caris LeVert‘s abruptly uncertain status after news of a stress fracture on his back emerged a few days ago may be even more debilitating for the team in the short-term. As the explosive guard was tabbed by many to be one of Indiana’s most reliable scorers and creators, his absence will make the Pacers a lot more predictable on offense. Hopefully, LeVert will be back at the start of the season as reported, but at this point, can anyone really be sure that it holds up?

Clearly, if the Indiana Pacers want to crack the upper tier of the conference, healthy bodies will be of utmost importance. With Edmond Sumner already out for the season, the club cannot afford to have its good depth already sapped in the early going as a result of acclimating to injuries.