Last season, the Indiana Pacers had a memorable campaign, but for all the wrong reasons. After clearly cementing themselves as a perennial playoff team in the league, the team faltered due to injuries and peculiar off-court hurdles, headlined by the turbulent reign of then-coach Nate Bjorkgren who was fired after only one season, a feat almost unheard of in the NBA.
However, despite bannering a worn-down and patchwork roster due to injuries, the Pacers still managed to eke out a play-in spot. While they ultimately failed to qualify for the playoffs, the Blue and Gold, if and when healthy, has no shortage of talent at all positions and should safely be back in the postseason mix.
The Indiana Pacers’ numbers must improve in 2021-22
That being said, basketball is still a game of numbers. While these are not the sole determinants of success, they pretty much serve as guideposts which every club can use to gauge what their strong and weak points are.
Not surprisingly, while Indiana had some improvements last season, most of its placements in statistical categories went down a notch or two compared to the previous year. Thus, as they attempt to wage a better fight in the much-fortified Eastern Conference and the association in general, these numbers must improve in the 2021-22 season.