To say that the Indiana Pacers haven’t looked like themselves in the past month or so is a gross understatement. While their recent ineptitude hasn’t quite caught the attention of fans outside the Circle City yet, the team has tallied a disappointing 3-15 record in their last 18 games.
At this juncture, the Pacers are sitting at 12th place in the Eastern Conference — a massive drop-off from when they are tightly in possession of a secure playoff spot in the postseason picture before Tyrese Haliburton’s injury. Suddenly, expectations for the club have gone from being a surprise playoff wildcard to just another team trekking for a play-in berth.
The Indiana Pacers are in the middle of their worst stretch of the season
Those rooting for Indiana to make a final regular season hurrah to make the postseason may be encouraged by the fact that the team is in possession of the seventh-easiest remaining schedule moving forward, but those not aboard that train may still find some consolation from the club simply playing for development as virtually everyone expected before the campaign began.
The latter category of fans have varying justified reasons for staying optimistic despite the team’s worrying on-court showings. In fact, here are three good reasons why the Pacers’ recent decline could eventually prove to be a blessing in disguise.
1. The Pacers’ current play style is far from sustainable
No offense to Aaron Nesmith, who has been a revelation for the Indiana Pacers this season, but the young swingman is perhaps the poster child for the team’s identity this season. To be frank, that identity is starting to lose its luster, at least from a functional standpoint.
Starting four natural guards and one big man, the Pacers have been pushing the limits of small-ball this season in a regular way unforeseen since, well, the 2020 Houston Rockets (which completely neutered centers out of relevance). Playing with the seventh-fastest pace in the league, Indiana has been powered by their perimeter stalwarts for the large part.
Playing exclusively small has helped in harnessing each player’s offensive strengths, but that’s where the list of pros end. While personnel factors into their stylistic mantra heavily, the cons of forcibly veering away from even contemporary NBA norms far outweigh the benefits. To wit, the Pacers have been a lackluster point-preventing and rebounding unit, while their offense has been one of the more inefficient ones this season.
Moving forward, Indiana has to strike a more forgiving balance in the aspect of roster-building. Fortunately, their recent bids for external help on the frontcourt and wing positions should give fans a hint on what the front office should accentuate and emphasize moving forward.
2. Dear Indiana Pacers, stay young!
One of the more interesting storylines for the Pacers this season is the seemingly endless war of attrition between the win-now fans and the win-later diehards. And what better symbolism to reflect just that aside from the obvious dichotomy resting on the team’s divergent timeline?
Part and parcel of the impetus behind the team attempting to trade their veteran commodities before the deadline is the sheer need for clarity on the franchise’s direction, which has been slowly convoluting amid the club’s winning ways earlier. However, the tides have definitely changed, and the window for them to retrace their intended steps is opening once more.
With every loss, the silently growling need for Indiana to re-commit to its youth movement is moving into the loudspeaker to make its presence known. I’d argue that even the most devout fans of the vets will find that doubling down on opportunities for the younger cogs should be the destination of the proverbial retracing.
Give Bennedict Mathurin a longer leash and a more prominent on-ball role. Hand Andrew Nembhard the keys to the second-unit playmaking. Reinstate Jalen Smith in the rotation with the hopes of him regaining his perimeter shot. Get Isaiah Jackson rolling — literally and figuratively. Play Daniel Theis 30 min — just kidding.
3. Check the Pacers’ lottery odds right now!
Notably poor seasons from Houston, San Antonio, Detroit, and Charlotte might get you thinking that the Indiana Pacers have won too much to even try to bottom out in hopes of landing a good draft positioning in the star-studded 2023 NBA Draft, but you might be surprised to find out that the team actually has the sixth-best odds of nabbing the first overall pick — the exact same spot which allowed them to draft Mathurin last year.
As of speaking, the Pacers have a nine percent chance at snagging Victor Wembanyama, who is perhaps the best NBA prospect ever. That shot may not be that convincing to some, but that is still a pretty un-ignorable chance that can arm Indiana with a transcendental piece for years to come.
The Pacers are just 1.5 games behind Orlando to climb up in the lottery ladder, and while they are unlikely to catch up — or down — to the four teams at the nadir, the fact that the team can still be rewarded despite already having a solid young core should be something to look forward to.
Tanking has never been associated with Indiana in the past despite some subtle hints at subscribing to it, but with Wemby at the finish line, any team with a reasonable shot should grind as hard as they can.