The story of the 2024-25 Indiana Pacers so far has been their lack of national respect. With just a couple of weeks left in the season, the Pacers are 44-31 and own the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Pacers shocked the basketball world by making the Eastern Conference Finals last year and giving the eventual champion Boston Celtics their toughest battle of the postseason. Now, they are arguably even better and are on pace to secure homecourt advantage for the first time since 2020. However, they still are not geting their recognition.
Indiana is still one of the top offenses in the NBA, and the team has improved its defense this year. While there is some legitimate competition in front of them in the Eastern Conference, the Pacers are still a dangerous playoff threat and have a good chance to surprise once again. Even so, few experts mention the Pacers as a team to keep an eye on in the playoffs.
After the Pacers' victory against the Sacramento Kings on March 31, WNBA legend Candace Parker finally gave them their well-deserved flowers and said what fans have been thinking this entire time.
Candace Parker says the Pacers 'need to get their respect'
In their two-point victory against Sacramento, the Pacers proved once again that they are one of the most resilient teams in the NBA. Despite being without Myles Turner and Bennedict Mathurin, the Pacers snuck away with a victory even though their three-point shot was not falling. The Pacers' resilience, mixed with their talent and chemistry, makes them a dangerous team in the East. Very few experts are giving the Pacers their recognition, but Parker made sure to do so after this game.
On the NBA On TNT Postgame Show, Parker praised the Pacers and said they will not "be an easy out" in the playoffs.
Candace wants to see the @Pacers get their respect 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/Kgik7DfYXF
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 1, 2025
"[The] Indiana Pacers need to get their respect...The Pacers are playing defense this year. Obviously, you have an experienced Tyrese Haliburton. You have Pascal Siakam. You have switchability. You have [Bennedict] Mathurin back. So I think the Indiana Pacers aren't going to be an easy out," Parker said.
This is a sentiment most Pacers fans already believe. They have turned into a well-rounded team with the right personnel, and their roster works well with each other. The Pacers also play a style of basketball that will make it difficult for teams to get rid of them in the playoffs.
While the Pacers may not be on the same level as the Eastern Conference juggernauts in the Celtics or Cleveland Cavaliers, they have constantly proven that they can rise to the occasion and not back down against some of the NBA's top teams.
The Pacers have a lot going against them as they hunt for an NBA title, but they have regularly proven their doubters wrong time and time again. Now that Parker is giving them their respect, it is only a matter of time before the rest of the world follows suit.