Following Tyrese Haliburton's injury, not many expect the Indiana Pacers to be too competitive next season. This includes the schedule-makers, who gave the team just nine nationally televised games.
Despite making it to their second consecutive conference finals and taking the best team in the NBA to a Game 7 in the NBA Finals, the Pacers are not getting much national love this year. However, it is relatively justifiable, though they will be able to look at this as even more bulletin-board material.
With their star guard on the shelf for all of next season, Indiana is in for what many expect to be a gap year. They might still make some noise and surprise the basketball world again in a wide-open conference, but as it stands, another deep playoff run is highly unlikely.
It was already difficult for the Pacers to process, but Haliburton's injury just added another upsetting layer that will carry through into the season.
The Pacers can still make some magic happen
Regardless of how many of their games will be on national television, the Pacers are still a good team with high upside. There is no denying that their outlook is relatively bleak, and it is going to be borderline impossible for them to make it back to the NBA Finals next year. However, this does not mean next season is a complete skip or a lost one. They still have a lot to look forward to, and they can make something happen.
With Haliburton out for the entire year, the Pacers will slide Andrew Nembhard over to the point guard role full-time. Following this shift, Indiana's offense is going to look completely different. They will not be as fast-paced as usual, and they will rely on a much slower tempo. However, Nembhard is a natural point guard and knows this team incredibly well. Especially with head coach Rick Carlisle still leading the way, there is potential for this to work.
Beyond Nembhard, there are plenty of other Pacers to keep an eye on. This includes Bennedict Mathurin, Jarace Walker, Johnny Furphy, and Isaiah Jackson. For one reason or another, all of these players will have something to prove next season. They should all be given expanded roles, and with each of them playing with a chip on their shoulder, they could all exceed expectations.
Even without Haliburton, the Pacers have an incredibly talented roster. Additionally, it helps that they are keeping the continuity for the most part. The Pacers may not be exactly where they should be, but they still have a bright future and should remain title contenders for a long time.