The days of "the Big Three" were not long ago in the NBA, but this roster structure is already outdated, and the Indiana Pacers are living proof of that. In the modern NBA, teams with depth and quality at multiple positions typically outlast those that are top-heavy, and this is why the Pacers have been as successful as they have been in each of the last two seasons.
Indiana has plenty of talent at the top of their roster, there is no denying that. However, what makes them unique is that they do not have a clear-cut star. The Pacers are in the conference finals for the second year in a row, yet they only had one All-Star in Pascal Siakam (and even his selection was a bit debatable). Instead, the Pacers rely heavily on their depth and playstyle, which is the blueprint for success in today's league.
The Pacers constantly outmatch their opponents
Matchups are everything in the NBA today. Even if the opposing team technically has more talent, it will be difficult for them to win if they are constantly getting outmatched in different areas. The Pacers are a matchup nightmare for most contending teams in the league, despite them objectively not having the best roster on paper. As the Pacers aim to make it back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000, they will continue to rely on what has gotten them to this point so far.
The Pacers are also continuing to prove that the old-school way of thinking when it comes to playoff basketball is fully in the past. Many would point to the team with the best player in a playoff series and predict them to advance into the next round. This was especially evident when the Pacers took on Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the playoffs. Many experts predicted that the Bucks would win the series despite the Pacers having the better record and a deeper team. Ultimately, the Pacers dominated the series, winning in five games, and outplayed the Bucks in nearly every area.
When looking at the most recent NBA Champions, most of them went all the way because of their depth at multiple positions. This is the new way of winning in the NBA, and the Pacers are one of the deepest teams in the league. They are far from the only team in the league that falls under this category. Even so, the Pacers are in a great spot and have a championship-caliber roster already intact. Whether they can pull through and bring an NBA title to Indiana at some point is something that will be worth monitoring.