With just a handful of games remaining in the regular season, the Indiana Pacers are getting ready to shift their focus to the playoffs. Last year, despite being the No. 6 seed, the Pacers shocked the basketball world and made it all the way to the conference finals before losing to the eventual champion Boston Celtics. Now, the Pacers will look to go on another deep playoff run and make some noise once again.
Despite a slow start to the season, the Pacers are now on the brink of securing a top-four seed for the first time since 2020. Though many do not consider them a legitimate title contender, the Pacers have constantly risen to the occasion and played up to their competition, which bodes well for their title dreams.
There are a few teams in the league that many consider bigger title contenders than Indiana. However, even so, the Pacers have devised a plan to make a deep playoff run in 2025, and it has been on full display all along.
The Pacers will rely on this trait to take them far in the playoffs
The Pacers are one of the best offensive teams in the NBA, and they have drastically improved their defense. Furthermore, they play with energy on both sides of the ball and are among the most unselfish teams in the league. However, what they will rely on more than anything during the playoffs is their resilience.
All season long, the Pacers have relied on their resilience and never giving up until the buzzer sounds. This was especially evident during the Pacers' victory against the Washington Wizards on April 8. Despite owning the worst record in the East, the Wizards put up a fight against Indiana. The Wizards held a 16-point lead over Indiana, who could not buy a bucket. Still, the Pacers clawed their way back, winning by six points in one of their ugliest victories of the season.
After the game, guard Tyrese Haliburton spoke about the game, saying he was proud of the team's resilience and "finding out a way to win."
"The great part about games like these is you just have to figure out a way to win," Haliburton said. "As we go into the playoffs here soon, that's all it's about is winning. That's all this game was about, winning. Figuring out what you can do to win games. Obviously we're in a time right now where we're competing for home court and every game matters. I think I'm proud of our resilience, just finding out a way to win."
At the end of the day, an ugly win is still a win no matter what. Additionally, these types of wins could prove important for the Pacers since, like Haliburton said, they force the team to get into their bag and find ways to win. As he and the Pacers look to make another deep playoff run this season, they will rely heavily on their resilience.