Pacers must avoid this disturbingly common Eastern Conference trend in 2025

4. Orlando hoping for same playoff repeat 'magic' as Pacers

This past season, the Orlando Magic also turned things around as a franchise and found a way to win enough games in order to qualify for the postseason.

Starting in the 2006-07 NBA season, Orlando made the playoffs six times in a row. That third season even saw the Magic make it to the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Following the 2011-12 season, the Magic would miss the playoffs six times in a row. They made brief appearances in the next two seasons.

The eventual champions that year, the Toronto Raptors, knocked them out in the opening round. Three years later, they suffered the same fate. After also winning the first game, the Magic would lose four in a row, this time against the Bucks.

Three years removed from those postseason woes; the Magic also made the playoffs after a brief break. They share this in common. With a team loaded with talent including Paolo Banchero and newcomer Kentavius Caldwell-Pope, Orlando looks to make sure this is not another one-off like in the first lockout season (1998-99).

5. Washington Wizards can't find the right spell to make the playoffs

From 2013 to 2018, the Wizards made the playoffs four out of five seasons. Three of those four trips, Washington made it to the second round but would exit deep in the series of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

The combination of Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook was able to take one game from the 76ers in the best-of-seven series.

Both players and their coach, Scott Brooks, have been long gone. As a new era is being ushered in, the Wizards are eager to return to the postseason. But yet, they are another case of Eastern Conference hopefuls who couldn't make the playoffs the next year after returning.

The Pacers can't settle on last season's postseason breakout. There are a number of times that was just highlighed in the Eastern Conference where that same swag ends 82 regular season games without the same playoff berth being earned.

The Pacers are in good shape. Many of these instances came after a first-round exit. Indiana has a winning formula. Their offense has improved each year under coach Rick Carlisle.

Their coach has taken the franchise to multiple playoff trips during his first stint with the team. He has won a championship before (with the Dallas Mavericks). The Pacers have an All-Star point guard in Tyrese Haliburton and a pair of veteran big men, Myles Turner, and Pascal Siakam (also a former NBA champion).

It's hard to imagine that the Pacers miss the playoffs. After an unexpected deep run, Indiana is poised for another attempt at the NBA championship. Then, again... stranger things have happened. Just ask the Hornets, Pistons, and Wizards.