Indiana Pacers veteran reveals team's biggest need ahead of the 2024-25 season

After their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 10 years, the Indiana Pacers are firmly in playoff contention for the first time in a long time.

With their core of Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, and Myles Turner, the Pacers are in a good spot to compete right away and for the long haul. Additionally, following the breakouts of Andrew Nembhard and Obi Toppin, as well as the potential of Aaron Nesmith and Bennedict Mathurin, there is a lot to be excited about in Indiana.

Last season, the Pacers were the highest-scoring team in the NBA, averaging 123.3 points per game. Additionally, their 121 ORTG was second-best, only behind the 2024 NBA Champion Boston Celtics. Under head coach Rick Carlisle, the Pacers should be an elite offensive team for a while.

However, while there is a lot to like about the Pacers and their future outlook, there are still a lot of weaknesses on the roster that may hold them back from making the jump into serious title contention.

Indiana's most obvious flaw is their defense. Last season, the Pacers were the fourth-worst defensive team in the league, giving up 120.2 points per game to opposing teams. Additionally, their 118 DRTG was the seventh-worst in the NBA. However, their defense is far from their only weakness as a team.

Last season, the Pacers averaged 41.5 rebounds per game. Only the Charlotte Hornets (40.2 RPG) and the Washington Wizards (41 RPG) ranked behind Indiana. The Pacers' lack of rebounding is an issue. So much so that the team's starting center Myles Turner recently acknowledged it as the team's biggest need that must be addressed.

Myles Turner says the Pacers must become a better rebounding team

In a recent interview with former Pacers teammate Jeff Teague on Club 520 Podcast (YouTube link), Turner spoke about the team's rebounding needing to get better as a team.

"I think, one, we gotta be a better rebounding team. We’re still kind of small. We just got James Wiseman, so that helps a bit. I mean he’s like 7-1, but outside of me, Isaiah Jackson was 6-9, Jalen Smith at the time was 6-9, 6-10… So we just to have more frontcourt presence, especially off the bench. And also just vets bro," Turner said.

As Turner mentions, the addition of Wiseman, who joined the team earlier this offseason on a two-year, minimum contract, could help the Pacers become a better rebounding team. While this alone will not make them immediate favorites in the Eastern Conference, it would certainly help.