The Indiana Pacers are just a few months removed from their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 10 years. Despite being the No. 6 seed, Indiana was one series away from making it to the NBA Finals before getting swept by the eventual champion Boston Celtics.
With a lot of youth and talent, the Pacers are in a good position to remain in playoff contention for a while. However, it is no secret by now that they are a flawed team.
Last season, the Pacers (118.0) had the seventh-worst DRTG in the NBA. Additionally, they allowed 120.2 points per game, which was fourth-worst in the league. On the contrary, though, the Pacers proved last season that they have an elite offense.
With All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton at the helm, the Pacers averaged a league-leading 123.3 points per game as a team last season. Furthermore, beyond Haliburton, the Pacers have a lot of talent with Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner, Andrew Nembhard, and Aaron Nesmith, among others, on the roster.
Their offense will likely lead the Pacers to the postseason again in 2025. However, if Indiana wants to be a serious contender, their defense needs work.
More specifically, the Pacers need an elite perimeter stopper who can contain some of the best guards or wings in the NBA, especially when guys like Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, and Paul George stand in their way in the Eastern Conference.
The Indiana Pacers could have an internal solution to their problem
Despite being a bad defensive team as a whole, there is a lot of defensive talent in Indiana. Turner is a two-time block champion, and Siakam is a very solid defender who can guard the perimeter and the inside.
Haliburton is a below-average defender, and Nembhard is improving, but he is not quite there yet. T.J. McConnell is a pesky defender, but he is not a lockdown defender. Additionally, despite showing a lot of potential through his first two seasons in the NBA, Bennedict Mathurin's defense has looked shaky so far.
Nesmith is the closest thing to a perimeter stopper the Pacers have. He has developed as a defender throughout his four-year NBA career and plays with great energy. However, he still has a ways to go before his defense can make a championship-level impact for Indiana.
The Pacers have talented players on defense. However, they need more if they want to be in the title picture as soon as next season.