Three things Pacers fans should root for, two things to root against to close the season
By Ryan Stano
5. Pacers fans should root against the 76ers
The other team that the Pacers have to worry about catching them is the Philadelphia 76ers. This is especially scary now that Joel Embiid is coming back this week. Philly is going to be a better team with him back in the fold. He makes them a completely different team.
On the bright side, the Pacers have a bigger gap between them and 8th-place Philly. That doesn't mean that the 76ers can't make up that gap now that Embiid is back. Looking at their schedule, they play three playoff teams in their final seven games. That's not bad.
Indiana also plays three playoff teams to finish things out. Two of those games are at home, which helps. As long as the Pacers win two of those games, they should be in a good spot to stay ahead of Philly. Having both the Heat and Philly overtake the Pacers would be a nightmare.
That would mean that Indiana has to face one of those two teams in a play-in game. Then if they advance, they would either take on Boston or the Bucks depending on how many play-in games they'd have to play. That is not where the Pacers want to be.
Next. Next team. One question for every player on the Pacers as the playoffs approach. dark
As long as the Pacers win all of the games they should to finish things out, they should be okay in the race for 6th. It's time for a young team to step up and win some games that matter down the stretch. This will be a fun thing for Indiana Pacers fans to watch for the final couple weeks of the year.