Things may look grim for the Indiana Pacers right now, but they are fresh off an incredibly magical campaign, and they are still just getting started.
Even with Tyrese Haliburton on the shelf for next season and Myles Turner now with the Milwaukee Bucks, the future is bright in Indiana. They still have a very talented roster and should be able to compete for the long haul.
In a recent interview with Caitlin Cooper of Basketball, She Wrote, Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle just sent a reminder to fans that not only was last season special, but the team should be able to do it again because of their style of play. Furthermore, Carlisle spoke about how Indiana's season "was inspirational" to other people, which is something that fans should never forget (h/t Caitlin Cooper on YouTube).
"This is a hard style to play. It's a beautiful style of play. And I'll tell you this: I've had more people walk up to me randomly that I don't know...and just say, 'Hey, look. You don't know me, but watching your team this year was inspirational. You guys had a great run.' Dozens of people. This is meaningful," Carlisle said.
After two consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearances and an NBA Finals run, the Pacers are not likely to be legitimate title contenders next season. However, even so, there is a lot to like about their future outlook, and another deep playoff run could be on the horizon sooner than fans may realize.
The Pacers have a unique opportunity next season
Even if the team will not treat it as such, next season is looking like a gap year for the Pacers. They will look completely different without Haliburton and Turner, and it is fair to assume they will go through their fair share of ups and downs.
Furthermore, the Pacers also have a lot of questions to answer that probably will not be figured out until during the season. They need to see how the offense looks without Haliburton running the show, and they also have to wait and find out what comes of their center committee. Additionally, while it might not look like it next season, Indiana is built to contend for the long haul. All year, they will likely experiment a bit and see who or what does or doesn't work as they look to remain competitive.
As it stands, a lot of eyes are on players like Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, and Isaiah Jackson as they are all expected to have more expanded roles in the starting lineup next season. However, there are plenty of other players to monitor, such as Jarace Walker and Johnny Furphy. If these guys can contribute at a high level next season, then they should be able to solidify themselves as long-term assets for the Pacers.
Nothing has changed the fact that the Pacers are one of the most unique teams in the league. They are resilient, they play a fantastic style of basketball that is hard to replicate, they have one of the best coaches in the league, and they are still incredibly young and talented. No matter what next season looks like, the Pacers are fresh off an amazing season and are primed to have more of the same in the future, and that is what fans need to remember.