Why this upcoming stretch is make-or-break for the Pacers' season
After their 130-119 loss to the Toronto Raptors last night, the Indiana Pacers are now 6-8 and own the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. Roughly one month into the season, the Pacers have experienced plenty of ups and downs.
The Pacers have rarely looked like the team that made the conference finals just a season ago. Additionally, they have dealt with a multitude of brutal injuries, including likely season-ending Achilles injuries to both of their backup centers, James Wiseman and Isaiah Jackson. However, there are times when they remind everybody how good they can be when everything is clicking.
There is still plenty of basketball left for the Pacers to turn things around, but their upcoming schedule could decide what the team's season will truly entail.
Pacers should be able to right the ship during upcoming 10-game stretch
The Pacers are in line for arguably their easiest 10-game stretch of the season, which will give them a good opportunity to get back on track.
Opponent (record) | Date |
|---|---|
Houston Rockets (10-5) | 11/20 |
Milwaukee Bucks (5-9) | 11/22 |
Washington Wizards (2-11) | 11/24 |
New Orleans Pelicans (4-10) | 11/25 |
Portland Trail Blazers (6-8) | 11/27 |
Detroit Pistons (7-9) | 11/29 |
Memphis Grizzlies (8-6) | 12/1 |
Toronto Raptors (3-12) | 12/3 |
Brooklyn Nets (5-9) | 12/4 |
Chicago Bulls (6-9) | 12/6 |
In their next 10 games, the Pacers will face just two teams who currently have a winning record. Additionally, another interesting part about their upcoming roster is that they only have two back-to-backs throughout the entire stretch.
Regardless of how inconsistent they have been so far, the Pacers still have a good chance of making the playoffs. In addition to the season still being young, the Pacers play in the lowly Eastern Conference, which is much more forgiving than the West. However, due to their conference finals run last season, a simple playoff appearance is not what the Pacers are striving for.
In contrast to their downs, the Pacers have a lot to be excited about for the rest of the season. Pascal Siakam, in his first full season with the team, has looked great and has been the Pacers' most consistent player. Additionally, Bennedict Mathurin's emergence has been a major storyline for Indiana as he continues to carve out an important role with the team.
Even with their injuries, the Pacers are good enough to win the majority of their upcoming games. If there is a time in the near future for the team to even slightly revert to their form from last season, it is now. However, on the other hand, if the Pacers struggle for the next 10 games and have a losing record, that will not bode well for the rest of the season.
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