Indiana Pacers Season Preview

Indiana Pacers

2014 record: 38-44

2015 O/U: 42.5

Who are their stars?

The Pacers are going to hit a major cross roads here, and what happens with their star, Paul George is going to decipher if this team can contend or not. George only played in eight games due to his awful off season injury, but there is no doubt he will have to carry this team in a Lebron James fashion for them to be successful. His talent, when healthy would make him one of the ten most valuable assets on a court, but due to the injury of his leg, there is a factor to consider entering 2015. The problem the Pacers have is that they decided to move on from their two best post players, and were going to run small lineups with George at the four, and didn’t quite check in with George on the decision. George doesn’t think he physically ready to face that grind on a night-to-night basis, and who can blame him, it was only about two years ago in which he was getting minutes as a shooting guard. George is tall, but he is slender, and to test his legs like this early is dangerous. I hope it works out for him, but I have to be leery.

Who are the glue guys?

Their other big problem is that around their 25-year-old star, they don’t have much that screams contender on paper. Monta Ellis is a guy that the Mavericks seemed perfectly fine to let walk and replace him with a player coming off an Achilles tear. Ellis is a guy who can score, and in theory, a high low of him and George can work, George would just need a bigger post presence. I feel these two are going to have some ball control issues, but if they can figure it out, I am sure they will score bunches in spurts. Aside from that is George Hill, who seems to get hated on because he isn’t a top point guard, or strong scorer, but Hill is a glue guy because he does all the little things. Between Geroge, and Ellis he won’t handle the ball much, and that is actually the strength for Hill to make plays without the ball, and to catch and shoot. It isn’t the mightiest of big threes, but they can at least be competitive.

Who are the Rotational Players?

The reason George may move to the four is because they have little to no depth at that position. Myles Turner was a lottery pick, and seemed as more of a guy with future aspects than being an asset right now. Turner is a guy who can shoot, and defend the rim, so he is rare, and it is good that he will get the majority of the minutes at center, but if you are telling me George, coming off a broken leg, and the 19 year old Turner are the post presence, I am telling you teams will be able to push them around. In the lineups in which George would like to play, Jordan Hill will slide in as a power forward next to Turner, but the plan seems that Hill and Turner will be the center rotation at this point. That may leave only Lavoy Allen pushing George back small forward. Aside from problems down low, it isn’t like they don’t need George to play small forward. That position will now be a rotation of Solomon Hill, Chase Budinger, and Glenn Robinson III. It isn’t exactly the scariest of rotations, but somehow it is more NBA ready than the frontcourt. Joseph Young is a guy to watch to spell Ellis, and could be a spark of the bench as a rookie.

Where do they rank? Over Under? How far can they go?

A lot of people see this team being better this year and I just don’t. George is not happy, and that is the last thing you want. You also are bare in almost every position, and in a best-case scenario, two rookies would be putting in major contributions. I cannot just bet on Turner easing in easily, and I don’t even know how this team will look on the court. Some may say I am too low on Indiana, I feel as though I am only this high because I respect George. By the way, between Paul George, George Hill, Jordan Hill, and Solomon Hill, how are they going to call anyone by any names this season??? Fascinating stuff, but in a best case scenario, George and the Hills will be bounced by the Cavs in the first round. They could also tank and add another 19 year old to the young core, and that is the way I would go, but George will get them wins, and they are a little better than rock bottom.

Under 42.5, 10th in the East, 20th in the NBA