Power Rankings
Overall Rank: 20th
Tier: Playoff Hopefuls
Projected Seeding: 10th in East
Superstar SF Paul George is back! ...but with both PF David West and C Roy Hibbert gone. Other than George, this team looks almost nothing like the one we saw consistently make Eastern Conference Finals appearances just two years ago. SG Lance Stephenson, as well as West and Hibbert, were all starters on those Pacer teams, but all play elsewhere now. There is some hope in Indiana, however, as star SG Monta Ellis has since filled Stephenson’s void at SG, PF/C Jordan Hill and C/PF Myles Turner are serviceable replacements for West and Hibbert, and decent PG George Hill still runs the point. All that, and of course the return of Paul George after a season off due to a gruesome leg injury. Still, even if George returns 100%, the depth on this team is average at best, with quite a few rookies actually being relied upon as key rotational pieces. With the middle of the East being improved, expect the Pacers to hang around -- but ultimately drop out of -- the playoff picture.
Overall Rank: 20th
Tier: Playoff Hopefuls
Projected Seeding: 10th in East
Superstar SF Paul George is back! ...but with both PF David West and C Roy Hibbert gone. Other than George, this team looks almost nothing like the one we saw consistently make Eastern Conference Finals appearances just two years ago. SG Lance Stephenson, as well as West and Hibbert, were all starters on those Pacer teams, but all play elsewhere now. There is some hope in Indiana, however, as star SG Monta Ellis has since filled Stephenson’s void at SG, PF/C Jordan Hill and C/PF Myles Turner are serviceable replacements for West and Hibbert, and decent PG George Hill still runs the point. All that, and of course the return of Paul George after a season off due to a gruesome leg injury. Still, even if George returns 100%, the depth on this team is average at best, with quite a few rookies actually being relied upon as key rotational pieces. With the middle of the East being improved, expect the Pacers to hang around -- but ultimately drop out of -- the playoff picture.