2016-17 NBA Season Preview: Indiana Pacers
Welcome to theScore's 2016-17 NBA preview, where you'll find comprehensive coverage of all 30 teams and storylines to watch this season.
Indiana Pacers
2015-16
| Record | Central | East | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45-37 | 2nd | 7th | Lost in Round 1 (4-3 TOR) |
Offseason Roundup
| Additions | Departures |
|---|---|
| Thaddeus Young (trade with BKN) | Ian Mahinmi (WAS) |
| Jeff Teague (trade with ATL) | Ty Lawson (SAC) |
| Jeremy Evans (trade with DAL) | Solomon Hill (NOP) |
| Emir Preldzic draft rights (trade with DAL) | Jordan Hill (MIN) |
| Al Jefferson (3/$30M) | Caris LeVert (traded to BKN) |
| Georges Niang (draft) | George Hill (traded to UTA) |
| Aaron Brooks (1/$2.7) | Shayne Whittington (waived) |
| Kevin Seraphin (2/$3.6M) |
Promoted assistant coach Nate McMillan to head coach
Projected Starting 5
- PG Jeff Teague
- SG Monta Ellis
- SF Paul George
- PF Thaddeus Young
- C Myles Turner
Player to watch: Paul George
Paul George overcame the odds to come back from a gruesome leg injury in 2014, and put forth his best campaign yet in 2015-16.
Over the summer, the elite swingman checked off another box on his list of childhood dreams when he won a gold medal in Rio with Team USA.
His next goal? Becoming the NBA MVP.
He'll be in the conversation if he can lead the Pacers back into contention for Eastern Conference supremacy. The 26-year-old reached the conference finals in the two years before breaking his right leg. Now healthy, he's put the onus on himself to carry the team past the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers and out of the East this season.
The three-time All-Star's supporting cast improved over the offseason, with the Pacers acquiring Jeff Teague, Al Jefferson, and Thaddeus Young. In approval of those moves, George expressed gratitude toward team president Larry Bird for surrounding him with talent, rather than letting his prime years go to waste.
He recorded a career-high 23.1 points, 4.1 assists, 1.9 steals to go along with seven rebounds, while shooting 41.8 percent from the field and 37 percent from beyond the arc over 81 games in his triumphant return.
It's conceivable those stats will see a boost in the upcoming year, as George collaborates with a solid playmaker in Teague in an up-tempo system.
Season Expectations
The Pacers, who finished seventh in the East in 2015-16, hung their hats on their top-10 defense (eighth in points allowed). Their offense left quite a bit to be desired, however, as it ranked 17th in the league with 102.2 points per game on 45 percent field-goal shooting.
The club addressed that over the summer, adding vets who can make plays and score. Teague represents an upgrade over George Hill, as the 28-year-old's a stronger facilitator, a more aggressive scorer, and a winner, having made the playoffs in each of his seven seasons. The former All-Star expects to have a career year for his hometown Pacers.
Teague will have plenty of options to dish to, as George, Jefferson, Young, Monta Ellis, and sophomore Myles Turner can all put the ball in the hoop. As such, Indiana should see an increase in assist totals, where it ranked 22nd a season ago.
With their updated roster, the Pacers are set to play smaller and faster, and score more. At the same time, they hope to maintain their hard-nosed, defensive mentality under new head coach Nate McMillan - who, curiously, is known for running slower offenses.
Altogether, PG-13 and Co. are aiming for a higher seed in the playoffs a year after coming a win shy of advancing to the second round. It's within reason that, if things go as planned, they could find themselves back in the upper crust of the conference and go on a deeper postseason run.