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Indiana Pacers On Verge Of Unusual All-Time NBA Record

By Adrian Lawhorn

Feb 1, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) is congratulated by forward Paul George (13) and guard Jeff Teague (44) after scoring against the Orlando Magic during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 1, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) is congratulated by forward Paul George (13) and guard Jeff Teague (44) after scoring against the Orlando Magic during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Everyone knows about all-time NBA records such as most career points or most team wins in a season, but the Indiana Pacers are currently flirting with a historic run of inconsistency that could soon land them in the NBA record books.

The Indiana Pacers are having a season in which they are doing little to set themselves apart from the pack. Their 36-35 record, their hold on the seventh spot in the 15-team Eastern Conference — these results certainly scream “average.”

However, the Pacers are doing one exceptional thing in 2016-17 that will tie and then set an all-time NBA record if they keep up the pace for a few more days.

What is this historic accomplishment that Indiana is chasing? It could unofficially be called the all-time NBA record for inconsistency.

One can define inconsistency many ways, but alternating wins and losses on a repetitive basis could be one way to quantify this concept in NBA basketball.

Not only is the Pacers’ overall record indicative of instability, but within their season schedule they have had regular back-and-forth swings such as their seven-game winning streak from Jan. 26-Feb. 6, immediately followed by a six-game losing skid that ran from Feb. 8-16.

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When Indiana lost to the Washington Wizards on Feb. 16, not only would that be the final game of their losing streak, but it began an odd sequence of alternate wins and losses that is still ongoing.

Wednesday night’s 109-100 loss to the Boston Celtics brought the Pacers’ run of alternating wins and losses to 15 — they can tie the all-time NBA record in this category if they defeat the Denver Nuggets at home on March 24.

This rather strange record is currently held by the 1977-78 Buffalo Braves. According to Basketball Reference, their streak began with a victory over the Chicago Bulls on Nov. 4, 1977 and ended when the team fell to the Portland Trail Blazers on Dec. 13, 1977.

The defeat at Portland gave the Braves their second straight loss, snapping their run of alternate wins and losses at 16. Interestingly, one might think that a team such as this would have an overall record near .500, but that was not the case for Buffalo.

The 1977-78 Buffalo Braves finished the season 27-55, so going 8-8 over a 16-game span would almost have to be considered a hot streak by their standards.

Consistently inconsistent? Predictably unpredictable? Take your pick of those or any other irreverent ways to describe the curious journey that the Indiana Pacers are currently embarking on.

Next: 25 Greatest Individual Seasons in NBA History

The Pacers may be struggling to find an identity this season, but ultimately, perhaps their true identity is having no identity at all — unless “constantly fluctuating” can be considered a team’s calling card.

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