Indiana Pacers: Schedule Indicates Difficult Stretches
By Shane Young
November 29 – December 5: Meeting The King on the Way Out West
Nov. 29 — at Cleveland Cavaliers
29 teams are marking their calendar for the date in Northeast Ohio. Some are out to get revenge, and others are there just to prove they can handle LeBron James‘ new army. It’s a massive, loaded group of navy seals, and he’s their general.
The Pacers, with their superstar, would’ve actually enjoyed their trips to Cleveland next season. As opposed to the last four years, when there’s been no excitement. You could usually mark down a victory, as they’ve been an astounding 14-2 against the Cavaliers since LeBron’s departure in 2010. So much as shifted negatively for Indiana as it pertains to this matchup last season, however, so none of the statistics or advanced metrics can hold any context.
C.J. Miles returns to the fans he provided a handful of memories for, including 10 3-pointers in one night against the defense-less 76ers.
No matter how tough it got for LeBron in the Finals last year, he could always look back and be proud of reaching four straight Finals in Miami. He did so by defeating the Pacers three straight years from 2012-2014, and he’ll have the same sentiment in the four games he’ll meet them next season. Now, he can just count the wins for a different franchise, and another city he loves.
Dec. 2 — at Phoenix Suns
Exiting Thanksgiving weekend and having two days of rest, Indiana heads out for their three-game Western Conference road trip. Last season, the Pacers experienced a similar West trip at the beginning of winter, and they came away a bit satisfied.
From Dec. 1 to Dec. 8 of last year, they hit the road to visit the Clippers (win), Trail Blazers (loss), Jazz (win), Spurs (win), and Thunder (loss). This one will look rather similar, but Phoenix is on the radar.
The Suns, believing they’re ready for the leap to 50 wins and a playoff berth, are xpecting to defend their homecourt even greater this time around. 26-15 didn’t do them justice last year for how well they played in U.S. Airways Center, and they’ll tally at least 30 wins at home in 2014-15.
Under those 30 wins — unless Roy Hibbert shows an entirely new offensive arsenal — you’ll find the word “Pacers.”
Dec. 4 — at Portland Trail Blazers
If you ever forget the memorable event in Oregon last season between these two juggernauts, go see a doctor. Nobody with a human brain could lose such a compelling memory.
Visiting the Pacific Northwest last season, the Pacers nearly survived with a win due to George’s heroics, drilling three consecutive triples in a fourth quarter wrangle. Both teams combined for a ridiculous 64 points in the fourth, and George set his career-high in points at 43. Lucky enough for Indiana, they got retribution on their own floor in February, when they took Portland into overtime for another regular season classic, and knotted the series at 1-1.
Needless to say, it’s alarming next season. LaMarcus Aldridge just had his first huge playoff run where he nearly broke the scoreboard, and publicly said this offseason that he wants to be the greatest Blazer to ever live. In his contract season, expecting less than an outbreak would be a mistake.
During last year’s December West trip, many Pacers (excluding George) looked fatigued during their matchup in Portland (second game). They were entering a back-to-back after another late battle with the Clippers, and appeared worn down immediately after the loss to the Blazers. This time, their meeting with Portland is the third road game in a row, and it only makes you wonder how they’ll look after running coast to coast with Phoenix just two days prior.
Dec. 5 — at Sacramento Kings
Anything that happened in the West last season for the Pacers was worthy of a head-scratch. Above everything, stands the overtime win Indiana grabbed despite 80 combined points from Isaiah Thomas and Marcus Thornton. When is the last time you even said that about Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, the most aggressive duo in the league?
It was majorly out of the norm, but it was required when Sacramento knew they would be missing their star center for the game. The Pacers received magic from George (again), with 36 points on 54.5 percent shooting, and their behinds were saved in crunch-time. Has it sunk in yet of how much they’ll suffer when all he can do is watch from the bench?
All of these matchups will take a different twist next season, especially this one. Thomas and Thornton found new homes in Phoenix and Boston, respectively, and head coach Mike Malone will be trying to adjust Darren Collison during the first portion of the year. Since nobody in their right mind thinks it was a smart move to make a backup point guard their full-time starter and not re-sign the dynamic Thomas, struggles are bound to hit the Kings from the start.
DeMarcus Cousins has his way with Hibbert, seeing as how he walked into Bankers Life Fieldhouse later during the year and scored 31 points off impressive post moves. It out-shined Hibbert’s performance by 21 points and nine boards. Having the attitude Cousins is known for, that’s all he was worried about — solidifying which center needed more praise.
A back-to-back in a vigorous environment won’t be a great way to end this four-game road trip. Don’t acknowledge the fact Sacramento was just 17-24 at home last season. Those fans are there 41 games a year, well before tip-off. Out of any of the “bottom-feeders,” the Kings’ Sleep Train Arena is the strongest venue. Their home record was still better than four other teams in the league (Jazz, Lakers, Bucks, 76ers).
Total opponent Win/Loss for stretch: 181-147 (.552)