Indiana Pacers: Schedule Indicates Difficult Stretches
By Shane Young
January 17 – 25: Old Foes, Rugged Road Ride
Jan. 17 — at Charlotte Hornets
Take a second and realize that whenever there’s a huge roster change in professional sports, you’re not just looking out for the special moments in the first meeting. It’s every encounter that season that you’re tuning in to, since the player switching teams (Stephenson) always looks to pounce on his former teammates.
In these situations, you expect Stephenson to act appropriately. Showing off his wild (and sometimes chaotic) passing on fastbreaks, and attacking the same frontcourt he did every day at practice will be right up his alley, and bring out the boastful Lance we all know.
Last season, the Pacers took the season series over Charlotte 2-1, splitting two of the games in Time Warner Cable Arena. Al Jefferson had every reason to strut around the court with a grin during all three, connecting on 32-of-58 field goals (55.2 percent), including a 34-point demolition in the final matchup of the year.
Indiana has to work even harder this season to knock Steve Clifford’s group off their pride. If that fails, they’ll need a cure for the buzzing and stinging. The hive may be too infested.
Jan. 19 — at Houston Rockets
Among the takeaways from last year’s 1-1 split between Houston and Indiana, it’s impossible to beat Evan Turner going face-to-beard with James Harden in a second quarter scuffle. Veteran Danny Granger‘s return also topped the cake last season, as each game resulted in a lopsided affair for the home team.
One area of the game Indiana has no issue contending with Houston is on the glass, since they’re just as tall and combative in the middle, particularly West and Hibbert. When Scola enters the game, you instantly wish it was four years earlier. Indiana out-rebounded the Rockets on the boards last season 85-70, even winning the rebounding margin when Houston derailed them in March by 26 points.
Trevor Ariza had his mixed playoff series of fun and grief against the Pacers this May, and he’s now back with his former team. Under a new coach and a more complete core, he can put his deadly 3-point shooting to more use in McHale’s system. Since, you know, Houston lets the long balls fly quicker than anyone in the land.
Jan. 21 — at Atlanta Hawks
Even with a completely healthy roster, a bench monarch in Evan Turner (laughing uncontrollably), the Pacers still managed to set a franchise record for the least points scored in one half, hosting the Hawks last season.
To begin April and nearly closing out the season, Indiana shot themselves in the feet when the Hawks flew into town. Glancing up and understanding the score — at halftime — was 55-23 in favor of the Hawks, I felt as if I was in a locked storage room … alone. It was that quiet and disturbing in the Fieldhouse when Atlanta choked the life out of Hibbert and the Pacers. It was the game in which Vogel pulled Hibbert after just nine minutes, after going 0-of-5 from the field and grabbing zero rebounds. At 7-2, no rebounds, no buckets, with multiple touches.
During the Playoffs, Atlanta clawed and inched until they were one game away from pulling off the most shocking upset in first round history. It turned into an outside shooting showcase, since Mike Budenholzer would put five guys on the floor (Teague, Korver, Carroll, Millsap, Antic) that could screen effectively and slip out for 24-footers at any second.
With Al Horford rerturning from a pectoral tear, problems are arising. Atlanta, specifically at home, isn’t a team fighting their way to 38 wins. Stability within the roster places the Hawks in the mix for 45 wins or greater, and they’re just another key piece of evidence that shows how enriched the East can be.
Jan. 23 — at Miami Heat
Boy, this rivalry took a jab from Mike Tyson. Or, is it more comparable to the ear bite?
Either way, Wade losing his best friend and the man that took him to four straight Finals feels exactly like chewing flesh. For the first time since 2009-10, South Florida can actually recall the old days, where 50 wins isn’t fully expected and the mountain of media heed will simmer.
Instead of Chris Bosh settling in the corner for Game 5 of the East Finals and waiting for a certain powerhouse to dish him the ball, he’ll be creating off the dribble. It could be a scary sight, for better or worse.
Take this into account, injuries and all obviously included:
The most physically gifted athlete in the world leaves Miami, and they sign a former Pacer that’s considered “finished” (Danny Granger). Wade completely falls on his face during the Finals, to the point of embarrassment by Tiago Splitter at one point. During the offseason, Pat Riley is absolutely disgusted.
Yet, Miami is slated to win more games than Indiana next season, after falling two wins shy of them in April’s No. 1 seed chase. The power of free agency and close basketball stanchions, huh?
Jan. 25 — at Orlando Magic
Patently, the weakest matchup in the clan here, but nothing to overlook for this Pacers bunch. They’ll take two days rest between each game during this road trip, and finish with the final two in Florida before returning home to take on Toronto.
Orlando’s upgrades of Channing Frye and Elfrid Payton through the draft equal two things Indiana struggles with; perimeter power forwards that can shoot lights out, and intelligent point guards that can create in the lane. Of course, that’s assuming Jacque Vaughn makes the right choice and starts Payton next to Oladipo at the guard slots.
In four meetings last season, Indiana had a positive point differential when facing Orlando (three wins), as they outscored the Magic by 10.75 points on average.
As frightening as the Pacers were in terms of sharing the ball last season (27th in assists), they still were the far greater team when going head-to-head with Orlando. Through four games, Indiana averaged 20.8 assists, whereas Orlando was at a below-average 16.3.
Total opponent Win/Loss for stretch: 207-203 (.505)