The Indiana Pacers are the biggest wild card in the NBA with massive roster turnover and their biggest star returning from injury. Here are 3 bold predictions for 2019-20.
The Indiana Pacers went 48-34 in 2018-19 despite Victor Oladipo only playing in 36 of those games.
They also completely collapsed down the stretch, finishing 4-13 in their last 17 games including playoffs including losing both contests against the Celtics in the regular season to gift-wrap the 4 seed at the finish line before taking that road Game 1 and turning it into the first step on a “yeah, we’re done, see you next year” surrender of a sweep.
It was the biggest end-of-season faceplant since the Memphis Grizzlies ate pavement in 2016 and finished 3-18 in their last 21 including a sweep at the hands of the Spurs.
The Grizzlies were 22-60 two years later. To predict that for Indiana would be too hot a take even for me, so let’s try some bold but surprisingly plausible scenarios, starting with…