The Indiana Pacers are mostly the same team from last season. But will the starters be the same? Who are the locks, fringe and break-ins this year?
For all of the change many of the teams around them have experienced over the last few months, very few changes have come to the Indiana Pacers. The only major switch was letting go of coach Nate McMillan after an unceremonious sweep out of the first round.
They replaced him with a different Nate as Nate Bjorkgren gets his first shot at the top job at the highest level. Now it is his job how to get this team to take the next step in their progression without much roster turnover.
Even with the continuity, there are questions surrounding this team and by extension their starting lineup. Injuries are still lurking around this team and they could make things complicated for who starts the season in the opening lineup.
Furthermore, the fit is still somewhat strange. There are reasons why there were trade rumors swirling around two of their top five players all offseason and it is not just contract issues. The Pacers are definitely talented but their needs to be some work done to get the talent in the best position to win.
So given this who are the locks to be starters when the season opens? Which players are the fringe with a likely chance of making it in should everything break right? And who is the one guy who could break into the lineup at the right (or wrong) time?