Next 7 games will determine a lot for the Pacers
By TYLER SMITH (@TylerSmith_ISL)
ISL Editor
INDIANAPOLIS — Other than an actual playoff series, you won’t find a more important seven-game stretch than these next seven for the Indiana Pacers. These first seven games of the second half could have major implications for the franchise.
At 16-19, the Pacers are still just 2 1/2 games behind the No. 4-seed in the Eastern Conference. That’s the good news. The bad news? They’re only 2 1/2 games ahead of 13th and have a brutal schedule coming up.
The All-Star Break came at a good time for the blue and gold. But here’s what is waiting for Indiana when they return to the court:
@ Lakers, @ Suns, @ Nuggets, vs. Nets, @ Heat, @ Heat, and @ Milwaukee.
To borrow a phrase from the Gen Z crowd: “Big yikes.”
And what comes right after these seven games? The NBA Trade Deadline (March 25th). If the Pacers struggle with this brutal schedule, Pacers President Kevin Pritchard might at least be tempted to become a seller- though that word isn’t typically in the Pacers vocabulary.
These three scenarios are all possible, and all three of them could come into play depending on the results of this seven game stretch:
Scenario 1- Pacers win 0-2 games, become sellers
I think this team is too good to go 0-7 or 1-6 in these games, but that schedule is extremely difficult for a team that isn’t close to full strength. It sounds like Caris LeVert is getting closer, but even if he returns in this stretch, it will take time to get him back in shape and get him acclimated to the system. If the Pacers get crushed in this stretch of games, the smartest thing to do might be keeping TJ Warren out for the season, and looking at a higher draft pick for next year.
Scenario 2- Pacers win 3-4 games, stand pat
If this team can just hold their own in this stretch and not get completely crushed, they will stand pat or even look to add at the deadline. The schedule gets much more favorable after these seven games, and then you start looking at the additions of LeVert (and possibly Warren) as massive pieces for a playoff team with playoff aspirations.
Scenario 3- Pacers win 3+ games, and still have a great season
I’m not giving up on this scenario just yet. As long as the Pacers are within striking distance of a 4 or 5 seed, and as long as there is hope to get LeVert and Warren back in the mix, I just think this team is too good to go quietly into the night (unless they get destroyed in these seven games). I still think a starting five of Turner, Sabonis, Warren, LeVert, and Brogdon is one of the best units in the Eastern Conference. I also think this team could be a very tough out come playoff time. But again, we will know a lot more after these seven games.
Whatever scenario plays out, we will know a lot more about this team in a few short weeks. Every single win they can possibly squeeze out in this stretch will play a role in the rest of this season and future.
