this post was submitted on 27 Nov 2023

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Are the Pacers the future of the NBA (alien.top)

submitted 9 months ago by primexamples@alien.top to c/nba@nba.space

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I want to say this up front, I do not know ball... I am only a Pacers fan, and I slightly keep up with the Heat.

As someone who has had little to be excited about in the NBA for a long time, this seasons Pacers are simply exhilarating for me. I've learned more about the NBA in the last year than I have my entire life, and that really only because of how big of a turn my Pacers have taken. That said I wanted to ask if this years pacer are legitimately on the rise as being a future model for NBA offenses, or if the stats are simply inflated. The reason I make this post is because I lack perspective. There's a lot I don't understand, so I'd like to gain some perspective.

My takeaways (Please feel free to use this as discussion points):

- The Pacers offense is statistically the best offense in NBA history

- Tyrese Haliburton is him

- The Pacers are criminally underrecognized by the media

- The Pacers have an incredibly young team

- Bennedict Mathurin is in a slight slump but if he comes out the Pacers could look even scarier than they already are

- Andrew Nembhard is surprisingly good and shows potential

- Jarace Walker is supposed to help us with our defense.

- Bruce Brown might be overpaid

- Obi Toppin could be an elite 6man

- Jalen Smith having a massive uptick in production

- The odds of the Pacers getting a chip in the next 5 years is a lot higher than most people in NBA may think

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[–] HBdrunkandstuff@alien.top 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

They are the Kings of last year. Offense is record breaking but they have to buy in and play defense. Which tends to take away from the offense. You can beat a lot of teams by running though. Just doesn’t hold of for postseason as the game gets slowed down and teams pick up the intensity.

[–] DrLyleEvans@alien.top 1 points 9 months ago

I like their top end potential more than the Kings because in theory, Sabonis is harder to cover up defensively than Haliburton as the big structural weakness defensively.

But in practice, with neither team being a free agent destination, it will come down to drafting, trading and player development in the 2-4 spots and I do think Keegan Murray, Huerter and Monk is a better bet than Walker/Nembhard/Bruce Brown/Nesmith.

Both teams will probably end up bidding against each other and trading for a forward at some point in the next few years (one of Siakam or OG once they re-sign, say).

So, yeah, very similar teams with solid 5 year windows until Turner or Sabonis get old.

[–] YoHoochIsCrazy@alien.top 1 points 9 months ago

I think they have the pieces to:

A. Let the roster grow for a couple years and see where the ceiling is

B. Wheel and deal some of those guys for whatever star they can get.

Either way I think the future is bright, with the floor being AT WORST a really really fun team to watch that will always be in the playoff mix.

[–] drjisftw@alien.top 1 points 9 months ago

We're an actual wing away from being the future - Hali does not have a second star and I'm low on Mathurin being that guy.

Our closing lineup is four 6'5 players and Myles Turner - we need something better

[–] SeeingThings123@alien.top 1 points 9 months ago

Haliburton surely is

I don’t think I’ve ever seen such an elite, high volume shooter also be such an elite, quick-processing passer…all in a lanky, 6’5” frame.

He’s quickly shaping up to be an all time great offensive player if he continues down this trajectory.

[–] Sharks_Eat_People@alien.top 1 points 9 months ago

I love love love Hali, but he really needs to step up his on ball defense at some point in his career. He's great for a couple steals playing the passing lanes, but he's a turnstile on defense. If he makes that leap defensively or they put in some more defensive stoppers around him, I see them doing better in the playoffs. But I don't see them jumping the Celtics any time soon, and you've got the Magic up and coming too.

[–] JonasJones4life@alien.top 1 points 9 months ago

Their offense is going to regress at some point

Them being 9-6 after the offensive start they’ve had should more concerning than exciting imo

[–] GavinGT@alien.top 1 points 9 months ago

Future 8th seed.

[–] Overall-Palpitation6@alien.top 1 points 9 months ago

They're just this year's version of last year's Kings.

[–] Burner_for_design@alien.top 1 points 9 months ago

They are going to get caught in between. There is an older Gen of teams that is better, headlined by Milwaukee and Denver, and I think they are going to pass the baton over Indiana's head to OKC, Minnesota, and/or Orlando over the next few years.

[–] katsikisj@alien.top 1 points 9 months ago

I love the optimism but this really isn’t anything we haven’t seen before, the 2014 Mavericks (coached by Carlisle) also had the best offense ever with Dirk/monte Ellis/Chandler parsons and we know how that ended. The pacers have a super exciting young player in Haliburton but outside of him and Mathurins potential upside there isn’t much else to be excited about. I don’t think they’ll win a chip in 5 years but anything’s possible.