Mid-Season Report Card: Pacers

The Pacers have been bounced out of the first round in each of the last five seasons. Here's why that might change.

When and how will they level up?

Indiana has been good for a while, but that's it. The NBA doesn't reward being good; rather, it rewards being great, or conversely being bad which leads to a rebuild, which in turn leads to eventual greatness.

The Pacers have been stuck in the "good" zone since 2016, and it hasn't been enough. It's a post-Paul George era in Indiana. He led them to an ECF against the Heat, but not much else. That must have been better for Pacers fans than the product they've rolled out now.

Domantas Sabonis is a very good basketball player who was given his second consecutive nod as an all-star this year, barely. Malcom Brogdon is right up next to what you would call an elite point guard, and Myles Turner leads the NBA in blocks. This formula is, again, good but not good enough to be rewarded. This might just be the first time in five years they don't lose in the first round, but it'll be because they might not even make it past the tournament in the weird East this season.

The Knicks, Hornets, and Bulls have been surprises this year, and each have a chance to beat out Indiana with a playoff berth, or take it to them in a P.I. series. Even if Indy improves in the second half and makes it to the first round, history highlights what their current status is: good. The same good as before.

This all sounds harsh, but I promise there's a reckoning to be had, and it might just be sitting in front of them. Brooklyn might've won James Harden, but Indy could've won the trade. Caris LeVert might just be your hero, Indy fans!

The Caris LeVert chronicles

LeVert looks to make a full recovery following a mass removal from his kidney, and he has the secrets of the Brooklyn Nets. If the Pacers match up with the Nets in May, he can sabotage them! Just gotta figure out to stop KD, Kyrie, and The Beard. Never mind.

In all seriousness, LeVert is an incredible talent who can go for forty any night, and might be a piece that gets them over the "good" hump.

I say they won this trade because it was becoming increasingly clear that Oladipo wanted to leave the Pacers, and so the front office intelligently hopped into the Harden trade and won a jackpot.

Future

Regardless of the irreverence I spewed about this team, they have a bright future, and it can only go up from here, given their disappointing record this year.

If they could acquire some draft capital either at the deadline or by way of a late lottery pick or late first-rounder, depending on how their record plays out, don't be surprised if they become a contender in a couple years.

Grade:

C (A+ for jumping in on the Harden trade)