May 30, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert (55) reacts from the bench during the second half in game six of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
3. Indiana Pacers
Record (last season): 56-26
Key Addition(s): Rodney Stuckey, C.J. Miles
Key Loss: Lance Stephenson, Evan Turner
After closing the regular season on a downward spiral, the Indiana Pacers sure knew how to encore that same lackluster performance in the playoffs. Apart from a handful of “Pacer-like” games against the Hawks and Wizards, Indiana closed its postseason campaign much like its regular season — disappointing.
And they carried that well into the offseason, with the departing of Lance Stephenson. I’m not sure if the additions of Stuckey and Miles will compensate for the loss of whacky Stephenson, but it’s safe to say that the Pacers are no longer the class of the Central Division.