NBA: 30 Storylines Driving The 2015-16 Season

Apr 10, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) brings the ball up court during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pacers won 107-103. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Indiana Pacers – Identity Crisis

In recent years, the Indiana Pacers were the Eastern Conference’s resident grit and grind team. They beat teams down with a systematic offensive approach and a ferocious defensive aggressiveness. Coach Frank Vogel and the team made stars out of Paul George, David West, Lance Stephenson, and Roy Hibbert.

Last season saw all of that success and progress essentially flushed down the drain. Paul George was sidelined for a majority of last season after a gruesome leg injury in a Team USA inter-squad scrimmage game. Roy Hibbert’s downhill spiral, that began with a poor playoff performance the season prior, was only intensified when the team seemed to need him to step up in George’s absence. They were without Lance Stephenson, a hero of sorts to the team in their impressive season the year before.

This off-season saw the Pacers shed even more of the roster that entered the 2014 NBA playoffs with the Eastern Conference’s best record. Hibbert’s hefty contract was moved to the Los Angeles Lakers and David West joined an already stacked San Antonio Spurs front court via free agency.

The notable additions that they brought in this season are Monta Ellis and Jordan Hill. Ellis is a high-volume, streaky shooter who can either win you a big game or lose you one with his shoot-at-will mentality. Hill is an offensive-minded big man who will likely man the 5 for the team unless they opt to start rookie Myles Turner.

Paul George is presumably back at 100 percent health-wise now that the season is nearing, which means that barring utter catastrophe he’ll be back at All-Star form. Aside from him though, the Pacers just feel like a culmination of good players with no real system in mind when they were being sought after. A lot of contrasting styles and abilities mean that the team will likely struggle early on in the year until they can figure out a way to mesh as a cohesive unit.

Next: Pelicans: The Growth of AD