Indiana Pacers (38-20)
The Indiana Pacers have been one of the best feel-good stories in the Eastern Conference and NBA this season. They’ve defied odds and sit third in the East, despite Victor Oladipo being lost for the season a few weeks ago.
Heading into the NBA All-Star break, the team has won six of its last seven games and don’t appear to have any interest in giving up their top 3 spot in the East. However, when pus comes to shove, I simply don’t believe that this team has enough firepower to win a seven-game series against many of the other playoff teams right now.
And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. This team needs Oladipo and they simply won’t have him in the playoffs. That’s why I don’t think this is the year for the Pacers. Perhaps if Oladipo is healthy, we’re having a different conversation.
Verdict: Pretender