The new NBA season is right around the corner. To help get ready for the 2024-25 NBA season, we’re looking at three questions each NBA team could face next season.
Here, we have the Indiana Pacers, who will look to build on their Eastern Conference finals appearance in the 2023-24 playoffs.
Can the Pacers build off last season’s success?
Rick Carlisle has transformed the Pacers since returning to Indiana and taking over the head-coaching role in 2021. He has established a core of young and exciting talent while developing a system that matches their strengths. Indiana pushes the pace, takes a high volume of shots and pressure the ball on defense, hoping to earn additional possessions in transition.
The Pacers ranked second in the NBA for pace of play last season, averaging 102.2 possessions per game. Their up-tempo system works perfectly for their roster. However, Carlisle must add some wrinkles into the system the Pacers are going to build on last seasons success.
Of course, another round of developmental improvement from the franchise’s young roster would certainly help.
Can James Wiseman finally prove himself?
Wiseman was selected with the second overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. However, his career has begun to spiral in recent years. He had a hard time meshing with Steve Kerr’s motion-based offense during his time with the Golden State Warriors and then struggled with the Detroit Pistons, primarily due to their shocking lack of spacing.
Now Wiseman has landed in Indiana, and he has a chance to prove himself. At his best, Wiseman is a big rim-running player who can sprint the lane, finish around the rim and block shots on defense. Carlisle has a knack for putting players in a position to succeed by playing to their strengths. Wiseman’s skill set perfectly fits Indiana’s system.
Nevertheless, Wiseman will be dealing with a significant amount of pressure. After struggling in his first two stops around the league, he must make his tenure in Indiana work; otherwise, his position in the league will be in question. How he balances that pressure and the need to perform will dictate whether he can prove himself in the upcoming season.
How will the two-man game between Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton develop?
Siakam played in 41 regular-season and 17 postseason games after joining the Pacers last season. There were signs of a budding partnership between him and Haliburton. Now, with a full offseason under their belts and a training camp right around the corner, the Pacers will be keen to get their two star players on the same page.
Both Haliburton and Siakam are All-NBA-level players. If they can stay healthy and learn to bring out the best in each other, Indiana could make another run to the NBA Finals. Of course, the rest of the roster must step up, too. Nevertheless, the Pacers’ new star duo will hold the keys for the upcoming season.
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