Top Five Seeds in Eastern Conference for 2012-13 NBA Season (Part 3) – NBA Feature
Indiana Pacers: Seeded 3
In a league dominated by superstar teams, where the norm is to rely on All Star players to succeed, the Indiana Pacers are one of the few teams that have banked on in house talent and player development to improve their chances of success. In the 2010-2011 season, the Pacers finished 8th in the Eastern Conference, barely securing a playoff berth. This past season however, Indiana dominated much of the teams in the league and finished 3rd in the Eastern Conference. They pushed the Miami Heat to seven games in the Eastern Conference Semi Finals, eventually losing out the series in the 7th game.
However, the Pacers proved that they are a team to reckon and this upcoming season, will be looking to make an even bigger impact in a league they believe refuses to give them the admiration and respect they deserve.
The Indiana Pacers re-signed Roy Hibbert and George Hill to the team this offseason, hence keeping the core of the team that were so successful the past season together. Hibbert is a solid centre with great rebounding and shot blocking abilities. In a league where true centres are a rarity, the Pacers did a good job to retain Hibbert.
George Hill is a terrific guard who averaged 13.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists last season. A good shooter, Hill adds variety to a Pacers team that relies on hustle play.
The core of the team for next season will be Hibbert, Danny Granger and David West, although players such as Paul George and Hill contribute as much to the team as any other on the roster. And it is exactly that which makes the Pacers such a formidable team, the fact that they do not rely on any single player for success, and have a depth in their roster that parallels the depth of the San Antonio Spurs. This gives the Pacers multiple scoring options and makes their second unit almost as effective as their first.
The Pacers improved their backcourt in the offseason by adding D.J. Augustin to the roster. Ausgustin averaged 11.1 points and 6.4 assists for the Charlotte Bobcats last season, and will have an opportunity to shine even brighter as a member of the Pacers roster. The sheer depth of the team and the way it comes together as a single unit to play against some of the bigger names in the game is what gives the Pacers the edge over other Eastern Conference franchises. Although they still lack the firepower to compete against the likes of the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics, the Pacers are a solid third seed for next season.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not represent Bettor.com’s editorial policy.
Tags: