2011-12 Indiana Pacers Predictions
Written by Steve Janus
Thanks to a top heavy Eastern Conference, the Indiana Pacers were able to sneak into the playoffs as the No. 8 seed, despite finishing with an overall record of 37-45. Many expected the Pacers to get swept by the Chicago Bulls in the first round, but instead gave the No. 1 seed all they could handle in a thrilling 6-games series. Indiana really seemed to turn their season around once they fired head coach Jim O’Brien, allowing Frank Vogel to take over the rest of the way. The Pacers finished the regular season 20-18 under Vogel, and are hoping to take that next this season.
Indiana will not bring back Josh McRoberts, T.J. Ford, and Mike Dunleavy Jr. from last year’s squad, but they believe the additions of power forward David West and guard George Hill are exactly what this team needs to take that next step into becoming one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. The Pacers won’t have any rookies helping them out this year. They selected Kawhi Leonard with the 15th pick in the first round, but used him to trade for Hill.
One player that is extremely happy about the addition of West, is point guard Darren Collison, who played with West in New Orleans during his rookie season. West averaged right around 20 points a game in his final four seasons in New Orleans, and was playing like an All-Star before tearing his ACL late in the year. Collison averaged 18.8 points and 9.1 assists in 37 starts when playing alongside West in New Orleans, which is reason to believe he will improve off his 13 points and 5 assists he averaged in his first season with Indiana.
What the Pacers really need this season is for small forward Danny Granger to bounce back from a down year. Granger led the team in scoring at 20.5 points per game, but wasn’t as dynamic of a scorer as he was the previous two seasons,where he averaged nearly 25 ppg.
Roy Hibbert showed flashes of becoming the player the Pacers envisioned when they drafted him No. 7 overall in the 2009 NBA Draft. Whether or not he can become that player this season could determine just how good this Indiana team is. Hibbert has the ability to average a double-double and block 2-3 shots a game.
Paul George and Hill figure to battle for the starting 2-guard role. I give the early edge to Hill, but either way both of these players are going to play a huge role this season. Whoever doesn’t start will be expected to contribute big minutes off the bench. The addition of West will also allow Indiana to bring energetic power forward Tyler Hansbrough off the bench, who really played well in the playoff series against the Bulls.
Prediction – 2nd Eastern Conference Central Division: I don’t think there is any doubt around the league that the Pacers will finish ahead of both Detroit and Cleveland in the Central, and right now I give them the edge over Milwaukee to finish second to the Bulls in the division. This team has true sleeper potential, especially if the addition of West makes the impact everyone expects. However, I believe the East is getting stronger and I can’t see the Pacers making the playoffs with another losing record.
Find out where we have all 30 NBA teams finishing in our 2011-12 NBA Predictions article.
If you are looking to make some money this NBA season, be sure to check out what Steve Janus has to offer. Steve finished No. 7 overall in the NBA last year, thanks in large part to a 37-17 run towards the end of last season!
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