The Indiana Pacers are heading into the 2026-27 NBA season with plenty to prove, and the first test is already circled on the calendar. They open on October 21 on the road against the New Orleans Pelicans, and this is a team trying to put a rough year behind it.
A season ago, Indiana managed only 19 wins and missed the playoffs entirely. A major reason was the absence of star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who was sidelined with an injury. Now Haliburton is back, and the Pacers are counting on him to help pull them back toward the top of the Eastern Conference.
Even with Haliburton returning, one issue stands above the rest. ESPN’s Jamal Collier identified defense as Indiana’s biggest weakness entering the season, and it’s easy to see why that area will be under the microscope right away. Collier wants to see whether the Pacers can get back to the kind of defensive level they had when they reached the NBA Finals a few years ago.
The new piece in the middle is Ivica Zubac, and his arrival could come with some adjustment time. Haliburton and Zubac still need to build chemistry, and while Zubac brings rebounding strength, his defense has never been considered elite in the league.
If Zubac can anchor the paint the way Myles Turner did, Indiana has a chance to stay strong on that end. The Pacers also still have solid wing depth, with players who are willing to pressure opponents on the perimeter.
When Indiana made its run to the NBA Finals two years ago, it ranked eighth in defensive efficiency in the playoffs. Getting back to that standard will require work from everyone on the floor, every night, for all 48 minutes.
Rick Carlisle remains in charge, and that means mistakes won’t go unaddressed. Indiana has one of the league’s best coaches guiding it, and his presence has helped raise the team’s level during his time there.
The Pacers have the talent to make this a meaningful season, but their defense will tell the real story.
In Other News...
Pacers Open The Season With A Problem They Didn't Want
The Pacers head into their season opener already having to reshuffle the rotation, and the timing could not be much worse. Aaron Nesmith has been ruled out with a left hamstring strain, leaving Indiana without its starting small forward as it tries to get the new season moving in the right direction. His absence hands Kelly Oubre Jr. a chance to step into the lineup, while the injury also nudges the coaching staff toward more minutes for the wing depth behind him.
There is more uncertainty in the backcourt, too, with T.J. McConnell still sidelined by a right hamstring strain. For a team that leans on pace, pressure and energy, losing two rotation pieces before the first game is a frustrating start, especially when the bench is supposed to help stabilize things early. Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard are among the players who could be asked to pick up some of the slack, and the opening stretch now comes with an immediate test of Indiana's depth. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Trade Buzz Hints At A Bigger Plan Around Haliburton
The Pacers offseason chatter has started to sharpen around the idea that the front office is looking for more than just a bounce-back year. Bleacher Reports Dan Favale recently named three possible trade targets for Indiana in Yves Missi, Jaylin Williams and Jordan Walsh, a list that points to the kind of roster-building decisions the team may be weighing as it tries to keep pace in a crowded East.
A healthy Tyrese Haliburton changes the conversation almost immediately. Indiana is expected to take a step forward with Haliburton back from injury, and the projections reflect a team that could win a lot of games if the supporting cast fits properly around him. Haliburton already signed his five-year extension in 2023, so the long-term plan is clear enough - now the interesting part is whether the Pacers use trade talks to accelerate it. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Suddenly Face A T.J. McConnell Concern They Can't Ignore
T.J. McConnells availability has suddenly become an early Pacers concern, with the veteran guard expected to miss the first game of the season because of a hamstring strain. For a team that leans on his pace, energy and steadying presence, the timing is hard to ignore, especially with the regular season just getting underway and the point guard room looking thinner than usual.
McConnells value has always come from the same relentless style that has helped him last this long, even as he enters his mid-30s and continues to battle the wear that comes with playing that way. The bigger question now is not just how long he sits, but what Indiana does if this becomes more than a short-term issue, because there isnt a clear like-for-like answer waiting behind him. [Read more 🡒]