The Pacers are seven games into a season that was supposed to look different, and the early returns have been rough. They’ve lost four straight, they’re battling injuries, and the shot-making has gone cold at the wrong time.
That doesn’t mean panic is the right move this early. But it does mean Indiana has some clear problem spots that need to sharpen up fast, especially with another game coming Monday night.
Start with Kelly Oubre Jr. Indiana brought him in to handle the sixth-man role, but also to be ready when the starting lineup needs a lift.
He’s started five of the first seven games, yet the production hasn’t matched the assignment. Oubre Jr. is averaging 9.4 points and 2.6 rebounds while shooting 43% from the field and 26% from three.
Last season in Philadelphia, he put up 14.1 points and 5.0 rebounds on 47% shooting overall and 36% from deep.
That 3-point number from last season was a career best, so expecting him to live there again may have been too much. Still, Indiana needed more than what it has gotten so far, and the defense has been uneven too. Rick Carlisle put it plainly: "The truth is we need more out of him, and everybody else that's playing."
The broader shooting picture hasn’t helped. Indiana hit 37% from three in Sunday night’s game against Brooklyn, and that came after a strong fourth quarter.
On the season, though, the Pacers are at 34% from beyond the arc, which ranks 18th in the league. They’ve also had stretches where the offense simply stalls out.
Kyle Taylor of iPacers.com pointed out that the Pacers are not generating the same quality of looks they’ve produced in past seasons, even in the games Tyrese Haliburton has played. By Taylor’s numbers, Indiana is 14th in the league in creating wide-open shots or attempts near the basket. That’s a far cry from the top-five territory the Pacers have occupied at times in recent years.
Haliburton’s return should help that in more ways than one. His own shooting matters, but so does the way he creates cleaner looks for everyone else.
Aaron Nesmith is a good example of the ripple effect. He’s at 30% from three right now, well below his usual range of 38-43%.
Rebounding is another issue that has gone from concern to problem. Ivica Zubac is one of the NBA’s best rebounders, so some drop-off was expected.
What Indiana has shown so far goes well beyond that. Through seven games, the Pacers are 24th in the league in rebounding percentage and have won the battle on the glass only once.
Then there’s the energy level, which has come up repeatedly from players and coaches. It’s easy to blame effort when a team is losing, but sometimes the issue is just missed shots. In this case, the slow starts have been a real talking point, and the Pacers have been hearing about their energy, especially at the beginning of games.
That’s been a surprise at home, too. Gainbridge Fieldhouse has usually been a tough place for visiting teams, but Indiana is 0-3 there so far this season. The Pacers have also lost to Milwaukee and Brooklyn, the only wins those teams have picked up in this young season.
Monday night brings another chance to reset at home against the Atlanta Hawks. The Pacers need more from several places, and they need it quickly.
In Other News...
Pacers Trade Is Under Fire At The Worst Possible Time
The Pacers are already navigating a rough stretch, and the timing has made an old trade look even more painful. Indiana lost its 2026 first-round draft pick because of the protections tied to the Ivica Zubac deal with the Clippers, a cost that now feels especially steep with the team trying to hold things together through a difficult season.
Zubac has been limited in games for Indiana this year because of a left ankle injury, leaving the Pacers without the kind of return they hoped would soften the blow. Add in the injury to All-Star Tyrese Haliburton, and the combination has only sharpened the scrutiny on a move that is now being judged alongside the team's current struggles. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Got Caught In A Viral Julius Randle Moment
The Pacers were part of the backdrop for one of the more talked-about moments from Brooklyns first win of the season, a night that had just enough edge to turn a routine regular-season game into something more memorable. Julius Randles hard foul led to a rare on-court confrontation, and the exchange quickly took on a life of its own once a hot mic caught his warning to an opposing player.
Randle still finished the game with 20 points, five rebounds and six assists, which only added to the attention around the moment. He also had his next matchup on his mind afterward, looking ahead to a game against his former team, the New York Knicks, while the Pacers were left dealing with the kind of viral scene that can linger well beyond the final buzzer. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Could Catch A Huge Break Against Atlanta Tonight
The Hawks come into tonights matchup with Indiana already shorthanded, and that matters for a Pacers team looking to steady itself early in the season. Atlanta is dealing with a cluster of availability issues, including Jalen Johnson, who is listed as questionable with a left ankle sprain, while rookie point guard Kingston Flemings is out because of suspension and center Jock Landale is sidelined with a hip strain.
For Indiana, the opening is obvious: a road game against a team trying to patch together its rotation can change quickly if the Pacers bring the right pace and pressure. Johnsons status is the biggest swing factor, especially with his uneven shooting this season, and the Hawks thin frontcourt and backcourt depth could leave them vulnerable if he cannot go. [Read more 🡒]