The Pacers look built to push back toward the top of the East, but the climb comes with real traps.
Start with the biggest one: Tyrese Haliburton’s health. Everything Indiana wants to do flows through him.
He’s the one setting the pace, stretching defenses with logo threes, and forcing opponents into panic mode once he breaks the first wave of pressure. When Haliburton is right, the whole offense opens up.
When he’s not, the ceiling drops fast.
That’s why the injury history looms so large. Haliburton couldn’t finish the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals after leaving Game 2 with a hamstring injury, and that was the same issue that had already cost him 10 games earlier in the season.
Then in 2025, well...we all know what happened in Game 7 and don't need to rehash that. The hope is that this year off helped him strengthen his body and, in turn, stay healthier for the kind of playoff run Indiana wants.
But the reality is still the same: if he gets hurt again, the Pacers can’t win it all without him.
The road itself is another problem. Even with home court advantage, Indiana could be staring at a brutal list of opponents before it ever gets to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes, LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, and Joel Embiid are all names that could be waiting somewhere along the way. That means there’s no cushion, no easy stretch, no room to coast from the middle of April through June.
A good series might not even be enough.
Depth is usually one of Indiana’s selling points, but that edge could soften too. T.J.
McConnell has been one of the best backup point guards in the league, yet the question is whether age eventually starts to catch him this season. Bennedict Mathurin was traded away in the Ivica Zubac trade, and his impact in the 2025 postseason showed exactly what Indiana lost, even if he wasn’t consistent.
That puts pressure on Kelly Oubre Jr. to carry more of the bench scoring load, unless Siakam’s minutes are staggered enough to give the second unit a steady lift.
There’s also a real question at backup center. Jay Huff is being asked to anchor the second unit’s frontcourt defense, and the source of the concern is simple: his past experience hasn’t come in a role this important.
Obi Toppin stands out as the safest bench option, with McConnell right behind him. If Oubre settles into the role, and if Walker and/or Sheppard improve, the group should hold.
But if not, Indiana may have a weakness that has to be fixed before the trade deadline.
There are other names waiting for a chance, too. Johnny Furphy, Larry Nance Jr., and Quenton Jackson will be ready if they’re on the outside looking in, and Furphy’s return from injury would give the team another young wing to work with. Still, none of them plays like Mathurin did, and to a smaller degree, Thomas Bryant.
Even with those concerns, the Pacers are in position to challenge the best teams in the East. They’ve got a roster built around Haliburton and Siakam, a coach in Rick Carlisle who knows how to pull the right levers, and a group that should keep getting sharper if it stays healthy and continues to mesh.
The Zubac fit isn’t viewed as a problem, either. Haliburton brings out the best in centers, and with Zubac’s screening, passing, rebounding, and defense, the addition is seen as a plus, not a question.
In Other News...
Tyrese Haliburtons Latest Pacers Crossover Is Pure Tyrese Era Energy
The Pacers have spent the year feeling a little more plugged into the pop-culture conversation than most NBA teams, and Tyrese Haliburton has been right at the center of it. Rob49s 2025 single "WTHELLY," featuring G Herbo, picked up plenty of traction online while name-checking the All-Star, then started showing up in a more visible way around Indiana basketball, with the rapper eventually taking in Pacers games from courtside and the phrase finding its way into interviews with Haliburton and Pascal Siakam.
What makes the whole thing fit the Haliburton era is how naturally it has spilled beyond a one-off mention and into the teams everyday conversation. Pacers senior vice president Tyler Beadlescomb has been vocal about appreciating the songs reach, and John Haliburton has publicly backed it too, adding to the sense that this crossover has become part of the Pacers broader brand rather than just a passing novelty. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Starting Five Is Earning Hype They Now Have To Justify
The buzz around Indianas starting group has picked up in a big way, and it is not hard to see why. NBA analyst Greg Swartz recently slotted the Pacers projected first five fourth among league lineups after LeBron James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, pointing to a group that should have plenty of size, playmaking and scoring balance. The expected starters are Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac, a mix that gives Indiana a very different look entering next season.
Now comes the harder part: turning that optimism into proof on the floor. The Pacers have added more depth this offseason with Kelly Oubre Jr. and Larry Nance Jr., and the front office already paid a protected first-round pick to bring Zubac over from the Los Angeles Clippers. Hype is easy in July, but for a team drawing this much attention, the real challenge will be making sure the chemistry and production match the ranking once games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Have A Rotation Debate That Could Reshape Key Roles
The Pacers are heading into a rotation conversation that could shape more than just nightly substitutions. With five starters expected to log 35 or more minutes apiece, there simply is not much room left for the second unit, and the addition of Kelly Oubre Jr. only tightens a bench picture that already includes returning pieces like TJ McConnell and Obi Toppin.
What makes it trickier is how many players are fighting for the same sliver of court time. Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard are among the names trying to carve out a role, and both are restricted free agents next summer, which only adds another layer to the decision-making. For Indiana, this is less about filling minutes than sorting out which young players can still be part of the long-term picture when the rotation gets squeezed. [Read more 🡒]