The Pacers are heading into a tougher Eastern Conference than the one they’ve been navigating during the Tyrese Haliburton era, and that raises a pretty natural question: who gives Indiana the most trouble when the matchup cards get dealt?
There are a few obvious candidates. The New York Knicks are the reigning NBA champions, and they’re still one of the East’s most dangerous teams.
But even with that status, they don’t automatically land at the top of the Pacers’ problem list. Indiana has handled New York in the 21st century, hasn’t lost a playoff series to the Knicks since 1999, and the source of that near-miss in that series was a phantom foul that led to a Larry Johnson 4-point play.
So yes, the Knicks bring real challenges. No, they’re not the clear answer here.
The East has also been reshaped by a wave of major moves. Giannis left Milwaukee for Miami.
LeBron left the Lakers for the 76ers. Jaylen Brown was traded from the Celtics to the 76ers for Paul George.
Kawhi Leonard will at some point join the Toronto Raptors for Brandon Ingram. Detroit finished as the No. 1 seed last season, but offseason changes and playoff issues keep the Pistons off this list.
Boston is in a similar spot, though Jayson Tatum returning at full strength and the addition of Mitchell Robinson from New York at least make them more intimidating at center. Cleveland is still working through offseason decisions, Atlanta added talent but doesn’t quite match the top-tier names, and Orlando is banking on a new coach and system to bring more out of its roster.
Still, when you strip it all down, the Pacers’ biggest issue has always been size.
That’s why Toronto stands out.
The Raptors are long, can switch 1-through-5, and have two wings who create problems on both ends. They also have a second-year forward who can affect the game in a lot of different ways.
Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Barnes have already been headaches for Indiana, and there’s no reason to think that changes. RJ Barrett has also had success against the Pacers, averaging 22.8 points per game against them in his career.
Add in Collin Murray-Boyles and the way Toronto can use him at the five spot, and the matchup gets even tougher. The Raptors took Cleveland to seven games in last year’s Round 1 loss, and they also turned Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick, who wasn’t in the rotation, into Kawhi Leonard. The expectation is that they’ll be better, and Indiana is going to feel that.
If there’s one first-round opponent the Pacers would least want in the 2027 playoffs, it’s Toronto. The belief here is still that Indiana can beat the Raptors in a seven-game series, but it would be a battle.
Another team that can make life miserable for Indiana is Detroit, especially when Haliburton is under pressure on both ends. The Pacers won three of four in the 2024-25 season, but the Pistons swept them last season when Haliburton was out. Cade Cunningham can make him work offensively, and Ausar Thompson has the defensive chops to disrupt his rhythm and keep Indiana from playing at its preferred pace.
That’s why the Pacers-Pistons matchup still has teeth, and why it could be entering a new chapter with arguably the top two guards in the East driving it.
And then there’s Philadelphia, which, if healthy, is a nightmare for just about everybody in the league - especially Indiana.
Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, and Joel Embiid is a brutal group to deal with. The 76ers’ ability to control the paint while also surrounding it with multiple perimeter threats makes them a problem even for a Pacers group built around Pascal Siakam, Tyrese Haliburton and Ivica Zubac. On a position-by-position basis, the edge goes to Philadelphia, and the combination of slower pace, multiple options and control of the glass is exactly the kind of thing that can throw Indiana off its game.
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