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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Jamal Shead has emerged as the intriguing part of that equation, even if his shooting numbers have not been eye-catching. His playmaking and defense stand out in a way that suggests Toronto may have a cleaner schematic fit if it keeps building around his strengths, and that has made the guard room a little more complicated than it looked a few months ago. For now, there is no official shift, but the Raptors are at least facing an internal debate that could shape how they think about the position going forward. [Read more 🡒]
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If Dick were to land with the Clippers, the fit would come with its own complications. ESPN already has him fourth on Los Angeles shooting guard depth chart behind Keaton Wagler, Bradley Beal and Benedict Mathurin, which says plenty about how crowded the backcourt could be before he even arrives. For Toronto, the larger question is whether moving on now would come too early, with the 2026-27 season still shaping up as a pivotal stretch in his development. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Fans Already Have One Early Date To Circle For Kawhi
Even with the 2026-27 schedule still months away, Raptors fans can already spot one game that will carry a little extra weight: a November 2 meeting with the Los Angeles Clippers. Any reunion with Kawhi Leonard tends to draw attention in Toronto, and this one already stands out on the calendar because of where his career has gone since that famous title run.
The wrinkle is that Leonards status is tied up in a league investigation that has delayed clarity on the trade that sent him from the Clippers to the Raptors. The expectation is that a resolution arrives before the season begins, but there is still a chance the matter stretches into the year itself, leaving one of Torontos most anticipated dates with some unfinished business attached. [Read more 🡒]