Pacers Opener: Five Things to Watch For

The Indiana Pacers are back in action for the first time in the regular season tomorrow night in Toronto, and here are five things to watch for.

1) The offense in full flow
Things are for real tomorrow, and every game counts. After not experiencing Pacers basketball for so long the preseason was welcomed greatly, and with it, the changes that Indiana experienced in the offseason. No Hibbert, no West, and a whole different look.

One thing I’m very much looking forward to during the season as a whole and beginning tomorrow night is the offense. We got a preview against a few teams in games that didn’t much matter earlier this month, but against a very good Toronto team it will be intriguing to see how the Blue & Gold line up and where everyone starts for the first of 82 games.

2) The bigs on both ends
Ian Mahinmi, Lavoy Allen, and Myles Turner have a lot of responsibility on their shoulders this season as Indiana is without a big name center for the first time since Roy was drafted and traded to Indianapolis.

Mahinmi was one of the leading rebounders for the Pacers in preseason, but the team will need big contributions from a few guys who will be called on to step up more than ever. For one of those three – Myles Turner – it means stepping up right away. Turner has been listed as questionable heading into tomorrow night but will hopefully see a few minutes on the floor anyway.

3) Rookie adjustments
We covered Myles Turner, but let’s not forget Joe Young, who will be coming off the bench as the Pacers #2 (or #3) point guard depending on who all is on the floor. Young has been widely regarded as one of the biggest steals of this year’s draft, but without seeing anyone in action during games that count it’s quite preemptive to dub him as such. Hopefully, the Oregon alum will contribute to the degree many believe he is capable of.

4) Tough start
The Pacers opening five games are against four projected playoff teams for the coming season – Toronto, Memphis, Utah, Detroit, and Boston – the Jazz being the only team in that group who is unlikely to step up. Some will question whether Detroit has what it takes to break the Eastern Conference’s longest-running streak of missed playoff appearances, but all-in-all it spells a tough opening for the Pacers.

Toronto is projected to finish near the top of the East, as is Boston, and never count out the Grizzlies for a solid campaign. Indiana will need to keep level heads going into what could be a difficult starting stretch in a long season.

5) Paul George
Last but certainly not least is how Indiana’s (potential) MVP candidate Paul George will start the year. He looked great in preseason, but a lot of pundits and experts don’t believe he’ll ever be the player he was prior to the injury last August.

George is in a difficult position – trying to lead a team stripped of it’s biggest assets back to the playoffs, all while trying to prove that he’s still a worthy mention as a top-five player in the NBA. Fortunately for the Pacers, he may be able to accomplish both at once.

The season begins tomorrow night against the Raptors in Toronto with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 pm.

Next: Pacers Mailbag: Your Questions Answered

More from Ink on Indy

Home/Indiana Pacers