#9 Indiana Pacers: 34-38
On paper, the Indiana Pacers look like they have one of the most talented rosters in the league, but injuries and team chemistry have really hurt their chances of being successful this year. All season long, it seems like this team has underachieved, and while they have dealt with a lot injury wise to some of their best players, there seems to be some rifts in this organization.
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The coaching staff and players do not always seem to be on the same page and as a result, the Pacers have struggled to find their identity all season long. Not only did they lose T.J. Warren after just a few games this season, but who knows if Myles Turner, Malcolm Brogdon and Caris LeVert will be 100% healthy for the Pacers potential playoff run.
Turner has not played since April 18th with a partial tear of his plantar plate in his right big toe and his status moving forward is very questionable, Malcolm Brogdon has been dealing with a nagging hamstring injury over the last several weeks and Caris LeVert left Sunday’s game with a migraine.
Brogdon and LeVert are both likely to play for the Pacers when they take on the Hornets in the first play-in game of this season, but if Indiana is shorthanded in their frontcourt without Myles Turner, this could spell trouble for them given how well the Hornets attack their opponents in the paint.
The Pacers are definitely a very talented team, but things just have not clicked for them this year. It is going to be a long offseason for them, especially if they lose their first game against the Hornets and are eliminated after 48-minutes of “postseason play” this year.
