The Indiana Pacers began the season with a 1-9 record, tied for the second-worst in the NBA with the Brooklyn Nets).
For a team that just made it to the NBA Finals less than a year ago, this is a major fall from grace. And for most teams, this would be a massive concern. But in Indiana's case, it might be the exact opposite.
The Pacers' struggles aren't a coincidence. They are currently without Tyrese Haliburton, who is going to miss the entire season due to an Achilles injury. Plus, the team is still figuring out its ideal center solution after Myles Turner left in free agency. This was always going to lead to some trial and error, which would lower Indiana's ceiling for this season.
However, the team is in a much worse position than anybody could have expected due to the injuries they have dealt with.
Andrew Nembhard, T.J. McConnell, Bennedict Mathurin, and Obi Toppin have all missed significant time early in the season due to injuries. Because of this, it has become much more difficult for the Pacers to find continuitiy and work on their chemistry this season with everybody taking on bigger roles.
Indiana will likely get back on track eventually once it gets healthy again. However, even in a best-case scenario, another deep playoff run isn't likely for the team. And given how great the 2026 NBA Draft is expected to be, it might actually be a good thing that they are struggling as badly as they are as they [could have a unique opportunity](https://8points9seconds.com/pacers-rare-opportunity-redefine-tyrese-haliburton-era) to reshape their roster and impact their long-term outlook for the better.
The Pacers' losses are more like wins this season
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Tanking is not in the Pacers' identity, and it never will be. But to be fair, [it's not really tanking](https://8points9seconds.com/pacers-already-facing-false-narratives-amid-disappointing-start) when they have so much adversity to overcome anyway.
Fans had already accepted this, but the Pacers are not going to compete for a championship this season. Most believed this even in the offseason, but their slow start has made this more of a fact than an expectation. And, even if they do find their groove, the Pacers' ceiling is still much lower than teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, and even the Detroit Pistons, who began the season 9-2.
However, after this season, this could be a different story.
Indiana still has an incredibly bright future. The roster consists of a good balance of young and hungry players, as well as seasoned vets who have bought into the team's system. Plus, if enough players can make the jumps necessary this season, they should only be in an even better situation once Haliburton returns.
It remains to be seen exactly when it will happen, but it's fair to assume that another deep playoff run (if not at least another NBA Finals appearance) is on the horizon for the Pacers. But it's not going to happen this season.
At this point, Indiana is in serious "danger" of missing the playoffs this season. Instead, the team might once again be lottery-bound. And at the rate they're going, they could be in the AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, or Cameron Boozer sweepstakes.
The Pacers have prided themselves on exceeding expectations and being resilient until the end. But at least for this season, they may find themselves on the opposite side. And it might be what ultimately helps them win their first-ever NBA championship in the future.