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| Indiana Pacers |
The NBA pre- season is coming
up in a couple weeks, and besides being excited to see the Raptors play again
after their great last season. I asked myself how are the Indiana Pacers going
to stay competitive without their two most dynamic players? Paul George and Lance Stephenson. George who
broke his tibia and fibula during a scrimmage with his USA teammates for the
World Cup, and is expected to be out for the upcoming season. Stephenson who
decided to opt out of the final year of his contract and sign with the
Charlotte Hornets for 3 years. Losing both guys will set Indiana Back for sure,
because they brought so much offensively and defensively. Stephenson led the
league in triple doubles and was a great playmaker and agitator on defense.
Paul George started to come into his own last year as a rising superstar; he
made the all-star team for the second year in a row. George handled most of the
offensive load for the Pacers and was a big part of their highly ranked
defense.
But the pacers can’t focus on
all the bad things that happened this off-season for them. They still have a
capable starting lineup and a couple players off the bench that can give them
good minutes. All-Star Roy Hibbert is going to have to pick up the slack
offensively now, with the departure of George and Stephenson. As Hibbert had
one of his worst career years last year. Starting point guard George Hill and starting power forward David West will also have to pick some of the slack along with Hibbert. Indiana also picked up two veterans to
help them off the bench or come in to start if they need them. C.J miles the sharpshooting
shooting guard/ small forward and Rodney Stuckey the slashing scrappy point
guard/ shooting guard. These two additions could help the pacers pick up their
offense, and if they can contribute on the defensive end that would help even more.
Its safe to say that this year should be
an interesting one for the Pacers. This year the Eastern Conference is up for
the taking.
