Pacers season preview: Indiana has chance to make a leap in East

After Paul George forced his way out of town during the 2017 offseason, it would have been understandable for the Indiana Pacers to take a step backward. Instead, they improved both in the short- and long-term by acquiring Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis.

Where George saw a flawed roster, Oladipo saw opportunity and thrived, finally living up to being the No. 2 pick in the 2013 draft. Oladipo took his game to new levels en route to being named the league’s Most Improved Player, making his first All-Star Game, and earning a spot on the All-NBA Third Team and All-Defensive First Team. He set career highs with 23.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists and a league-leading 2.4 steals. Perhaps Oladipo’s most impressive accomplishment was leading Indiana to a six-win improvement over George’s final season with the Pacers.

In the playoffs, Oladipo had to shoulder a huge load for the Pacers. After leading them to a 2-1 lead over the Cavs, he combined to shoot 7-for-37 in Games 4 and 5 as LeBron James took control of the series before winning in a hard-fought Game 7.

As Oladipo tries to replicate his breakout season, he will have more help on the playmaking front from free-agent acquisition Tyreke Evans, who signed a one-year, $12 million deal. Evans stayed healthy last year with the Grizzlies and looked like the player who won Rookie of the Year back in 2010. He put up 19.4 points, 5.2 assists and 5.1 rebounds while shooting a career-best 39.9 percent on three-pointers. Evans will anchor Indiana’s bench and should help alleviate Oladipo’s ball handling duties during crunch time. If Evan can repeat his performance from last year, he will be a clear upgrade from the inconsistent Lance Stephenson.

Sharpshooting wing Doug McDermott signed a three-year, $22 million deal to help a team that finished 25^th in made threes last season. He’s a 40.3 percent three-point shooter for his career and should provide Nate McMillan with valuable depth after Indiana played essentially an eight-man rotation in the playoffs.

The Pacers bring back the same starting five from last year and the roster is filled with known quantities. One place the Pacers can look for development is the front court.

X-factor

Myles Turner took a step backward last season, as his points, rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage decreased in his third year. As seen on social media throughout the offseason, he committed himself to getting into better shape. It certainly paid off on this preseason dunk:

Yet despite the highlight dunk and new physique, his preseason performance was underwhelming. He shot just 35 percent from the field in three games. The Pacers gave him a four-year, $72 million extension, and Turner is the biggest variable on the roster. With a 7-foot-4 wingspan and three-point range on his jump shot, he has the natural abilities and skills to be an ideal modern big. If he bounces back this season, he could help the Pacers enter the conversation among the East’s elite.

Outlook

With James’ departure to the West, the East is a wide-open race for the first time in nearly a decade. The Celtics, Raptors and 76ers project to be the Pacers’ top competition, while Giannis Antetokounmpo could carry the Bucks into contention for a top-four seed as well.

The Pacers won 48 games last season and have a better roster this year thanks to the additions of Evans and McDermott. Young big men Turner and Sabonis each have room to grow this year. The Pacers are a little light on perimeter shooting, but they don’t have a glaring weakness.

Unlike the other teams at the top of the East, the Pacers only have one star player. The Celtics, 76ers and Raptors all have at least two players that will be in contention for All-Star spots this season. Oladipo is the only realistic candidate in Indiana. Evans will help take some pressure off him, but Oladipo won’t have the benefit of a true second star when he has an off night.

The Pacers will try to make up for a shortage of star power with their impressive depth. Home-court advantage is a realistic goal for this group and they have the talent make any series competitive in the East.