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2012-13 NBA Preview: Indiana Pacers
- Updated: October 15, 2012
2. Indiana Pacers
HOW THEY CAN WIN: The Pacers have a truckload of talented players who have all bought into head coach Frank Vogel’s system. You won’t see too many of them in shoe commercials or on the cover of NBA 2K13, but this group fits together and compliments each other’s talents as well as any in the league. Danny Granger (18.7 ppg, 5 rpg) is a solid lead guy, and Paul George (12.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg), David West (12.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg) and Roy Hibbert (12.8 ppg, 8.8 rpg) are formidable up front. But the best thing about the Pacers is that they defend, ranking among the league’s stingiest teams.
WHY THEY WON’T: Indiana should have dethroned the Heat when it had the chance in Game 4 of their playoff series last year. But the Pacers didn’t have that one guy who could will them past the Heat, even with Dwyane Wade struggling like A-Rod at that time. That needs to change this year.
FINAL DESTINATION: This ranking isn’t as much of a celebration of the Pacers as it is an indictment of the East. Someone will need to step up in crunch time if Indiana wants to do the unthinkable and extinguish the Heat.
OUR CALL: 53-29. Fueled by the conference semifinals meltdown against the Heat, the Pacers are ready for a breakout regular season.
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