ESPN just released their expert NBA predictions for next year, and they expect decent things for next year’s Pacers. The panel didn’t find the Pacers to be world beaters, but it did predict a playoff finish and an identical record for the Pacers as last year: 45-37. That would put Indiana, by their forecast, as finishing as tied for fourth place, with the Detroit Pistons, in a weakened East.
If we take last year’s prediction into account, ESPN was 6 wins and a playoff birth off when it comes to Indiana. So that means this year’s Pacers team should win 51 games and a title, right?