Two weeks ago, before it was known that the Pacers would once again need to re-calibrate around the absence of Victor Oladipo, the NBA revealed its schedule to close out the 2019-20 season. Then seen as an opportunity to assess the once high-octane guard’s rehab progress while also gearing up for the playoffs, the eight-game slate, as well as whatever follows next, now feels significantly less informative in terms of gauging the team’s overall ceiling — depending upon whether or not he plays.
That said, though Indiana will be without the benefit of Jeremy Lamb as a temporary stop-gap measure in either event, there is still much that the Pacers can learn about themselves in the present even if their future remains stuck on pause.