Call it whatever you want, this is a “development” year for the Indiana Pacers.
Success will be defined less by wins and losses and more by the steps taken by “core” players. In other words, no one is really going to care if Al Jefferson‘s weight loss proves effective (Sorry Al, we’re all pulling for you).
The biggest win for Indiana would be if one of the young guns on the roster takes a big leap and makes a name for himself on the national stage. A significant improvement from any of the following breakout candidates would go a long way towards inspiring hope in the future of Pacers basketball
I decided against including any rookies, partially because I think it’s highly unlikely that any of Indiana’s first-year guys will breakout and partially because we don’t have a previous year to compare results to.