After parting with longtime franchise player Paul George, Indiana expected a slow turnaround, and was projected as a bottom feeder in the Eastern Conference. But thanks to the major breakthrough of young guard Victor Oladipo, the Indiana Pacers outplayed expectations in 2017-18. In the end, the Pacers finished 48-34—good for fifth in the East—and pushed the eventual conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in the first round. But after a surprising year with low expectations, the league will be ready for the upstart Pacers this year.
The Indiana Pacers came close to knocking out the Cavaliers in the first round, and Victor Oladipo feels his team deserves some props: https://t.