Completely overlooked, the Pacers transformed their defensive-minded team into one of the most balanced rosters in the NBA
Heading into last season, the Indiana Pacers were one of the biggest questions in the NBA. Could Paul George recover from his leg injury? How would Coach Frank Vogel deal with the loss of defensive anchor Roy Hibbert and leader David West? With all the changes, Vogel remained confident and explained, “There will be some challenges, but that’s what coaching is about, adjusting.”
After four straight years of win increases (32, 37, 42, 48, 56) and two consecutive conference final showdowns against the Miami Heat, the defensive-minded Pacers had completely collapsed and missed the playoffs during the previous season.