When Paul George suffered a compound fracture in his lower right leg on August 1 of last summer for the chance to represent the United States in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, no one felt it more than the city of Indianapolis.
George’s injury disrupted the flow of what the Pacers were aiming for after their strong performance in the 2013-14 NBA campaign, when they had one of the best records in basketball before narrowly falling in the Eastern Conference Finals. As a result of George’s lengthy stint on the shelf, the franchise endured a lost season that featured a berth in the lottery rather than the playoffs.
At the very least, the 25-year-old Pacers star did manage to return to the hardwood just before the end of the season, despite all initial indications being that he’d miss the entire year. That could be huge for the club’s prospects entering the upcoming season, which could once again directly be tied to George’s health.
As of now, Pacers tickets are clocking in with relatively low pricing, as their games thus far are averaging just $164.11 on the season. That could be a huge bargain if Indiana returns to where it was prior to George’s scary injury, and it’s certainly possible despite the loss of some key players like David West and Roy Hibbert. That’s because of the team’s prized acquisition this offseason, Monta Ellis, who is one of the most electric and consistent scorers in all of basketball. His addition alone has Pacers faithful amped for the upcoming campaign, and out-of-town fans will certainly want in on the action. Fortunately, that can be done with ease by utilizing Hipmunk.com, which has flights to Indianapolis from most major airline carriers. Furthermore, Hipmunk has a Indianapolis hotel guide with rooms starting at $62, for those fans wanting to experience a true basketball getaway.
A memorable staple of Indiana’s recent success prior to last season was their playoff battles with the Miami Heat, and the first time they’ll clash this year will be on November 6 in an early-season showdown. While LeBron James is no longer with the Heat like he was during those eventful playoff battles, the fact remains that both Miami and Indiana will be strong suitors for a lower-seeded playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.
The Pacers will get their shot at James and Co. only a couple of days later on November 8, however, when the club travels to Cleveland for what surely will be an entertaining contest. The other team in last year’s NBA Finals, the defending champion Golden State Warriors, will see the Pacers on December 8 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in what will be a true measuring stick for the organization.
Another significant regular season game that fans will want to attend occurs on February 8, when the Los Angeles Lakers come to town. This is one of the most important games for the season, as it’s the Lakers’ only trip to Indiana in what might be the final season for superstar Kobe Bryant.
With a roster revolving around Ellis and George, the Pacers have a nice foundation to build off of. They have some decent role players, such as Rodney Stuckey and George Hill, and if they can quickly get in the groove that they were in not long ago at all, Indiana could end up being one of the true dark horses in the East. They’re certainly a team to watch at full health.