INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- The Indiana Pacers finished the 2014-2015 season with the ninth best record in Eastern Conference, but their 38-44 record was just not enough to make the playoffs. The Pacers had a chance to make the playoffs if they would have simply won their season finale against the Memphis Grizzlies. However, they lost the game by a score of 95-83.
Indiana was absolutely plagued with injuries last season, but every player on their current roster is fully healthy at the current moment. The Pacers didn't have Paul George, George Hill, David West, or C.J. Watson for their season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers. That is a dramatically different health situation for this upcoming season.
Indiana's roster turnover was amongst the most in the entire NBA. The Pacers decided that it was time to go through an identity change in order to compete for an NBA title in the near future. This was a large factor in the team's roster turnover, but of course, it wasn't the only reason in every individual case. Each departure had their own reasons for leaving, but that doesn't change the fact that there will be a lot of old faces in new places in 2015-2016.
The following players were members of the Indiana Pacers during the 2014-2015 season, but are on new teams: Roy Hibbert (Los Angeles Lakers - via trade), David West (San Antonio Spurs - via free agency), C.J. Watson (Orlando Magic - via free agency), Luis Scola (Toronto Raptors - via free agency), Chris Copeland (Milwaukee Bucks - via free agency), Donald Sloan (Brooklyn Nets - via free agency), and Damjan Rudez (Minnesota Timberwolves - via trade).
Indiana continued their style change by acquiring players that fit their desired style. The Pacers want to play small ball to increase their overall tempo, improve overall floor spacing, increase their speed on both ends of the floor, and to simply put more talented offensive players on the floor at the same time. Indiana understands that their offense has been a major liability in recent history, which was a major contributing factor in their decision making process this offseason. With that being said, the Pacers want to go small at the power forward position but keep using a center that can protect the rim.
The following players were members of different teams, but are now members of the Indiana Pacers for at least the 2015-2016 season: Monta Ellis (Dallas Mavericks - via free agency), Myles Turner (University of Texas - via NBA Draft), Joseph Young (Oregon University - via NBA Draft), Rakeem Christmas (Syracuse University - via trade), Chase Budinger (Minnesota Timberwolves - via trade), Jordan Hill (Los Angeles Lakers - via free agency), and Glenn Robinson III (Philadelphia 76ers - via free agency).
The Pacers are a hard team to really make predictions, but this team has a lot of great pieces that have the potential to thrive together. They might be slow out of the gate, but Indiana should at least make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. Just because a team has a better record doesn't mean that it is a better team. Indiana will most likely start slow, but finish out strong. A projected finish of a top-six seed is likely with a record of at least 45 wins.