Entering a shortened 66-game schedule, Indiana’s youth and depth may pay heavy dividends this season. The Pacers host the Detroit Pistons tonight for their season-opener.
The 2011-12 Indiana Pacers make their debut tonight at the newly renamed Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
The Pacers made plenty of changes that they hope will result in their first winning record since the 2004-05 season, six years ago. First, head coach Frank Vogel and his staff make their debut together, led by associate head coach Brian Shaw. Vogel took over mid-year last season after Jim O’Brien’s was fired. He did a tremendous job keeping the team together and focused. The team made the playoffs but lost in five games to the Chicago Bulls.
In the offseason, Larry Bird traded for the rights of Indy-native George Hill and acquired power forward David West. For the first time in a while, starting positions will be up for grabs and debatable.
Hill hopes to prove he’s worthy of the starting point guard position over Darren Collison, and he might be. Tyler Hansbrough was the most outstanding Pacers player in the two preseason games and made his case to start at power forward. Regardless of the order, Indiana’s second unit will have more talent and should outplay most opposing teams.
I’m anxious to see Roy Hibbert’s progress from the offseason where he worked with many centers like Tim Duncan and Bill Walton. Entering his fourth-season, Hibbert takes his position seriously and is willing to do whatever it takes to improve. Not only is he a great player, but he is a better teammate and role model for aspiring players.
The east is very strong, led by the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls, but the Pacers have strengths that can play to their advantage. I project the Pacers will finish no lower than fifth in the Eastern Conference and there’s no reason to believe they can’t end the season as high as third.
It’s an exciting time for Indianapolis and Pacers fans.
With the Colts having their worst year in a decade, this is the time for the Pacers to capitalize. The Pacers are finally relevant again and fans are anxious to embrace the blue and gold.
They have created a new culture, with their own players that are all about winning. They are willing to put their egos aside for the greater good of the team.
And if you hadn’t heard, Conseco Fieldhouse is now Bankers Life Fieldhouse. I don’t like it, it doesn’t have a ring to it, and it will mostly confuse the heck out of Indy residents but CNO Financial Group (formerly Conseco) decided to change the name. This is the first big event at the Fieldhouse.