Entering the new NBA season, where do the Indiana Pacers rank in the Eastern Conference?
The Indiana Pacers will be coming into the 2026-27 NBA season ready to prove themselves once again after a horrible 2025-26 year.
Indiana went from making the NBA Finals to winning just 19 games last season. Much of this was due to star guard Tyrese Haliburton being out for the entire season due to injury, but the Pacers just couldn't find the magic from the previous year.
But Haliburton is healthy now and ready to get this team back to the promised land. Adding to that, Indiana made some moves around Haliburton, including trading for center Ivica Zubac and signing forward Kelly Oubre Jr., among others, and the Pacers could be contenders again.
Pascal Siakam will also be back, giving Haliburton the co-star that he needs for this team to thrive. But with the star returning to the court this season, where do the Pacers rank in terms of the Eastern Conference?
Since Haliburton has been out, multiple teams have gotten much better. Indiana could be facing an uphill battle this season, even with the guard back.
So, when looking at the East as a whole, if the Pacers are healthy, they currently rank for me as the fourth-best team. Indiana comes in behind the New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Knicks are the defending champions, and until someone knocks them off, they will be viewed as the favorites to repeat from the East. New York's rivalry with the Pacers should make these matchups fun again this year, adding more intrigue to everything.
Philadelphia beefed up its roster this offseason, adding both Jaylen Brown and LeBron James, among other depth pieces. The 76ers look like a real threat entering the season, but health will be a big factor for them.
And finally, for the Cavaliers, they bring back Donovan Mitchell and James Harden as the catalysts of the team. But adding star defensive forward Peyton Watson could make Cleveland even tougher to deal with.
Indiana won't be scared of any of these teams coming into the year. But it may take them some time to get into full form since Haliburton hasn't played in so long.
The Pacers should be right back in the conversation to represent the East in the NBA Finals this year, if they can stay healthy. This group seems to have a chip on its shoulder after how last season went, and this could fuel around deep playoff run for the organization.
