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Like many narratives, the best way to start is with the conclusion.
For the Indiana Pacers, the significant ending that shapes their current situation occurred 53 weeks ago, when the formidable Boston Celtics, cruising through a 16-3 playoff run to claim the 2024 NBA championship, defeated the Pacers in a four-game sweep.
Rather than being a true victory for the Celtics, it felt more like a gentle acknowledgment of the Indiana squad that reached the Eastern Conference finals prematurely. The Pacers were underprepared, youthful, and defensively vulnerable—Boston outscored them 133, 126, 114, and 105 in last year’s sweep—and they were caught off guard after knocking off Milwaukee and New York as a sixth seed.
To the casual observer, this year’s Pacers team might appear quite similar. They’re still youthful, still capable of rapid scoring, and still making their way through the Eastern Conference as the fourth seed, recently defeating Cleveland in the semifinals and the No. 3 Knicks just last week.
However, those within the Pacers organization don’t perceive themselves as merely overachieving.
From last spring’s experience and feedback, they have evolved, matured, and transformed. Some improvements are subtle but noticeable, while others stem from hard work and focused practice sessions.
The Pacers also enjoy a strong sense of continuity, though there is a marked difference in their expectations.
“We reached the same point last year but fell short; we’ve put in a lot of effort to return,” said Tyrese Haliburton, the point guard and team leader.
“The commitment from everyone has been tremendous. Last year, the narrative was that we couldn’t win because we lacked defensive capabilities and only focused on outscoring our opponents.”
Last year, Indiana averaged a remarkable 123.3 points per game but allowed 120.2, earning them a sixth-place finish with 47 wins. This season, they have reduced their defensive allowances by more than five points per game. Though they slipped from second to ninth in offensive efficiency (points per 100 possessions), they showed improvement on defense, moving up from 24th to 14th.
“Our defense has been a primary focus for over a year and a half,” coach Rick Carlisle mentioned. “Last season began with a completely different approach. We played smaller and faster, and while we didn’t have the strongest defenders, that’s changed as we’ve improved and added bigger defenders like Pascal [Siakam, acquired in a February 2024 trade]. Everyone has embraced the importance of defense, contributing to this development.”
Haliburton, who is a lanky 6-foot-5, is still developing, but the key players in Indiana’s rotation possess solid defensive traits. Siakam, a quick and agile 6-foot-9, brings impressive mobility and wingspan. Myles Turner remains a formidable presence at the rim, and Aaron Nesmith effectively shadows the top scorers of opposing teams while contributing offensively as well.
Andrew Nembhard, a valuable combo guard drafted 31st overall in 2022, has improved defensively each season. In the pivotal Game 6 against New York last Saturday, with Nesmith nursing an ankle sprain from earlier in the series, it was Nembhard who disrupted Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson’s rhythm. After struggling in the first five games, the 6-foot-5 Florida native and Gonzaga standout delivered 14 points, eight assists, and six steals in the clincher.
Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson was impressed by Indiana’s relentless defense: “Their intensity lasts a long time. They apply full-court pressure and maintain consistent effort throughout the game. It’s difficult to achieve, and I commend them for it. They bring extreme ball pressure.”
The heavily favored No. 1 seed was unexpectedly eliminated by Indiana after the Pacers won all three of their games at Cleveland. This should no longer catch anyone off guard this season for the Pacers, as they’ve been showing their potential for some time now.
“We’ve made significant strides defensively as a group,” Haliburton noted. “Andrew, Aaron, and Myles are leading that charge, and Siakam and I are following their example, amplifying our efforts on that end. Our bench consistently brings energy, contributing to our improvement defensively, which is a key reason we’re here.”
Carlisle added, “People often look at playoff success through the lens of scoring achievements and triple-doubles. However, the decisive moments in a series can often be traced back to plays that exemplify hustle for loose balls.”
Offensively, they also collaborate effectively, with seven players contributing at least ten points per game. The Pacers have been particularly challenging to beat when Haliburton (25-3), Siakam (26-16), or Turner (13-2) scores 20 or more, and they pose a threat when Nembhard (9-5) or Nesmith (10-3) reaches 15 or more points.
“We stand out from every other team in the NBA,” Haliburton said while in the midst of the Cavaliers series. “We don’t rely on one primary scorer. We find ways to defeat teams through various strategies, ensuring the ball flows to players in position to make shots and create plays.”
Fans packed into Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, along with viewers tuning in from across the globe, have witnessed the gradual emergence of the Pacers. One week into December, they had a disappointing 10-15 record, sitting in 10th place. As 2025 began, their record was slightly improved at 16-18.
After that juncture, however, everything clicked, and Indiana finished the regular season with a record of 34-14 while also boasting a playoff record of 12-4. Their combined total of 46-18 since January 1 ranks them second, only behind Oklahoma City’s impressive 53-13 record, although the Thunder were strong from the start, closing December with 27 wins against only five losses.
In the Finals, the Pacers find themselves as the clear underdogs. This status is well-recognized by bookmakers and reflected in all performance metrics the NBA utilizes for evaluation. Despite the pre-series predictions favoring the Thunder, that’s all in the past.
As the championship series unfolds over the span of four to seven games, Indiana now has the freedom and chances to exceed expectations and produce surprises once again.
It’s certainly a promising position to be in.
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Steve Aschburner has been an NBA writer since 1980. You can reach him via email here, check out his archived articles here, and follow him on X.
The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of the NBA, its teams, or Warner Bros. Discovery.
