INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers saw their season end with a 105-102 loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday.
The Celtics swept the best-of-seven series, but the Pacers overcame expectations by making it to the conference finals where they played the Celtics close in three of the games. According to NBA.com, the Week 1 power rankings had the Pacers as the 20th team in the league.
Add in the fact the Pacers were supposed to be in a rebuilding phase and fans probably didn’t expect this roster to reach the conference finals for the first time since 2014.
“Getting this franchise back into the playoffs and making a run to the Eastern Conference Finals when not a single person had us go in there,” Pacers guard T.J. McConnell said. “It was really fun just to play alongside the group.”
The season began as an up-and-down journey for Indiana as it started 16-14.
However, the second half of the campaign is when things started to click. In the Pacers’ run to capture the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference, play improved, and with the acquisition of forward Pascal Siakam from Toronto, Indiana found another key piece that fit nicely alongside franchise guard Tyrese Haliburton.
“I don’t know what more I can say about Pascal,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “[He was] just tremendous.”
Siakam averaged 21.7 points and 7.1 rebounds in the regular season. In the playoffs, the 6-foot-8 forward averaged 21.6 and 7.5.
“It’s been a crazy year. I came from a place where I thought I was going to spend the rest of my career,” Siakam said. “… But [Indiana’s] support from the first day has been incredible. I couldn’t really ask for anything better.
“I’m grateful and happy that I came to a place where we just feel so supported and you feel like you’re needed and you matter.”
While the addition of Siakam helped Indiana — which finished the regular season 47-35 — throughout the second half of the season, it was a team effort. Haliburton — who finished the playoffs averaging 18.7 points and 8.2 assists — was named to his first NBA All-Star Game and was a member of the All-NBA Third Team. He was also selected to represent the United States in the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Though he had a recurring hamstring injury throughout the season — which kept him out of Games 3 and 4 against Boston — Carlisle is not worried.
“[I have] zero concerns about his game. He’s a great young player and had some bad luck with injuries,” Carlisle said. “This summer, he’s going to devote a lot of it to one, getting healthy, and two, continuing to get stronger.”
The other Pacers are not worried about his status. either, as they know his work ethic and the attitude he brings every day.
“He’s the franchise guy for a reason,” McConnell said.
Even in Haliburton’s absence at times, Indiana found ways to stay afloat. In the guard position, guys like McConnell — who averaged 11.8 points — and Andrew Nembhard — who had 32 and 24 points in Games 3 and 4 — brought a new spark to the floor. But it wasn’t just guards who stepped up.
Myles Turner — the longest-tenured Pacer (drafted in 2015) — had never been past the first round. With multiple trade rumors and other obstacles occurring throughout his career, he admits there have been some struggles in his 10-year stand.
“To be frank, I have been through a lot of bulls–t since I’ve been here. I’ve been battling sometimes with non-believers and having to deal with all the trade rumors, seeing another big man signed right in front of my eyes,” he said.
“But it never deterred my professionalism or my path because I was brought here for a reason. No matter what was thrown in front of me, I will continue to be the consummate professional and the man that I am.”
While the season came to a close, there is only the future. Siakam and forward Obi Toppin are set to be free agents this summer, with Indiana reportedly having interest in Siakam’s return. There is also the draft and free agency, which the Pacers could use to try to repeat the success. However, doing so is not so easy for Siakam.
“After a season like this, to be like ‘Oh, man, we’re so close. I’m gonna get back to that,’ but it’s not guaranteed. And I’ve known that firsthand. I feel encouraged, but I think it’s a lot of work,” he said.
“We’ve got to get better as a team and as an organization.”
