The Indiana Pacers open the 2021-22 season tonight on the road against the jump-start Charlotte Hornets.
Charlotte finished 33-39 overall and 20-22 in Eastern Conference games in the 2020-21 season. The Hornets averaged 17.7 points off of turnovers, 12.7second-chance points and 34.7 bench points last season.
Indiana went 34-38 overall and 20-22 in Eastern Conference games in the 2020-21 season. The Pacers averaged 27.4 assists per game on 43.3 made field goals last season.
The memory of an embarrassing 144-117 loss to the Indiana Pacers in the NBA play-in game last May is never far from the mind of Miles Bridges and many of his returning Charlotte Hornets teammates.
The Hornets are healthy now and have added veteran center Mason Plumlee and forward Kelly Oubre Jr. via free agency along with guard James Bouknight and forward Kai Jones in the first round of the NBA draft.
New Pacers coach Rick Carlisle believes Malcolm Brogdon is a natural in the leading role.
Brogdon’s resume includes a master’s degree in public policy and leadership from the University of Virginia and a charitable foundation that promotes education and clean water in Africa.
It just took some time for Brogdon to find his opening on the court. He wasn’t a regular starter In Milwaukee until his third season, and when he arrived in Indiana, two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo was the Pacers’ voice.
When Oladipo was traded away in January, the Pacers suddenly had a leadership void — one Pritchard believed went unfilled in part because COVID-19 restrictions prevented players from getting together in large gatherings.
The Pacers slid from third in points allowed per game to 25th last season, at 115.3 points. That’s not acceptable to Carlisle, who already has made it clear he expects Indiana to be a much better defensive team.
Center Myles Turner and two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis are back again this season and they’re already hearing the same, old question — can they play together? Carlisle insists they can while Turner and Sabonis insist they enjoy teaming up.
Injuries have prevented the Pacers from reaching their full potential in recent years and they may already be starting to take a toll this season.
T.J. Warren, Indiana’s top scorer in 2019-20, is out indefinitely as he continues to recover from left foot surgery and forward Caris LeVert was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his back.
Indiana hopes LeVert can play in tonight's season opener at Charlotte and Warren returns in weeks.
Indiana will be challenged right out of the gate, too.
There’s a four-game West Coast swing in early November with stops at Portland, Denver and Utah, followed by a home game against the 76ers and a three-game road trip against the East. The Pacers also face the Lakers and Milwaukee in Thanksgiving week. They visit Milwaukee on Dec. 15 — their third matchup against the defending champs in 66 days.
