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| Pascal Siakim. Photo Credit: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images. |
“Oh my god, would you look at the poo-poo?”
-Bill Cosby, Bill Cosby: Himself
Wow. I was not expecting this. I knew after it was announced in July that Tyrese Haliburton was out for the season with a torn ACL, that things would be a little rough, but I didn’t think it would be this bad.
Along with Haliburton’s injury, there were other key injuries that occurred as well. So, I wasn’t expecting them to have the same season as, say, OKC (Thunder) — which they had their fair share of key injuries as well — but they still had the talent to at least be competitive — or so I thought.
The season was over by December. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Pacers team that was this bad. However, there were some bright spots in the season: one, they didn’t break the record for the most losses in one season because for a second there, it looked like they were going to at that time.
Two, the trade for Ivica Zubac. The only problem I had with it was the first round picks they gave up, although the one this year is protected. Three, there were some hidden gems it looks they have uncovered — something the Pacers have a penchant for — more on them in a little bit.
Finally, a possible fourth and best bright spot is if they’re able to keep that pick, which means they’re picking in the Top Four of the draft. This makes me wonder if there was some tanking going on, which I’m not a fan of. I think that’s pathetic and non-competitive, to say the least, but that’s another story.
Going back to the hidden gems, or at least what could be hidden gems, these players were most surprising this year:
1.) Jalen Slawson- I’m not sure who he is exactly, but from looking at his numbers, he filled the stat sheet across the board when he received minutes. Now, stats doesn’t always tell the whole story, however, it can also give you an idea about a player as well. Numbers are tricky like that sometimes. If he can continue that type of play, he’s definitely a keeper moving forward.
2. ) Kobe Brown- a former first round pick who was included with the trade for Zubac, Kobe was another player put up decent numbers when given minutes. He looks like he can be a solid backup and possibly at least an adequate spot starter moving forward.
Honorable Mention: Kam Jones, Quenton Jackson, and Micah Potter.
The most disappointing, to me, was Ben Sheppard. With the injuries to Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard, who was injured most of the season, I looked at this as an opportunity for Sheppard to step up and show what he can do with more minutes, but for the most part, he disappointed me. I wasn’t expecting him to be an All-Star, but I thought he would be better than he showed.
Now that the season is over, and it couldn’t have come fast enough, as far as I’m concerned, with a healthy Tyrese Haliburton returning, along with the acquisitions that was made during the season, and the guys I mentioned before who showed promise, not to mention there’s still the draft and free agency, I’m expecting the Pacers to bounce back better and stronger than ever next season and onward.
