The Indiana Pacers are 7-0 in this young season and it is looking like they're going to be a pain in the side to the defending champion Miami Heat. What makes the Pacers so annoying? Paul George has stepped his game up and is not only playing tremendous defense, but he is now the focal point of the offense. George is averaging 25.1 points per game, 4.0 assists per game, and 7.9 rebounds per game which are all higher than his career averages of 13.3/2.7/5.9. This is the best start by the Indian Pacers in the history of the franchise. Roy Hibbert is averaging 4.3 blocks per game which has to earn him the early favorite for defensive player of the year, but what the stats don't show is how many shots Hibbert has altered because of his presence in the paint.
I'm not about to say that the Pacers are going to come out the East, but they have already beaten the Chicago Bulls and the Brooklyn Nets which are supposed to be two of the powerhouses of the NBA. I believe the Pacers have the same chances that the Heat have to make the Finals. If Hibbert, George, and Lance Stephenson continue to develop and along with a very good bench that has the addition of Luis Scola on it the sky is the limit for these Indiana Pacers. Personally, I believe the loss last year in the playoffs was a lesson that the Pacers are showing that they have learned from and have put those lessons to work for them.
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