ESPN predicts Indiana Pacers will improve slightly, be play-in team in 2023-24

ESPN and its panel of NBA experts predicted the standings for the Eastern Conference in 2023-24 as a part of its Summer Forecast series, and the Indiana Pacers are seen as a team that could take a step forward in the coming season.

Indiana is fresh off of a 35-47 season, and they finished 11th in the East. They were right in the thick of the play-in race until early April, but the Chicago Bulls officially were out of reach with a few games to go. That sent the team to the draft lottery.

Now, the Pacers are thinking playoffs. They haven't been to the postseason in over three years, but the team has shared that's where they want to be in 2024. Forward Jordan Nwora made that clear last week, echoing comments from All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton in May.

"I need to be in there, I need to be in the playoffs. That's the goal," Haliburton said at the NBA Draft Lottery. He watched every postseason game he could and would share thoughts with Indiana's coaches and front office members.

According to ESPN's projections, the Pacers will have an outside shot at making the playoffs, but they may have to battle through the play-in tournament. Their panel of experts predicts that the blue and gold will finish the season at 38-44 — ninth in the Eastern Conference.

That would put Indiana in the lower bracket of the play-in, where they would need to win two consecutive games to reach the postseason. It has happened before, but it is difficult — the Pacers themselves fell just short of the playoffs as the ninth seed in 2021.

"I think for us, it's making the playoffs and just really taking that big step forward," Nwora said of the team's goals.

ESPN's forecast has the Pacers leapfrogging the Bulls and Toronto Raptors in the standings, who both finished as play-in squads last year. Both of those teams are projected to finish within two wins of Indiana, however. The battle for the final postseason spots will be close.

The Pacers added Bruce Brown, Obi Toppin, Jarace Walker, and Ben Sheppard this offseason. Those new players, combined with internal development from youngsters like Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin, Andrew Nembhard, and Aaron Nesmith should lead to more victories for the team in 2023-24. The question is how many, and that will define the Pacers next steps in their roster build.

According to ESPN, that number of added wins will be three. Most sportsbooks project something similar. If the Pacers have it their way, though, that number will be much higher.

Catching up with Indiana Pacers forward Jordan Nwora: On his offseason, team goals, and more. CLICK HERE.
Indiana Pacers 2023-24 Schedule: Full dates, opponents announced. CLICK HERE.
Myles Turner talks about the Pacers offseason, his growth, and more at his basketball camp. CLICK HERE.
How Ben Sheppard can help the Indiana Pacers. CLICK HERE.
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