NBA Season Preview: Pacers

Mark Rawden, and his associates over at Examiner.com (http://www.examiner.com), are running their own NBA Season Preview for each team in the NBA prior to the beginning of the regular season. Here's a look at the the 2009-10 Indiana Pacers, and a Q&A with Examiner Kyle Winslow: (http://www.examiner.com/x-10630-Boston-Celtics-Examiner~y2009m10d4-NBA-Season-Preview-QA-with-Indiana-Pacers-Examiner-Kyle-Winslow) What are your thoughts about the Pacers as the season approaches? How do you feel about their playoff/title chances? Kyle Winslow: The Pacers are chocked full of role players, and I don't think anyone expects the Pacers to have a shot at the title in 2009. They have one legitimate star in Danny Granger, but I think they need an elite power forward or center to really be competitive. If Hansbrough and Roy Hibbert play well this year, they should make the playoffs, but I doubt they get past the first round.Do you feel that holes in the roster still need to be addressed, and if so, can they be addressed?KW: We'll see when the lights come on. Every position except small forward has some major question marks. If some of the young players step up, then some of the holes in the starting lineup could be filled. If the likes of Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy and Jeff Foster end up being the starters, the Pacers have to deal with the former two's defensive liabilities and Foster's lack of offensive contributions.How do you feel they compare with the Celtics, and the rest of the Eastern Conference?KW: The Pacers got a little better in the offseason, the Big Three got a lot better. I love the Celtic's acquisition of Rasheed Wallace, and the team is a lot better, of course, when Garnett is not injured. Orlando and Cleveland added superstars to their roster, and although Shaq and Vince Carter are aging stars, they're definitely going to improve those two teams. The Pacers didn't have the cash to make a big splash in free agency, and they didn't have a high enough draft pick to get a superstar, so it looks like they'll finish in the middle of the conference again next season.If the Celtics and Pacers meet in the playoffs, how would you think the Pacers should attack Boston in a 7-game series?To read the rest of Mark's Q&A, click here. (http://www.examiner.com/x-10630-Boston-Celtics-Examiner~y2009m10d4-NBA-Season-Preview-QA-with-Indiana-Pacers-Examiner-Kyle-Winslow)