Sep 29, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA: Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13), center Roy Hibbert (55) and forward David West (21) during media day at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Former Pacers All-Star Offers Huge Prediction

Originally posted on Indianapolis Pacers on SI
By Alex Kirschenbaum | Last updated May 10, 2025 10:00 AM ET

A member of the last high-level Indiana Pacers squad to make multiple Eastern Conference Finals berths has weighed on the current iteration, currently in the midst of shocking the world in its ongoing semifinal series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed fell into a 0-2 hole, at home, against Indiana, behind the heroic efforts of All-Stars Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, plus critical two-way contributions from wings Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard and 3-and-D center Myles Turner.

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Former two-time Pacers All-Star center Roy Hibbert, who anchored the interior during Indiana's last near-great era, has shared his thoughts on the 2024-25 brand on his official X account.

Not trying to jinx anything. But I can see the @Pacers making it out the east this year. Special team here.
— Roy Hibbert (@Roy_Meets_World) May 8, 2025

"Not trying to jinx anything," Hibbert wrote. "But I can see the @Pacers making it out the [East] this year. Special team here."

The Pacers did advance to the Eastern Conference Finals just last season, as a No. 6 seed, but got quickly swept by the eventual champion Boston Celtics. This year, the favored Celtics are trailing the New York Knicks, 0-2, in their own semifinal series.

An Eastern Conference Finals matchup against a banged-up Boston squad or a thin Knicks franchise could prove more winnable than last year's encounter.

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Hibbert, who was selected with the No. 17 pick out of Georgetown in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors, but saw his draft rights traded to Indiana for All-Star big man Jermaine O'Neal. T.J. Ford also joined Indiana in the deal.

An All-Defensive Teamer as well as an All-Star during his seven seasons with the Pacers, Hibbert averaged 11.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.4 assists. Led by Hibbert, All-Star swingman Paul George and former All-Star power forward David West, Indiana made the Eastern Conference Finals in 2013 and '14, falling both times to the LeBron James-era Miami Heat.

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This article first appeared on Indianapolis Pacers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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