Where Do Pacers Stand in Power Rankings?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jonah Kubicek | Last updated Nov 27, 2024 1:12 PM ET

At 8-10, it is hard to call this season anything but a disappointment for the Indiana Pacers. After battling the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals last year, the Pacers haven't been a .500 team in more than two weeks, and the wheels are starting to fall off the bus.

They went 2-2 in their recent stretch of games, losing to the Houston Rockets and Milwaukee Bucks before besting the Washington Wizards and New Orleans Pelicans. Without a winning streak worth boasting about, the Pacers have remained stagnant in a recent NBA power ranking.

The Athletic, for the second straight week, placed Indiana in the 20th spot and the "Not the Tier to Fear." They are one spot ahead of the Detroit Pistons and one behind the Brooklyn Nets, both of whom are looking to tank and continue their rebuild.

However, it's not all doom and gloom, as the Pacers seem to have a secret weapon: playing at home.

"The Pacers are 6-2 at home this season, the sixth-best record in the league," wrote Law Murray. "When the Pacers play in Indiana, their defense is acceptable while the offense is good (albeit not great like last season)."

Unfortunately, the Pacers will need to land a top-four seed in order to host a playoff series and cash in on their advantage, and with their current trajectory, that seems highly unlikely. There is still a lot of basketball to be played, and on Wednesday the Pacers will play the lowly Portland Trail Blazers and will be expected to add another crucial win.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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