Derek Kramer

Looking through the crystal ball for the Indiana Pacers future: Season Predictions and Hot Takes for 2026-27

Tyrese Haliburton is BACK. The Indiana Pacers are 1-0 and playing competitive basketball again. Life is as it should be but how will the team perform over the remaining 81 games and beyond?

Well, Kyle Taylor and I looked through the crystal ball and came up with a series of predictions for this season. Just don’t ask us how our predictions from last year turned out. We went live on YouTube to discuss last night’s game on PacersrecaP live and will be doing so every Wednesday for the foreseeable future to open this glorious new season. In our final segment of the show, we made our predictions. You can watch the video version below. A list of all our predictions without the banter is included below the video.

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Derek’s predictions

  • At least 47 wins
  • The Pacers finish with a top-4 seed in the Eastern Conference
  • If Tyrese Haliburton plays 65 games, he will be on at least 10 MVP ballots.
  • Tyrese Haliburton will average a career high in points per game.
  • The Pacers will pay the luxury tax.
  • The Pacers will be at or above .500 at the NBA Cup break.
  • The Pacers will make a trade in-season that affects their rotation.
  • Obi Toppin will average a career high in minutes per game.
  • Obi Toppin will be a finalist for the Sixth Man of the Year award.
  • T.J. McConnell plays a career low in minutes per game.
  • Rick Carlisle on at least 20 Coach of the Year ballots.
  • Andrew Nembhard All-Defense 2nd team.
  • The New York Knicks are in the play-in tournament.

Kyle’s predictions

  • The Pacers will either make the NBA Finals or their season will end in the play-in
  • Tyrese Haliburton will average a career high in assists per game.
  • Ivica Zubac will attempt at least ten 3-pointers.
  • The Pacers will duck the luxury tax.
  • The Pacers will be below .500 at the NBA Cup break.
  • The Pacers will trade both Kelly Oubre Jr. and Jarace Walker.
  • The Pacers third best bench player this season (after Obi and TJ) did not play in the season opener.
  • Tyrese Haliburton will score at least 46 points, a new career high, in a game this season.
  • We get at least four more Remy the Reporter videos by the end of the season.
  • We get at least one smothered chicken call from Quinn Buckner.
  • Zubac improves the Pacers offensive rating more than he improves their defensive rating compared to the year they went to Finals.
  • The Boston Celtics will not make the playoffs.

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