Insider: How Indiana Pacers end this difficult season will say a lot about their future

J. Michael
Indianapolis Star

The best thing that comes out of the Indiana Pacers dropping to 10th place in the East, with five games left in their regular season, is they know what it takes to beat the Washington Wizards in the play-in tournament. 

Yes, that's a stretch. A big one.

That knowledge might not even matter, depending on how the standings and matchups shake out. 

After Saturday's 133-132 overtime loss to the Wizards, who swept the season series 3-0, it's clear that styles make fights. Everything about what the Wizards do well plays into where the Pacers struggle. Indiana lost a double-digit fourth-quarter lead.

"Last couple games are going to be tough with our opponents coming up, but I think we'll be fine with the way we've been playing," said Caris LeVert, who had 35 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists for Indiana.

Indiana Pacers head coach Nate Bjorkgren talks with Caris LeVert during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Saturday, May 8, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

The problem is, the Pacers haven't played well for any prolonged stretch outside of their 8-4 start to the 2020-21 season. They've never won more than three games in a row. 

They can look lifeless in a 104-93 loss to the Sacramento Kings or they can be inspired and knock off the red-hot Atlanta Hawks 133-126. 

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LeVert, T.J. McConnell and Doug McDermott talked plenty about how pride and playing for each other led to that win against the playoff-bound Hawks, but can that sustain long enough to matter? 

It's easier to say and do the right things after a win. This team's identity has been all over the map. Do they go back to their previous bad habits of not hustling back on defense and giving in, which can be seen in their body language? Do they implode on the sideline such as what led to the one-game suspension of assistant coach Greg Foster and a fine for Goga Bitadze earlier in the week?

The Pacers, who were No. 5 seeds in 2018 and '19 and a No. 4 seed last season, are trying to find silver linings in defeat.

"We just had good emotions and good vibes out there," said Domantas Sabonis, who posted a triple-double. "I think that's the most important thing for us."

After Monday's game at the Cleveland Cavaliers that should be a victory, the Pacers end with home games against teams they've been unable to beat in Philadelphia (0-2), Milwaukee (0-3) and the L.A. Lakers (0-1). Their finale is vs. Toronto in Tampa (1-1).

How the NBA play-in format would shake out 

If they remain a 10th seed, the Pacers would have to win their first play-in game vs. No. 9. Then they'd have to win one game vs. the loser of the 7-vs.-8 matchup to qualify for the playoffs as a No. 8 seed.

At the moment, that's Boston and Charlotte. They've beaten each but lost the season series 2-1. And those wins came during the first month when the Pacers were playing much better than this version. 

Indiana could have some combination of Malcolm Brogdon (right hamstring), Jeremy Lamb (left knee) and Myles Turner (right foot) back to give them hope.  

Turner, the league's leading shot-blocker at 3.4 per game, has yet to practice and appears to be the least likely to return. His absence remains indefinite, but there soon should be an update.

The Pacers have lost games when fully healthy (sans T.J. Warren, who has been out all but 4 games), so getting more bodies back isn't a guarantee.

So much of what happens between now and the end of the season is between the ears. 

Are they just ready for this to end, or do they want to fight? —

"This team wants to perform well," said Nate Bjorkgren, who, in his first season, is already on the hot seat. "They really do. They care."

This is their last chance to prove it. And that might not be enough.