Can anyone stop Indiana?

When the NBA season first started I like most people didn’t mention the Indiana Pacers and one of the best teams in the East. The season is only four games old but its clear the Pacer’s have the players to be a contender in the Eastern Conference. Despite Jermaine O’Neal’s slow start, statistically he has produced every season since being in Indiana. Mike Dunleavy Jr. is finally showing he can be an offensive stud in the league by averaging 20.5ppg. Danny Granger the former first round pick of the Pacer’s is averaging is 21.0ppg and is constantly showing he is one of the best young small forwards in the league. Together Dunleavy Jr. and Granger have carried the team while also forming a nice young nucleus the Pacers can build around. If Jamaal Tinsley can stay healthy the Pacer’s have an excellent chance of being the surprise team of the Eastern Conference. Indiana causes a lot of match-up problems for teams giving a lot of their players are interchangeable and can play multiple positions.

The Pacer’s need to take advantage of both Chicago and Cleveland’s early season struggles. Indiana one glaring weakness is their lack of a true center. Jeff Foster and Troy Murphy are ideal candidates to come off the bench and add a spark. Sometime this season Indiana must get a true center who can compliment O’Neal especially since he has been injury prone these last couple of seasons. I believe Indiana will prove they are one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference.