The Indiana Pacers have been healthy for the most part of the 2022-23 season, with only Tyrese Haliburton missing a few weeks due to injury.
The team’s luck has changed with the recent news of Kendall Brown being out for the rest of the season due to a tibia stress fracture. Brown, who had been primarily playing with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair the injury. Despite not playing much with the Pacers this season, the loss of Brown could have an impact on the team’s future.
The Impact of Brown’s Absence
In the short term, the Pacers are not expected to feel a significant impact from Brown’s absence. However, his injury is a blow to the team’s depth and could limit their options as the season progresses. Brown’s averages of 10 points and 5 rebounds per game in the G League are not eye-catching, but the Pacers were hoping he could develop into a contributor for them in the future. With Brown now out for the season, the team will have to look elsewhere to fill that role.
Brown has not shown anything special this season that would indicate he has a future as a rotational player in the NBA. While he has been playing well enough to earn some minutes in the G League, his performances have not been dominant.
Overall, it seems that Brown’s injury is unlikely to have a major impact on the Pacers’ season, given that he was not expected to be a key contributor. While it is possible that he will surprise everyone and develop into an NBA-caliber player, it seems more likely that he will continue to be a depth piece for the team.
The Pacers are hoping that the rest of their core players will remain healthy for the rest of the season and avoid any further injuries. They will need everyone to step up as they continue their push for the playoffs.
Pacers Odds Update
While the Pacers have the second-best floor general in the league, the team has struggled since mid-January. They lost 17 of their last 21 games, including a seven-game losing skid in January and five straight this on Feb.
With their lackluster performance. It is reasonable why oddsmakers are not expecting much from them as we approach the playoffs. DraftKings Indiana listed them as +70000 to be the Eastern Conference winner and +100000 to win the NBA title this year.
Bennedict Mathurin (+900) is still trailing Paolo Banchero (-1400) for the Rookie of the Year Award, while Haliburton is listed as +5000 to win the Most Improved Player.
The Pacers shows a promising performance this year… for a rebuilding team. They might not enter the postseason based on how the current trend, but the offseason will the deciding factor on how the team will move forward.
