NBA player Jeff Teague implicitly criticizes the Indiana Pacers, suggesting they have the weakest squad that could potentially reach the NBA Finals.
The Indiana Pacers made a valiant effort in the recent NBA Finals, reaching Game 7, but the outcome might have been different had Tyrese Haliburton not been injured early in the series. Haliburton, a key contributor, will be out for the entirety of the 2026-27 season.
Despite the loss of Haliburton and Myles Turner, who left for the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency, the Pacers demonstrated that a less traditional, less star-studded roster could still reach the Finals. Their success was built on strong team cohesion, versatile depth, resilience, and an up-tempo playing style that emphasized comebacks and clutch performances.
The Pacers maintained a strong core roster with 13 players under contract returning for 2026-27, including Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, T.J. McConnell, and the returning Tyrese Haliburton. This level of continuity helped preserve chemistry and strategic consistency.
The team's dynamic, up-tempo style resulted in multiple comeback wins during the playoffs, overcoming deficits of 7+ points in the final minute across three different victories. Tyrese Haliburton, in particular, became a fan favourite thanks to buzzer-beaters and game-changing shots in crucial moments.
Their roster was unconventional for Finals standards, lacking multiple superstars but compensating with a well-rounded, deep lineup that exploited pace, defensive versatility, and teamwork. This runs counter to traditional views that emphasize superstar stacking, signalling a shift in what success looks like in the modern NBA.
The Pacers’ ability to retain key players and maintain roster control heading into 2026-27 positions them well for sustainable success, even with Haliburton’s injury recovery factored in.
Jeff Teague, a former Pacers point guard and Indianapolis native, has expressed criticism of the Pacers' roster. However, his comments may reflect his unfamiliarity with the modern NBA, where success is more reliant upon depth, continuity, and an overall team system.
Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns recently found out that "Big Threes" aren't as effective in the modern NBA, a lesson the Pacers may have already learned through their unconventional journey to the Finals. The Pacers' Finals run highlights the importance of team-oriented basketball, resilience, and depth, which can offset the absence of traditional superstar-heavy rosters, emphasizing a new paradigm of success in today’s NBA.
In the upcoming 2026-27 season, the Indiana Pacers, with Tyrese Haliburton returning from injury and a strong core roster in place, aim to build on their unconventional Finals run, going against conventional wisdom that emphasizes superstar-heavy rosters. Despite rumors suggesting the ineffectiveness of Big Threes in today's NBA, as demonstrated by the Phoenix Suns, the Pacers showcase the significance of teamwork, resilience, and depth, positioning themselves for potential championship contention in the playoffs. However, ex-Pacers point guard Jeff Teague, an Indianapolis native, questions the team's roster, potentially revealing his lack of understanding of the new paradigm of success in the modern NBA, where depth, continuity, and an effective team system are crucial factors.
