Detroit Pistons vs. Indiana Pacers 2019-20 season preview
Pacers offseason changes
The mainstays of Oladipo, Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis return as the core of the Pacers but there are several new additions that have the Pacers trending up in the Eastern Conference.
First and foremost is the addition of Malcolm Brogdon, the fourth-year guard who took a step forward for the Milwaukee Bucks. He started all 64 games he played and averaged 15.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game with a career-best 61.4 true shooting percentage and 17.8 Player Efficiency Rating (15 PER is league average). He’ll surely play a large role in the Pacers offense until Oladipo returns from his quad injury.
Related Story. How Pistons offseason stacks up against East's elite. light
Indiana upgraded its wing positions by acquiring T.J. Warren from the Phoenix Suns this offseason. The Pacers signed Jeremy Lamb, who had the best season of his seven-year career.
Lamb, 27, has had at least a 55 percent true shooting percentage and 17 PER over the last three seasons. He started 55 of 79 games for the Charlotte Hornets last season and scored 15.3 points per game. The 6-foot-5 two-guard has good range and will be a factor in the starting lineup until Oladipo returns.
Warren has been incredibly productive in his five-year career but he has not stayed healthy. He hasn’t played in more than 66 games and has three of those five seasons playing 47 or fewer games.
When healthy, Warren can fill it up, scoring 18 points per game last season and shooting a career-high 42 percent from 3-point range. He’ll have to prove last season wasn’t an outlier as he’s shot less than 30 percent from the perimeter in three seasons.
Indiana is going to be a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference this season.