Indiana Pacers eliminated from playoff contention, focus remains on internal development and competing

The Pacers will not play postseason basketball in 2022-23

The Indiana Pacers have been eliminated from postseason contention for the 2022-23 season.

When the Pacers lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night, they fell to 34-45. That puts their maximum wins for the ongoing campaign at 37, and at least 38 will be required to reach the play-in tournament. That means the blue and gold are eliminated, and their season will end on April 9.

For Indiana, who have been without talented veterans for the last week or so, recent games have been all about learning and development. The oldest player that the Pacers have started in their past five games is forward Jordan Nwora, who turned 24 just before training camp of the ongoing season. 

Growth has been key for the Pacers in recent weeks, and with the playoffs officially out of reach, that will certainly be the case in the final three games. "Our approach is going to be the same. We're competing. It does no good to step on to an NBA court and not compete. This is where, the way we're set up with our young guys, it really is a great opportunity for them," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said when asked if anything changes with his team officially eliminated.

For Indiana, this season has been incredibly successful. They have exceeded expectations in the win column, key players have grown and meshed, and youngsters have improved. Many items on their list of goals for the campaign have been checked.

Tyrese Haliburton blossomed into an All-Star. Myles Turner grew into a two-way force. Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard have been excellent as rookies. The Pacers will be happy with the baseline this season has set despite their elimination.

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"This period of the last two-and-a-half, three weeks, is very valuable. This creates momentum into next season," Carlisle said. "We have momentum with our roster. We have a draft that's going to be very important. We've got cap flexibility, we've got assets. We're going to be in position to keep this thing going with positive momentum."

The Pacers will have three first-round picks and two second-round picks in the 2023 NBA Draft, barring trades. They will have to think about draft positioning — for their own pick and the ones that they own from other teams — down the stretch.

They will also focus on development — as they have all season but especially so in recent weeks. Mathurin, Nembhard, Nwora, Aaron Nesmith, Isaiah Jackson, Jalen Smith, and Oshae Brissett have been getting valuable game reps of late.

"You cannot underestimate or undersell the importance of internal development," Carlisle said. "Having your young guys learn what it's like to... have real, professional responsibility. These games have helped simulate that. And our guys have stepped up and done some great things," the head coach added.

To that end, the Pacers have seen some solid outings from their youngsters of late. Nwora had 33 points in Atlanta, and Mathurin followed that up with 26 and 29-point outings. Nembhard tossed 15 assists against the Milwaukee Bucks, who have the best record in the NBA. Smith finished with 12 points and 15 rebounds in a win over the Thunder while Jackson had eight points and 12 rebounds against the Mavericks. Nesmith has been rock solid all season, and that has continued amid changing lineups and styles. Younger Pacers are finding some footing, and developing, late in the campaign.

That needs to be the top priority for the blue and gold down the stretch. With no more short-term success needed this season, long-term growth should be Indiana's focus for their last trio of games. Given how the franchise has handled the last couple of weeks, that seems like it will be the case.

"Three games left. It'll go by quick," Carlisle said. He also noted that one change the Pacers will make is that the newly signed Gabe York will be active and able to play for the team in their final three games, so the team will get to evaluate another talent down the stretch.

That, along with development, creating momentum, and competing, will be how the Indiana Pacers attack their final three games after being mathematically eliminated.

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• How T.J. McConnell's low center of gravity helps him make plays for the Indiana Pacers. CLICK HERE.
• Indiana Pacers sign guard Gabe York to a two-way contract. CLICK HERE.
• Indiana Pacers playing without key players as season winds down. CLICK HERE.
• Rick Carlisle on the Indiana Pacers stretch run: 'Guys are learning and they are finding out what it's about'. CLICK HERE.
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