After pushing the Heat to six games in the Eastern Conference semifinals last season, and taking some chunks out of their more heralded opponents in the process, the Pacers were projected to compete for the second seed in the East behind Miami this season.

No more hiding in the friendly confines of Bankers Life Fieldhouse with a bunch of no-name players and a coach who was once a baby-faced video coordinator for Rick Pitino. The Pacers had arrived, as Larry Bird’s plan to build a moderately salaried team with no prima donnas came to fruition.