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The Indiana Pacers endured a disappointing 2020-21 NBA season. They failed to perform to the standards they have held themselves to for the past decade.
Missing the 2021 NBA playoffs was the most heart-wrenching end to what was an already mediocre season. The Pacers missed the playoffs for the first time in six years and had the second-worst winning percentage in the last decade.
The side finished in ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings but had an opportunity to qualify for the playoffs through the inaugural play-in tournament. However, they lost emphatically to the Washington Wizards and saw their chances of qualification go begging.
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The Pacers have a long offseason to try and put things back in order. However, there is no fixing the future if the mistakes of the past are not corrected.
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On that note, let's look at five things that went wrong for the Indiana Pacers in the 2020-21 NBA season.
#1 Defense
The Indiana Pacers have fielded one of the best defensive units in recent years. But they failed to replicate their noteworthy defensive performances from the past in the 2020-21 NBA season. They finished the season ranked 13th in defensive rating, which was accentuated by a season-ending 142-115 loss to the Wizards.
The Pacers' previous two seasons were in massive contrast to their recently concluded season with respect to defense. The obvious reason for this change was the introduction of a new defensive scheme masterminded by now ex-coach, Nate Bjorkgren.
Although their improved offense made up for an overall poor defense this season, the Pacers ultimately struggled to stop teams from scoring and this cost them several games.
#2 The Indiana Pacers struggled to stay healthy
Staying healthy was a major challenge for the Pacers as they lost several of their key players to injury during the season. Two notable injuries that impacted the Pacers' run in the 2020-21 season were T.J. Warren and Myles Turner.
Warren featured in only four games before sustaining what turned out to be a season-ending injury. The Indiana Pacers won three of the four matches he featured in, with the forward averaging 15.5 points per game. While the Pacers missed his contributions on offense, he was also a significant defensive part of their defense.
Myles Turner was exceptional in protecting the paint for the Pacers. Sadly, he missed 22 of the team's 23 final games. Coupled with his injuries are those experienced by Domantas Sabonis and Malcolm Brogdon, both of whom missed a significant number of games for the Indiana Pacers in the 2020-21 NBA Season.
#3 Perimeter shooting
The Indiana Pacers have not prioritized perimeter shooting for a long time, and it has continued to hurt them. The 2020-21 NBA season was no exception as they finished in the bottom half of the table in 3-point shooting percentage.
Although Jeremy Lamb and Brogdon were dangerous from three-point range, the team as a whole did not pose much of a threat in that area. Perhaps it is time for the front office to shake things up and bring in more catch-and-shoot players. This will also spread the floor and give room for Sabonis to work.
#4 The Indiana Pacers consistently tried to pair two big men
The Indiana Pacers have exceptional talent in center position and have tried to start both their centers hoping for increased productivity. The tactic has been tested for two consecutive seasons and results have shown that they perform better with just one on the hardwood.
To accommodate Myles Turner, Sabonis was moved to the power forward position to guarantee both players would make the starting five. But the tactic has not yielded much success as lineups featuring both players have failed to perform at a high level.
Although the coaches have tried to get the most out of Turner and Sabonis by making the decision, it has done more harm than good so far. A decision needs to be made on whether their minutes together will be reduced, or one will drop to the bench completely.
#5 Head coach Nate Bjorkgren's fracas with players and staffers
Nate Bjorkgren was brought in for the 2020-21 season after the Indiana Pacers parted ways with Nate McMillan. However, his appointment did not bring the expected success, as he failed to qualify for the 2021 NBA playoffs.
The Indiana Pacers have now opted to let go of Bjorkgren after a year with the franchise and have employed the services of Rick Carlisle. While the main reason for his firing was his failure to qualify for the playoffs, there were also rumors of a clash with his players and staffers.
It was, without doubt, a difficult season for the rookie coach, as he lost key players to injuries and had to observe COVID-19 protocols. However, Bjorkgren let the pressure get to him and reportedly lashed out at other staff and players alike. With so much tension off the court, it proved to be difficult for the Indiana Pacers to reach their goals while on it.
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