THE INDIANA PACERS HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED FROM CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENTION
…following their loss, some might say win, to the Sacramento Kings (according to espn.com)
This hurts their chances at back to back finals appearances
Big if true
This is going to ruin the tour
What tour?
THE WORLD TOUR
FEATURING 31 AMERICAN CITIES AND TORONTO
But how will it effect Lebron’s legacy?
Another year without a repeat ECF Champ since Bron Bron left
While a team being knocked out usually only affects their own vacation plans, the Pacers’ situation has a few specific ties to LeBron James and his current campaign with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Here is how the Pacers’ elimination and current status impact LeBron:
The Head-to-Head Context LeBron and the Lakers actually played a role in the Pacers’ downward spiral. The Lakers faced Indiana on March 6, 2026, walking away with a victory that pushed the Pacers closer to the brink. Ironically, LeBron missed that specific game (along with a subsequent win against the Knicks) due to a combination of left foot arthritis and a hip contusion.
Strength of Schedule and Seeding With the Pacers (15-49) officially at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and shifted into “tanking” mode, they are no longer a competitive threat. For LeBron’s Lakers, who are currently locked in a tight battle for the No. 3 or No. 4 seed in the Western Conference: • Ease of Schedule: The Lakers have already finished their season series with Indiana, so they don’t benefit from any “easy” remaining games against them. • Tiebreaker Logic: Because the Pacers are an Eastern Conference team, their elimination has zero direct impact on LeBron’s playoff tiebreakers or Western Conference standings.
Career Longevity and Health The most significant “impact” is actually a cautionary one. At 41 years old, LeBron is currently sidelined with injuries. While the Pacers are looking toward the 2026 Draft, LeBron is focused on a deep playoff run alongside Luka Doncic (who joined the Lakers in 2025).
The Pacers’ elimination serves as a reminder of the “changing of the guard.” While young stars like Tyrese Haliburton (who led Indiana to the 2025 Finals) are struggling with the weight of carrying a franchise, LeBron is attempting to manage his 23rd season to ensure he is healthy for the postseason.
Son
that has to be AI, right? right?
Bold strategy, Cotton. Let’s see if it plays out for them.
But enough about the Florida Panthers
this is how I found out they suck this year
Another 3-peat ship has sunk (or it will, they’re still technically in the postseason picture but they’re close to being mathematically eliminated
That’ll move the chains
Maybe a 50 win knicks team stands a chance this year. Unlike the prior 30.
Not for next season tho.
Injuries are obviously the reason why but 15-50 after playing in Game 7 of the NBA Finals a few months ago is mental.
Warriors went 15-50 in 2020 after making 5 straight Finals, then with their draft pick that they missed badly on with Wiseman, they still somehow won the title two years later, even as someone who doesn’t really like the Warriors, I respect tf outta that man.
Loved that last ring
Perfect time to mention that year, as due to the shortened season we ended 15-50 but it’s unironically the same as the Pacer’s record right now.
So y’all coulda did worse is what I’m hearing! As a pacers fan, Adam silver better not take our pick. Your case will be in the lawsuit! 😂
They purposely tanked for #1, teams coming off a championship should not be allowed to do that.
It was definitely the 6-30 start. What a miserable season.
Ya. That 6-30 start wasn’t even trying to tank. just horrid injury luck.
They chose to tank earlier than most other teams in the league after seeing they wouldn’t have the same energy and pieces to compete this year, it’s not really that insane.
This is wild. Siakam played basically every game up to the all star break. We only sat healthy players on like 2-3 back to backs. We started 6-30 cuz of injuries. We had a 9-9 stretch before tanking hard after the all star break. This team healthy should probably be a .500 team slightly worse. 6-30 was just extremely bad injury luck.
yeah they chose to tank some time after 30 losses IMO that was the point where they were like fuck it we gave you a chance now we’re making the smart move.
Sure we chose to tank before the halfway point of the season.
That was because we started 6-30.
We won 15 games in the playoffs.
We won 15 games through 65 games the next regular season.
They played Siakam, Nembhard, and TJ in Portland and then pretended they were too injured to play against Sacramento.
They have legit injuries, but Adam Silver fined them for a reason.
The legit injuries were all at the start of the season. Since the all star break it’s been hardcore tanking.
Definitely legit injuries but at the same time you can’t tell me players like Nembhard and Siakam weren’t hardcore cruise controlling during that time too lmao, I saw those demons playing the knicks and okc, they can win if they want to. This isn’t a knock on them by the way, I respect the tank but imo it most definitely not just injuries.
I mean, we had no ball handlers for like the first month of the season… we started Ben Sheppard at pg and had Mac Mcclung playing games. Nesmith can’t generate offense so his shooting numbers are abysmal and he’s turning it over a lot. Siakam played really hard the first half of the season… It’s tough to be throwing new players and lineups on the court everyday with our play style. You can’t play fast when 3 of the guys on the court have never played together. The
i dont think siakam would do that, in post game interviews he has been miserable.
THE FIRST TO BE FADED
The previous team to be faded was… the Indiana Pacers
Gotta be the first team ever faded back to back
I wonder what the record is for fewest days in between
Pacers beat the 2020 Warriors!
Pacers were faded on June 22, 2025 and March 10, 2026 (261 days).
Warriors were faded on June 13, 2019 and March 10, 2020 (271 days).
And we ended 15-50 and they are currently 15-50.
We were 14-68 in 2024. Damn we all had some bad teams
I kind of view you guys as recent pain cousins since we were both down bad a few seasons at about the same time lotto fishing.
Could be worse, neither of us are the Wizards. At least their next roster formation should be interesting.
surely its the warriors after losing to the raps (besides the current pacers)
the warriors gotta be the last one right ? we were a 15 win team in 2020 after losing to the raptors the year before lol
Warriors might have come close. Also one of the teams that almost shares our colors.
Safe to say the Kings won the trade
facts
By giving them Hali and Dybantsa in true Kings fashion
No trade winners since everybody injured!
That’s crazy, weren’t they in the finals last year? Wonder what happened for such a huge fall-off
Turns out Hali was a one hit wonder, dude hasn’t scored over 10 points in a single game this season
are the thunder frauds? they got taken to 7 by a guy who hasnt scored a single point or played a single game since
No one cares about the ref ring
4-1. Edit: i said 4-2 but the t-wolves turned out to be almost as pathetic as the Grizzlies.
Hali injured for entire season, the rest of the team suffered injuries throughout the year (especially near the beginning), they neglected the center position, and then they started selectively losing games when it was clear they weren’t getting close to the play-in
thank you Pelicans fan, that’s good to know
Obviously the real factor was CP3 finally moving to the East. Coincidence? I think not.
Can’t tell if that’s a serious reply
Well said. All of it on point.
I thought your username was TheLegend27 for a second lol
The whole league misses Hali. Praying for his return and back in the playoffs
The league is way better with him in it! Hope the Pacers can get healthy for next season!
Tatum’s return has me feeling good about next season for Hali
Tatum looks about 80% which is crazy.
Which at this point in his recovery and return process is simply amazing
Yep, medical miracle. Science is getting indistinguishable from magic
Thank you Devin Carter
Devin currently getting death threats in our sub. Not even kidding lol
Yeah that’s wild. No change in lottery odds and people are mad about a guy popping off. You just knew whatever he put up was going in that fourth quarter.
I left the game at the end of the 3rd, sat down in Yard House after ~20 minutes and suddenly we were losing
It was glorious
this is gonna hurt their chance at making it to the conference finals for the third year in a row
Nah I think we got it in the bag, trust me
Please God let us get the first pick
Fam you really need to pray. If you get the 5th overall pick it goes to the clippers……
Funniest possible timeline
Yeah because the Pacers have had it too good for too long right?
It’s just nice to see someone else’s GM fumble for once
How did our GM fumble? Worst case scenario we still got Zubac out of the deal which is more important for our team than any rookie will be
turned a guy going into free agency that they couldnt afford into a high quality center, where the pick conveys is definitely gonna determine who wins the trade but its hardly a fumble
turned a guy going into free agency that they couldnt afford into a high quality center
And Zu is on a very friendly contract that they definitely can afford. Less than Allen, iHart, Pöltl, Turner, or Claxton and basically the same as WCJ and Gafford’s upcoming extensions
From your voice to God’s ears.
Who would you guys take Peterson or AJ
Carlisle loves guard prospects, he wanted Donovan Mitchell and Peterson plays a bit like him.
But you can’t go wrong either way.
You shouldn’t draft for fit, but they can use a wing more than a guard with their current roster. Slotting AJ into the vacant Mathurin role makes a lot of sense, and the Tyrese, Nembhard, TJ rotation is so solid that Peterson might not get consistent run. But you have to consider Peterson and Boozer no matter what
Adam Silver : hi it’s me god
14% of the time, it works every time
Fuck no. You guys are unethical tank.
The Kings deserved the TOP pick, as they never played to lose on purpose.
Does it count as an ethical tank if you just build a team to be ass on purpose?
lol unethical how?? The team is just ass
lol, I see you sitting your vets doing everything you can to lose.
Don’t even tell me “our vets suck too” yeah but that’s not why your coach is sitting them in the 4th quarter.
greedy boy
How is that so when my franchise has never gotten the first pick or had a first overall pick on their roster lol us and Denver are due more than any other team
because you went to game 7 of the finals last year and would be back in the championship race without a good pick however the kings will be dogshit forever if they don’t get some lottery luck
Meh, the kings had a promising squad a few years ago when they made the playoffs and completely botched with horrible trades and acquisitions. At that point it’s less about luck and more about being a competent franchise which I won’t feel guilty about.
Kings will whiff on the pick anyways
Our first tanking champion
Rick’s a genius! We didn’t know he had it in him. it must have been that Silver fine.
FADED
NBA players were right, Haliburton is the most overrated player in the league! Dude hasn’t done anything this year.
(But seriously, they’ll make be back to winning next year)
Am I reading it right? Pacers lose? They are up by big margin at the half lol. That’s another insane tanking lol.
Credit to the Kings young guys in the 2nd half. They played well and the Pacers offense basically turned into Andre Roberson.
Devin Carter happened. Dude couldn’t miss. That, and our second half lineups could not stop turning the ball over.
YOU CANT FADE WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN FADED!
happy to see them out of it for obvious reasons
The spirit of haliburton will bless Cade Cunningham this season to hand the knicks another infuriating defeat
the spirit of cunningham will curse the pistons with another postseason L to thr knicks 🙏
They have won the tank off!!
Go get that top 1 pick fam
YESSIR WE HAE
Team’s gonna saggin for Darryn right now
Putting Peterson with hali will be legit bruh people don’t realize how good that back court would be
Kinda gives me Steph + Klay vibes although its a bit different, the shooting would be lights out.
Well there goes my bracket
FUCKIN A
Rip
In the name of Devin Carter, you’re welcome
This contention update brought to you by Kalshi!
Kalshi: proudly taking your money since whenever you made a bet on the Pacers, you stupid idiot!
I genuinely feel bad for the Pacers how last season ended and how things went this season. Hope you guys can turn it around when Hali gets healthy
Who is next on the chopping block? Who cannot afford to lose right now or risk getting bounced
Damn just when I thought they were turning it around
haliburton’s a fraud
Man I thought they had a chance too
(checks date) …. damn!
Losing to the kings 😭
Faded
Finally, we can breathe a sigh of relief.
This year is ours 😏
Good they shouldn’t have got to the finals last year.
But now they can start accumulating gold points for their draft position!
Pave me.
Good
Already? This feels early in the season. When was the first team eliminated last year?
It’s tough to get back to a finals. Every repeat appearance is incredible.
Lebron and Curry are unicorns. It’s insane to see the quality of talent across the league and no one repeats other than them.
Hali injured and this happened
Tatum injured and the Celtics still 2nd in the East
anyways Indiana can come back next year with Hali, Zu and AJ/Peterson. crazy.
Wait… now? That happened like 80 games ago?
The downfall needs to be studied. That team ain’t ever winning a chip.
And starting next year the Pistons have to face real competition in the East.