National Basketball Association

NBA 30 Teams/30 Days Preview: Pacers must rely on grit, guts without George

Published Oct. 17, 2014 8:56 p.m. ET

foxsports

Editor's note: This is the 18th of Sam Amico's 30 NBA team previews entering the 2014-15 season.

Projected Starters

C Roy Hibbert; PF David West; SF C.J. Miles; SG Rodney Stuckey; PG George Hill.

Key Reserves

PF-C Luis Scola; C Ian Mahinmi; SF Solomon Hill; PG C.J. Watson; SF Chris Sinlgleton; F Chris Copeland; PF Lavoy Allen; G Donald Sloan; F Damjan Rudez; G-F Paul George (when healthy).

Coach

Frank Vogel, sixth year (all with Pacers). If Vogel thought he was challenged when the Pacers suffered a late-season meltdown of sorts, well, that's nothing. Now, he gets to try life without Paul George (broken leg) and Lance Stephenson (left in free agency). But Vogel said the spirit of his team is strong, and if there's one thing the Pacers always do, it's play with an edge. Vogel deserves a lot of credit for that. The Pacers will play hard, they will play smart, they will knock you on your buns. For those reasons and more, Vogel is the right man for this suddenly tough job.

Strengths

You won't get through a game against the Pacers without a fight, and probably a few bumps and bruises, too. They finished second in points allowed last season, and George or not, they'll be near the top defensively again. ... West is the consummate pro, a banger with a fair amount of finesse and decent shooting stroke. He's an overall nice guy but keeps this team acting tough. ... Hibbert, Scola and Mahinmi are three more reasons to think twice about going to the basket. ... Hill and new addition Stuckey form a steady, if not dynamic, backcourt. They rarely mess up when it means the most.

Weaknesses

It's hard to know who takes the leadership role, particularly when it comes to putting points on the board, in George's absence. West can score, but aside from that, there's not a whole lot to rely on. ... Stuckey will certainly get more shots than he has the past few seasons with the Pistons. Can he deliver? ... Hill has never been much of a creator, and that will have to change at least a little this year. Getting other shots will fall on his shoulders, as George won't be around to do it on his own. ... The bench has some nice role players, but again, isn't going to provide much in terms of lighting up the opposition. Far from it, actually.

Outlook

The Pacers probably have every reason to mail it in. And make no mistake, a trying season minus George awaits. But if ever there were a time for Hibbert to become the center the Pacers think he can be, for Miles to take and make some meaningful shots in meaningful games, and for West to make another run at being an All-Star ... well, this is it. As team president Larry Bird once said to Magic Johnson in a Converse commercial, "Show me what you got."

More Pacers coverage from FOX Sports