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Indiana Pacers
Overall: 13
Title track: 85
Ownership: 50
Coaching: 44
Players: 58
Fan relations: 58
Affordability: 7
Stadium experience: 25
Bang for the buck: 4
Change from last year: +5
No NBA fan base suffered a tougher break than Indy's last year: Due to superstar Paul George's shattered right leg in a Team USA scrimmage, dreams of a long playoff run dissolved before the Pacers' season even tipped off. But according to the team's strong Ultimate Standings finish, fans are keeping the faith.
What's good
Indy backers enjoy the fourth-cheapest stubs in the league. (For $32.59, you would get about a third of a seat in Chicago.) But wait ... there's more! With "Two for Tuesdays," you buy one ticket and get one free. College night means $10 for a ticket with a college ID. Lucas Oil Family Night includes $14 for a ticket, a hat and a family meal. Those throwback prices fit with an arena that could double as a boisterous high school gymnasium. Bankers Life Fieldhouse is very much in tune with Indiana's basketball past -- dark brick exterior, large windows, drum lines welcoming fans in the concourse and superb sightlines from almost anywhere in the building. Good prices, check. Great atmosphere (25th in stadium experience), check. Even without a winning team, the Pacers rank as the fourth-best franchise in sports in bang for the buck.
What's bad
George's gruesome injury was so disturbing that it had the basketball universe questioning everything from international play to the dimensions of an NBA hoop. It also shook Pacers fans' championship hopes, and Indy's title track rank fell to 85th, by far the team's worst rating (and down 17 spots from last year). After four straight playoff appearances, Indiana went home early last season.
What's new
Despite the departures of former All-Stars Roy Hibbert and David West, Indy made its biggest rankings jump in the players categories (up 24 spots). Pacers president Larry Bird wanted a faster, more up-tempo style, and additions Monta Ellis and Chase Budinger, along with re-signed guard Rodney Stuckey, will bring just that. Point guard Ellis, who led the Mavs last year with 18.1 points per game, comes straight in as one of the Pacers' best offensive players. The best news in Indy, of course, is the full-season return of Indy's best player, period. Two years ago, George averaged 21.7 PPG. And beyond the offense, George immediately improves the Pacers' D. In 2013-14, he had the second-highest defensive win share in the league.
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