NBA Analyst Not Buying 'Flukey' Pacers Narrative

Although the Indiana Pacers didn't make any "sexy" moves in free agency or the trade market during the offseason, all boxes received a check. They re-signed all the players necessary and granted players contract extensions. Indiana didn't lose players, at least of consequence, but such a transactional fact did nothing to impress an NBA Today panel, except for one analyst.

Tim Legler is a man of substance and no frills. Many in the sports media universe look to shock the world, become polarizing figures, or genuinely abhorrent personalities. However, Legler simply talks basketball, without caveats or excuses, with no politics in his takes, just predictions and honest analysis.

On a recent NBA Today panel via ESPN, Kendrick Perkins, Chiney Ogwumike, and Legler made their picks for the team that would "crash the top four in the East."

Perkins selected the Orlando Magic and Ogwumike the Cleveland Cavaliers.

However, as Legler revealed in the past, "it's not sexy enough" to talk about the Pacers according to ESPN producers.

Indiana finished the NBA with the second-best offense regarding offensive rating and made the Eastern Conference Finals by blowing out the media's darling New York Knicks in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden.

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Although Indiana didn't make any mistakes in the offseason, it fell "victim" to the narrative. Conversely, perhaps many in the media saw the first-round victory against the Milwaukee Bucks as a fluke due to Giannis Antetokounmpo not playing in the 2024 opening-season series.

However, for those who attempt such a take, Indiana beat Milwaukee 4-1 in the regular season, with the Bucks relatively healthy, specifically, Antetokounmpo.

Legler respects the Pacers' offense, especially with the championship addition of Pascal Siakam. Ultimately, it's up to the Pacers to either prove the media wrong or live up to their "flukey" expectations.