The Indiana Pacers are facing an absolutely brutal Monday night, potentially hitting the court against the Hawks with as few as seven available players. This isn’t just a few bench guys sitting out, either. We’re talking about a lineup absolutely decimated, and it’s happening on the second night of a back-to-back at home. They’ve already got eight players officially ruled out, and two more are still in limbo. It’s a full-blown injury crisis.
The Starting Five Nightmare
Imagine your projected starting five for the season, gone. That’s the reality for the Pacers heading into this game. All-Star forward Pascal Siakam is sitting out for rest purposes, which you love to see in theory, but not when the roster is already paper-thin. Point guard Andrew Nembhard is out for cervical injury management, and let’s be real, he’s had back issues for multiple seasons now, so this isn’t exactly new. Then there’s forward Aaron Nesmith, also out for hamstring injury management, and he already missed time at the start of the season with that same issue. These three were all expected to start, and they’re all out tonight.
The Sick Bay Is Full
But wait, there’s more. These three join an already overflowing injury list. All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton is still sidelined with a left hamstring strain, and center Ivica Zubac is out with a left ankle sprain. Veteran point guard T.J. McConnell has a right hamstring strain, guard Ben Sheppard is recovering from a left meniscus tear, and forward Johnny Furphy is out long-term with an ACL tear. Every single one of them is still out. So, when you add up Haliburton, Nembhard, Nesmith, Siakam, and Zubac, that’s your entire projected starting five for the season on the sidelines. How do you even put a competitive team on the floor with that kind of hit? It’s going to be a tough watch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply