The Indiana Pacers are going to re-establish themselves as legitimate contenders, and it might happen as soon as next year. Even in the midst of Indiana's gap year, the Eastern Conference still looks wide-open, and the team will be well-positioned to remind the basketball world that they are still one of the top dogs in the conference.
The Pacers should be title contenders again in the near future
The Detroit Pistons currently own the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. And at 31-10, they own the second-best record in the entire league (only behind the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who are 36-8).