Where the Pacers Stand in Eastern Conference

The top three teams in the Eastern Conference are most likely unimpeachable. The Cleveland Cavaliers will rule the conference for as long as they want to put forth regular-season effort. Coming in second and third in some order will be the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors. Toronto held this mantle last season, but Boston looks like the much improved team building off of 48 wins from 2015-16.

The middle of the conference was terribly bunched together last year, and that may be the case again this year. There is a large swath of teams who could be battling for seeds four through 10 by season’s end. The Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks seem like they will take steps back; whether the step pushes…