Why It’s Not Time To Panic About The Indiana Pacers’ Season

Nov 9, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) and guard Andrew Nembhard (2) look on during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Source: Lastwordonsports.com - Benjamin Yu, EditorThe Indiana Pacers are is off to a concerning 3-8 start. Is it time for fans to panic about the Pacers’ season, or can Indiana turn things around? After a highly successful 2024-25 campaign, Indiana was expected to bounce back after a down year without Tyrese Haliburton, who tore his Achilles in Game Seven of the Finals. However, after losing eight of their first 11 games, the Pacers have raised questions about whether they can compete in the Eastern Conference.Indiana Pacers’ Season Is Raising ConcernsWhile it is still relatively early in the 2026-27 Pacers season, Indiana has struggled early. It is hard to ignore a 3-8 record for a team with high expectations, which has created worry over the direction of the team for the rest of the season. While the Pacers have been without star guard Haliburton since the result of the Milwaukee Bucks game, the lack of success the team has been able to generate without him has been concerning. Indiana ranks 22nd in the NBA for offensive rating and 15th for defensive rating as of November 10th, showing overall struggles on both sides of the ball, especially offensively.Oct 26, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) drives against Milwaukee Bucks guard Tyler Herro (11) in the first half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn ImagesInjury-Plagued SeasonEven though Haliburton remains sidelined, the Pacers’ season has seen plenty of other injuries only 11 games into the season. The Ben Sheppard injury has him missing significant time, while other day-to-day injuries have brought inconsistencies to Indiana’s lineup and have weakened their depth. Versus the Atlanta Hawks, Indiana only had six active players for the game, with everyone else on the roster resting or injured. The game did speak to the skill of the team’s bench depth, as Indiana only lost 108-104 and the Pacers found a bright spot amidst injury woes, with the “Indiana Six” putting up a relentless effort with their thinned-out squad for the night.The Indiana Pacers had just SIX available players against the Atlanta Hawks last night. SIX.Jay Huff: 22 PTS, 8 REBS, 2 BLKSQuenton Jackson:20 PTS, 7 REBS, 4 STLS, 2 BLKSBraden Smith:19 PTS, 10 ASTS, 3 STLSKobe Brown:16 PTS, 6 REBSJarace Walker:15 PTS, 7 REBS, 3… pic.twitter.com/isbuP5JlrA— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 3, 2026It Is Still Early In The SeasonIf the Pacers’ season struggles have a bright side, it is that Indiana is only 11 games into the season. There are still plenty of games to be played, meaning that the Pacers still have time to return to full health and turn the season around. Pascal Siakam has been producing at a high level while Haliburton is out, and Andrew Nembhard has taken on additional responsibility as well, making Nembhard more important to the Pacers. When Haliburton returns, he will bring more stability to Indiana’s lineup and can easily turn the Pacers’ season around.The Similarities To 2024-25 PacersIndiana’s slow start this season can be compared to the 2024-25 Pacers’ season, where the team started off 5-6 11 games into their season, having 16-18 at the end of December. Following that point, they eventually got hot and made their push, finishing 50-32 and finding their way to the NBA Finals, coming up just one game short. While this year’s Pacers squad is already struggling a little more than the 2024-25 team, it shows that a turnaround is extremely achievable, especially with Haliburton in the lineup.When Is It Time To Worry?11 games is a small sample size, and it is not quite one to panic over. The Pacers season is still recoverable, and there are plenty of games to be played. Indiana’s injury problems have caused early struggles, but hopefully Indiana can play to the level expected of them once they get a healthy roster. If Indiana’s injury problems become a common theme for the entire season, then Indiana may have a much harder time finding success, especially if Haliburton ends up battling injuries throughout the season. The Pacers’ 11-game stretch has been rough, but it should not indicate how the rest of the season goes if Indiana can gain consistency in their lineup.The Last WordThe Pacers’ season has only just begun, yet their 3-8 start is somewhat concerning. Ultimately, it is too early to panic about the season, as there is more basketball to be played. Injuries have made the season difficult, especially with Haliburton out, but he will be back soon. Indiana will need to find consistency in their lineup and remain healthy if they want to compete. The season is far from over, and there is plenty of time for the Pacers to turn their slow start around, but the team will need to show signs of improvement soon if they don’t want their slow start to dictate the rest of the season.Featured Image: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images More NBA News:The Indiana Pacers’ Future: 2026-27 NBA Season Means EverythingWhy Johnny Furphy Could Make A Big Leap For The PacersPacers 2026-27 Starting Lineup: Biggest Strength And Weakness For Each Starter