Indiana Pacers Seating Chart

The Indiana Pacers didn't have much hope of reaching the playoffs in 2008-2009, but they have battled hard and held their own in the first half of the season.

The team is 12 games under .500, so the playoffs are pretty much out of the question even in the weak Eastern Conference.

It certainly didn't help that versatile forward Mike Dunleavy, the team's third-leading scorer, has missed most of the season with an injury.

The team traded away disgruntled and injury-prone forward Jermaine O' Neal to the Toronto Raptors in the offseason, acquiring point guard T.J. Ford.

That move appears to have worked out pretty well for the Pacers, who let Jamaal Tinsley go after a string of injuries and appearances in the police blotter. Ford is averaging over 15 points and five assists per game while O' Neal appears to be on this way out of Toronto.

If nothing else, the Pacers did a nice job cleaning up the image of their team in the offseason, which was one of the primary goals as they look to rebuild around forward Danny Granger.

Granger has been the big surprise this season, as he continues to elevate his game and improve each year. Granger has now become one of the top players in the Eastern Conference.

He is averaging 25.6 points per game, good enough to be at the top of the NBA, and adding more than six rebounds and three assists.

The team's two rookies are holding their own, and the Pacers are hopeful that Brandon Rush and Roy Hibbert can both be a part of their grand rebuilding plan. I don't think either will become stars, but I think both can be solid role players, with Rush fulfilling that sixth man spot.

The bottom line is the Pacers simply don't have the players to compete for a playoff spot, much less a division title. It's going to be at least a couple more years, barring drastic changes in the offseason, before we see a competitive team in Indianapolis.