George will be looking to emerge as a genuine superstar this year.
With the Indiana Pacers continuing their rise up through the ranks of the Eastern Conference over the past few years, they will expect to be a genuine contender for the NBA championship this season.
The Pacers finished as the third seed last year with a 49-32 record and caused eventual champions Miami Heat a whole host of problems in the Eastern Conference finals before falling in the decider.
However, the experience will only further strengthen their roster and make them hungrier for success as they progressively improve their achievements year-on-year.
With Paul George expected to emerge as a real superstar of the NBA this season, the starting line-up for coach Frank Vogel is arguably one of the best in the league in terms of quality and versatility.
Along with Roy Hibbert and David West they have great presence at both ends of the floor, but perhaps the one area where they lack real quality is at point guard.
George Hill will likely continue in that role, while Danny Granger is expected to add another dimension to their play if he can overcome injury and stay healthy for a prolonged period of time.
In addition, the franchise made a conscious effort to add depth to the roster, with Luis Scola, Chris Copeland and C.J. Watson all joining over the summer.
As a result, expect another strong showing during the regular season where they will look to compete for the top three seedings ahead of the play-offs.
Having now acquired the experience of playing in big games, they will be desperate to learn from their mistakes and go on and reach the NBA Finals.
Much will depend on whether George can continue his development and take his game to the next level, along with the consistency provided from the likes of West, Hibbert and Hill.
However, in what is guaranteed to be a competitive Eastern Conference this year, while it will be difficult expect the Pacers to repeat the success of last year and finish in the top three with another extended push in the post-season.
Indiana Pacers: 3rd
Rankings
Offence: 8
Defence: 8
Front court: 8
Back court: 7
Bench: 7
Coach: 8
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