Areas Of Strength:
The Pacers have a solid core of young players, with a scorer coveted by multiple teams (Danny Granger) and talent-plus-potential at the vital point guard (Darren Collison) and center (Roy Hibbert) positions. Swingman Paul George took a big step up in the playoff series vs. Chicago.

Needs Work:
There isn't one guy among Indiana's core whom you would say is a finished product. Granger didn't advance his game, Hibbert needs strength and the whole group needs maturity, experience and individual development.

Two Stats That Matter:
+4.3 -- Indiana increased its scoring average from 97.8 ppg in 44 games under coach Jim O'Brien to 102.1 in the 38 worked by interim Frank Vogel. The Pacers' shooting percentage ticked up, and of the 30 times they outrebounded or tied an opponent on the boards, 26 of those came under Vogel.

38.6 percent -- Percentage of points that Indiana's foes scored from inside the paint, the second lowest mark in the NBA.

The Way To Go:
Re-committed basketball boss Larry Bird envisions Granger as the Pacers' "second" scorer, but getting a go-to guy in the summer likely would require an outside signing (though Granger was a No. 17 pick in 2005). Indiana would like more strength and athletic ability up front, too.

2010-11 Team Stats:
Offensive: 101.9 (22)
Defensive: 103.4 (12)

Players Under Contract:
G: Darren Collison
G: A.J. Price
G: Brandon Rush
G: Lance Stephenson
G/F: Paul George
G/F: Dahntay Jones
F: Danny Granger
F: Tyler Hansbrough
F: James Posey
C: Roy Hibbert

Free Agents:
G: T.J. Ford (unrestricted)
F: Mike Dunleavy (unrestricted)
F: Josh McRoberts (unrestricted)
F/C: Solomon Jones (unrestricted)
C: Jeff Foster (unrestricted)

-- Steve Aschburner