Last Updated: Oct. 28 at 4:00 p.m.
Matchup
At long last, the start of the 2014-15 NBA season is finally here. The two-time defending Central Division champion Indiana Pacers will officially open the regular season when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night.
Unfortunately for Indiana, injuries have already started to mount up even before the season gets underway. All-Star forward Paul George was already expected to miss several months at minimum as he recovers from a broken leg, but several other key players have joined George on the sideline in recent days.
The Pacers announced Monday that starting point guard George Hill (knee contusion), starting power forward David West (sprained ankle) and backup point guard C.J. Watson (bruised foot) will all be out for the start of the season.
Guard Rodney Stuckey, the frontrunner to start at shooting guard, is also dealing with a foot injury. Both head coach Frank Vogel and Stuckey said after Tuesday's practice that Stuckey would play Wednesday, but his minutes will be limited. Vogel said Stuckey will come off the bench on Opening Night.
Perhaps the biggest concern for the Pacers heading into Wednesday's game is point guard depth. Without Hill or Watson, third-string point guard Donald Sloan will likely assume a starting role. Sloan had an excellent preseason, averaging 13.3 points per game. Stuckey — more of a combo guard by nature — will have to play backup minutes at the point for the time being. If Sloan or Stuckey gets hurt or in foul trouble, another wing player like Solomon Hill or C.J. Miles would be forced to assume some ball-handling duties.
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West's injury is also concerning, but the Blue-and-Gold do at least have depth at power forward with Luis Scola, Lavoy Allen, and Chris Copeland.
Fortunately for Indiana, the Sixers are also dealing with an array of injuries. Reigning Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams, third-overall draft pick Joel Embiid, and veteran guard Jason Richardson are among the six Sixers expected to miss Wednesday's opener.
Nerlens Noel, the sixth overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, is expected to make his regular season debut for Philly. Noel missed all of last season while recovering from a torn ACL suffered during his lone season at the University of Kentucky.
Projected Starters
Pacers: PG - Donald Sloan, SG - C.J. Miles, SF - Chris Copeland, PF - Luis Scola, C - Roy Hibbert
76ers: PG - Tony Wroten, SG - Alexey Shved, SF - Hollis Thompson, PF - Nerlens Noel, C - Henry Sims
Injury Report
Pacers: Paul George - out (rehabilitation, fractured right tibia/fibula), George Hill - out (left knee contusion), C.J. Watson - out (bruised right foot), David West - out (sprained right ankle), Rodney Stuckey - day-to-day (sprained right foot)
76ers: Michael Carter-Williams - out (right shoulder injury), Joel Embiid - out/not with team (right foot injury/personal reasons), Jerami Grant - out (right ankle sprain), Luc Mbah a Moute - out/not with team (personal reasons), Jason Richardson - out/not with team (left knee injury)
You Can Quote Me On That
"I thought that we have a legitimate chance to get in the playoffs. We'll see what happens. That's still our goal and we'll fight towards that goal." -Pacers President Larry Bird on expectations for this season
"It's a neat challenge. I think it's fun for guys to get to do things that they normally don't get to do. And the same for me as a coach, trying to put new guys (in) to get the same kind of results accomplished." -Frank Vogel on having so many players dealing with injuries
"It's going to be a team/group collective thing that we're going to have to go out there and get this win. That's how we're going to have to play each and every night. So there's not going to be a lot of pressure on me, it's going to be a lot of pressure on all of us. If we go out, play as a team, play as one, play together, we should be good." -Rodney Stuckey
"I definitely didn't want it this way, with so many guys banged up and out. But like Coach says, 'Next man up.' So not only me but other guys are going to have to step into bigger roles, see extended minutes and possibly playing time that wasn't there before." -Donald Sloan on stepping into a starting role
"I hate it because I worked my butt off this whole summer to prepare for this...I'm just going to continue to talk to them and to try to lead until I get back out there." -George Hill on being sidelined with a knee contusion
"I'm going to have my opportunities, but I'm not anticipating averaging 20 points a game. I'm just going to make sure I'm efficient." -Roy Hibbert on taking a bigger role offensively
Last Meeting
March 17, 2014: The Pacers handed the 76ers their 21st consecutive loss, holding on for a 99-90 victory at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Lance Stephenson led Indiana with 25 points, while Paul George added 24 and eight rebounds.
Thaddeus Young led Philadelphia with 23 points. Michael Carter-Williams had 15 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists.
Noteworthy
- The Pacers swept the three-game season series with Philly last season.
- Philadelphia leads the overall series with a 94-64 record, including a 44-35 mark in Indianapolis.
- This will be the first of four meetings between the Pacers and Sixers this season. They will meet twice in Philadelphia on Jan. 10 and Feb. 20 and once more at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 1.
- All fans in attendance will receive a replica Bobby "Slick" Leonard Hall of Fame banner and there will be a special halftime ceremony as his Hall of Fame banner is unveiled. (VIEW PHOTO »)
- The first 5,000 fans to the game will receive a free 2014-15 Pacers Schedule Magnet.
Broadcast Information
TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 107.5/1070 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Slick Leonard (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)