Looking ahead to the next couple of months, the Pacers would seem to have a relatively lighter schedule between now and the end of the year compared to a pretty tough January.

While we’re all sailing high on the current record and win vs the 76ers last night, where do you expect the Pacers to be on New Year’s Eve and then again at the end of January?

• Current record is 7-4
• They play 20-21 more games in 2023 (18 scheduled + 2-3 not scheduled in-season tournament games; opponents TBD)
  • 4 games vs the Heat 2x, the Bucks 1x and TWolves 1x
  • 5 games vs Magic 2x, the Clippers 1x, Hawks 1x, and Knicks 1x
  • 9 of their games vs Pistons 2x and Wizards, Grizzlies, Rockets, Hornets, Bulls, TrailBlazers, Raptors 1x each
• They have 17 scheduled games in January 2024
  • 8 games vs Bucks 2x, Nuggets 2x, Celtics 3x, 76ers 1x
  • 5 games vs Hawks 2x, Suns 2x, Kings 1x
  • 4 games vs Jazz 1x, Wizards 1x, Grizzlies 1x, TrailBlazers 1x

Here’s my prediction:

13-7 in the 20 games in 2023

9-8 in January (winning 3 games in each of the 3 categories above)

So, 20-11 by the end of the year and 29-19 by January 31. If they could play .500 ball the rest of the season, then 10 games over .500 would be enough the past several years to be a top 6 team and avoid the play-in games.