UPDATE: The Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers are gearing up for a pivotal season, missing key players as they navigate a challenging Eastern Conference landscape. Just weeks before their season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 23, 2025, both teams are adapting to significant changes.
Inside the Indiana Pacers training facility, three new banners now proudly hang, including a tribute to last season’s unexpected Eastern Conference Championship. However, the atmosphere is tinged with urgency as the team prepares to move forward without star player Tyrese Haliburton, who is out for the season due to a torn Achilles sustained during the playoffs.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle emphasized the need to “turn the page” after last season’s playoff run, stating, “There’s not going to be a big thing about it.” This sentiment reflects a broader strategy as both the Celtics and Pacers enter the season with significantly lower expectations. The Celtics are also grappling with the absence of their star, Jayson Tatum, who suffered a similar injury during the playoffs.
“This year is exciting,” said Celtics guard Derrick White. “We’re not the hunted anymore. We’re going to prove people wrong.” Both teams, traditionally powerhouses in the Eastern Conference, are now facing a season with diminished star power and roster overhauls. The Celtics have traded away key players like Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, while the Pacers lost center Myles Turner to free agency.
Despite the odds, Carlisle and Celtics president Brad Stevens insist tanking is not in their plans. “That’s not going to be part of the lexicon [on rebuilding] in our building,” Stevens stated. Both teams are focused on maximizing their current rosters and developing young talent.
The Eastern Conference is now wide open, with several teams eyeing a shot at the Finals. ESPN’s latest betting odds place the Celtics seventh and the Pacers ninth, signaling a major shift in power dynamics.
Both teams are embracing new roles this season. For the Pacers, Bennedict Mathurin is expected to step into a starting position, while Andrew Nembhard will take on more ball-handling responsibilities. Carlisle noted, “We want to develop and maximize,” emphasizing the focus on player development amidst adversity.
Meanwhile, Haliburton remains a motivating force for the Pacers, participating in practices and fostering team spirit despite his injury. Carlisle remarked, “We’ll hear his voice. He’s always going to have great energy.”
On the Celtics’ side, Mazzulla is adapting his coaching strategy to fit a roster lacking its usual depth. “I may have to coach completely differently than the year before,” he noted. This year’s Celtics will rely heavily on a different game plan, given the absence of their stars.
As the season approaches, both teams are looking to surprise critics and fans alike. “They haven’t believed in us in three years,” Nesmith said. “We surprise them every single year. I don’t see what makes this year any different.”
With the pressure to perform mounting, the Celtics and Pacers are not just playing for wins but also aiming to redefine their seasons in light of their star injuries. Fans are eager to see how these teams adapt and evolve as the 2025-26 NBA season unfolds.
