Philadelphia 76ers top five biggest threats in Eastern Conference

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PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 13: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers handles the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 13, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers took the NBA by surprise last season. It was unexpected for the team that had just traded All-Star Paul George to end the season with a 48-34 record and pushing a LeBron James led Cleveland Cavaliers to a game seven in the first round. Most of the Pacers success should be credited to the breakout season by Victor Oladipo.

After only averaging around 15-16 points in his first four seasons, Oladipo averaged 23.1 points in his fifth season. He went on to earn his first All-Star berth and won Most Improved Player of the Year. The Pacers will need Oladipo to pick up where he left off if they want to continue their success from last year.

Hot. Sixers are on Anthony Davis’ short list. light

Indiana also has young big men to compliment Oladipo, in Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis. While the Paces lost reserve wing Lance Stephenson to the Los Angelse Lakers, they replaced and improved his production off the bench with Tyreke Evans. Evans would have liked playing for the Sixers, but Philly failed to reach out to the wing player.

Head coach Nate McMillan did a great job with this young roster last season and that hard work earned him a multi-year contract extension. As long as this young roster continues to grow under McMillan, then expect this Pacers squad to give the Philadelphia 76ers problems this upcoming year, seeing as the Pacers won the matchups against the Sixers two out of three times last season.