INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A year removed from the team’s lowest win total in franchise history, a fully healthy Tyrese Haliburton, and a six-month offseason to regroup, the Pacers have another NBA Finals appearance at the front of their minds.

But first, getting off to a hot start to the regular season is the first priority.

“I think that’s something that I haven’t been able to do in my career is have a good start to the season,” Haliburton said. “So that’s definitely something that we want to do as a group. Feel like we definitely prepared well for this game one and these early games.”

The Pacers start the regular season this Wednesday, October 21, on the road against the New Orleans Pelicans. As the blue and gold tip off the season this week, both head coach Rick Carlisle and forward Pascal Siakam are excited to go full speed again.

“We’ve been working hard during preseason,” Carlisle said. “We’ve done some good things. We continue to work on things we need to work on. It’s always exciting when the season starts.”

“It’s been great just getting ready, getting the guys acclimated to everything,” Siakam said. “We’re all just excited to get to the game and start playing. Kind of tired of playing against each other, so go out there and perform.”

Perhaps no one is more excited than Tyrese Halibuton, who missed all of last season rehabbing from an Achilles tear.

“When you’re hurt and you miss a whole year, have a major injury like that… It was the first time I’d thought about what life would be like after basketball,” Haliburton said. “But I do know that I have a lot more to offer. I have a lot more to bring to the table as a basketball player, and I don’t want to retire or be done playing without accomplishing everything I want in life so I’m just excited for the year to come, and chase my dream, and try to win a championship.”

While the Pacers have their eyes on an NBA title, both Coach Carlisle and Siakam know the road to success starts with building the right habits.

“We’re just a process team, and outcomes are distractions, and we just have to keep our eye on the ball with how we do things on a day-to-day basis, and you know the results hopefully take care of themselves,” Carlisle said.

“We know what we have, and I think it’s one thing to talk about it,” Siakam added. “It’s another thing to go out there and do it.”

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