Indiana Pacers: 3 Players Missed from Last Year

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The Indiana Pacers have not started the way they were hoping to at the start of this NBA season.

At the time of writing this, the Pacers are sitting at 3-4, with close wins against the Raptors, Kings and Wizards.  Along with three wins to weaker teams, they also lost to the lowly Bobcats.

This team is clearly struggling and failing to live up to the start of last season.  With several players missing from the team that played last year, it's clear they are missing them.

Here are the three most missed players from last year.

3. Leandro Barbosa

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Leandro Barbosa was a valuable pickup last season for the Pacers and helped push them into the second round of the playoffs.

Barbosa was traded during last season for a second-round draft pick.  While he never started a game, he was a valuable player off the bench.

Barbosa averaged 11.1 points and 2.0 rebounds per game.  He was a good three-point shooter and knew when to take shots and when to pass it.

Barbosa is the kind of player that the Pacers currently need very badly.  The Pacers bench is currently very thin, and there isn't a real scorer there.  They need a player who can come off of the bench and hold his own against opposing starters, and not struggle like some players have.

Barbosa is currently on the Celtics, but it would be nice if the Pacers could make a move to get him back.

2. Darren Collison

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Darren Collison is another player that Indiana could use at this point.

The Pacers traded away Collison and Dahntay Jones in July to the Dallas Mavericks.  It seems like the Pacers lost in this trade, only receiving Ian Mahinmi.

Collison averaged 10.4 points and 4.8 assists per game.  He started the majority of games for the Pacers, but split time with George Hill.  He was able to lead the floor and didn't seem to have a problem with splitting time with Hill.

The combination of Hill and Collison last year was a valuable asset for the Pacers, as they were able to have two well-rested and talented point guards.  When it came to the postseason, both were ready to play well.

The addition of D.J. Augustin just hasn't been the same this season, as he hasn't meshed as well with Hill as Collison did.  This chemistry issue will take time to fix itself, but in the meantime they need to start winning more games.

1. Danny Granger

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While Danny Granger will return later this year, the Pacers are sorely missing him after how he played last year.

Granger suffered a left knee injury and will be out for three months (via ESPN).  The injury has left a significant hole in the team, and the Pacers will need to find a way to fill it.

Granger was the leading scorer for the Pacers last season with 18.7 points per game.  He also averaged five rebounds and a steal per game.

Granger has been a leader of this team for a few years now, and has improved since coming into the league.  He was named the NBA's most improved player in 2009.

Without Granger, the Pacers have struggled to find a consistent scoring option.  David West has attempted to fill the role, averaging 16.7 points per game, but others are struggling to contribute.  The bench is hardly scoring at all, and Roy Hibbert hasn't been playing as well as he did last season. 

Players like Paul George and Gerald Green will need to step up without Granger.  If they can't find players to make up for the loss of their top scorer, the Pacers could be in serious trouble.