Many question how the Indiana Pacers will be able to fine-tune their 2014-15 season without Paul George and Lance Stephenson. With Paul's injury and Lance Stephenson's departure, some people think that the Pacers' campaign in the upcoming season will be a failure and a complete waste of time. The Pacers was 56-26 in the last season, first in Central Division and Eastern Conference.

Indiana Pacers 2014-15 Roster

Forwards: Paul George, David West, Luis Scola, David West, Chris Copeland, Solomon Hill, Damjan Rudez, Lavoy Allen, Arinze Onuaku, Chris Singleton, Adonis Thomas, CJ Fair,

Guards: George Hill, CJ Miles, CJ Watson, Rodney Stuckey, Donald Sloan,

Centers: Roy Hibbert, Ian Mahinmi, Shayne Whittington

Key Additions (Previous Team): CJ Fair (Syracuse), Shayne Whittington (Western Michigan), Chris Singleton (Washington), CJ Miles (Cleveland), Damjan Rudez (CAI Zaragoza), Arinze Onuaku (Chongqing Flying Dragons), Adonis Thomas (Philadelphia), Rodney Stuckey (Detroit)

Key Losses (New Team): Rasual Butler (Washington), Evan Turner (Boston), and Lance Stephenson (Charlotte)

Projected Starters (position): George Hill (point guard), CJ Miles (small forward), Roy Hibbert (center), Rodney Stuckey (shooting guard), David West (power forward), Luis Scola (sixth)

Season Outlook: With the George injury and some key losses, the Pacers will have to play even better this season if they want to make it to the playoffs. The Pacers remain one of the best defensive teams in the entire league as shown in the preseason but the the absences of George and Stephenson will greatly affect them on the other end. George, who is expected to miss the entire regular season, averaged 21.7 points, 2.9 assists, and 6.1 rebounds while Stephenson, who moved to the Charlotte Bobcats as a free agent, averaged 13.8 points, 4.6 assists, and 7.2 rebounds in the last season. Without the two, who will lead the Pacers in scoring?

Injuries during the preseason and in training camp also aren't good news for the Pacers. David West, who can deliver offensively, has suffered an ankle sprain during a preseason game against the Dallas Mavericks on Oct. 18. West averaged 14 points, 2.8 assists, and 6.8 rebounds. Rodney Stuckey has also sit out the rest of the preseason games due to right foot strain. Stuckey averaged 13.9 points, 2.1 assists, and 2.3 rebounds in the last season.

Without George, Roy Hibbert will be the primary option in Indiana plus his value on rim protection is invaluable to the Pacers' grind-it-out system. Hibbert averaged 10.8 points, 1.1 assists, and 6.6 rebounds.

The team already has the elements of a winning culture so they can still contend for a playoff spot even with a different starting five from last year with the biggest question of how they will perform without their franchise player in George. The Pacers lost to the Miami Heat in the conference finals, 4-2 in the 2014 postseason.