The Indiana Pacers will begin their 2012 season with the Toronto Raptors at 7 p.m. ET.
The Pacers will be competing in the Eastern Conference where they will be expected to compete against the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets.
Speaking of the Heat, the Pacers are bouncing back from a season that many would consider successful even though they were bounced from the playoffs as they showed they had potential to compete with the elite team in the NBA.
At one point during the Eastern Conference Semis, the Pacers looked like they were picking on the Heat and ready to upset them and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
However, when they had a 2-1 lead in the series, the Heat bounced back and kicked them out of the playoffs.
The Pacers were busy in 2012 during the summer mainly spending time re-sigining their big man Roy Hibbert.
Tonight, they will be out without Danny Granger, their leader, as he is recovering from a knee injury.
The Pistons come into 2012 with a young group of players who are looking to gain more and more experience.
The Toronto Raptors might not be the most popular team in the NBA, but they certainly have Charles Barkley's support.
Why?
Guys like DeMar DeRozan, Andrea Bargnani and rookie seven footer Jonas Valanciunas.
Though a rookie, Valanciunas, from Lithuania averaged just a bit over eight points and about seven rebounds a game.
