I think Pacers are one of the best run organizations in the league, basically the Spurs without Duncan, but man they've had some bad luck over the last 15 years.
A string of ECF appearances in the 90's (only team past '90 to take Jordan to 7 games), they completely rebuilt their Finals team from 2000 and turned into a 61-win contender by 2004 with almost an all new cast. Only to implode and be dismantled due to the Malice at the Palace.
Never tanked. Rebuilt again. Matched up well with LeBron's Heat, only to lose in 6 games in '12.
Lost their best player Danny Granger to knee injurie in '13, but still make it to the ECF and take LeBron's Heat to 7 games. Think if they had a healthy Granger!
Even though they lost Granger, they were immediately able to replace him with Paul George, after going to the ECF again in '14, losing to LeBron (for the 3rd straight year) in 6.
Then they lose George for practically the whole year with a broken leg.
Then their best player George demands to be traded. So they rebuild again without tanking. Found a new best player in Oladipo. And again take LeBron to 7 games in '18. (Argh, outside of the C's, nobody deserved to beat LeBron more).
Looking like a team with a chance to make the Finals, and again they lose their best player to a a leg injury.
It's been a tough 15 years (starting with the Malice) for a team I think of as one of the best run in the league.