7 things to know about the 2015-16 Pacers schedule

The Indiana Pacers and the rest of the NBA announced the 2015-16 schedule Wednesday night. The Pacers are looking to bounce back from an injury-ravaged season that left them narrowly out of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

The offseason changes —and there were plenty — bring plenty of intrigue to the upcoming season.

Here’s what caught our eye on the Pacers’ schedule, which includes seven ESPN games and four on NBA TV:

SEASON OPENER

Pacers at Raptors, Oct. 28

The Pacers start the season Wednesday, Oct. 28 in Toronto against the Raptors.

What are you most interesting in seeing? Key questions include: Is Paul George 100 percent healthy? How will Monta Ellis fit in? Who will be playing in the frontcourt? What does the new uptempo offense look like?

The Pacers will see the departed Luis Scola on the opposing bench.

HOME OPENER

vs. Grizzlies, Oct. 29

First week, first back-to-back. One night after the opener, the Memphis Grizzlies, who trounced the Pacers in last season’s finale to eliminate them from the playoffs, visit Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Hoosier favorites Mike Conley (Lawrence North), Courtney Lee (Pike) and Zach Randolph (Marion) are regulars in Memphis’ rotation.

NOTABLE VISITORS FROM L.A.

vs. Lakers, Feb. 8

Roy Hibbert went from the face of Area 55 and two All-Star appearances to scapegoat in a hurry with the Pacers. He opted in for his 2015-16 contract despite a lesser role in Indiana. The Pacers gave everyone a fresh start by trading him to the Lakers, and he will return on Feb. 8. Coming with him will be one of the game’s all-time greats, Kobe Bryant, in what may well be his final Indy visit. Bryant led the Lakers past the Pacers in the 2000 NBA Finals, but he has been suffering from injuries more than playing the past two seasons. The Pacers are at the Lakers on Nov. 29.

WEST COMES EAST

vs. Spurs, March 7

David West, the Pacers’ locker room leader for four years, will visit with his new team, the San Antonio Spurs, on March 7. West passed on more than $11 million so he didn’t have to play with the Pacers anymore, but his decision to come to Indiana in 2011, passing on a potential championship with the Celtics of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo, was a key factor in the team playing in back-to-back Eastern Conference finals. Replacing West’s presence is a key question facing the Pacers this season. Indiana is in San Antonio on Dec. 21.

MAIN ATTRACTION

vs. Cavaliers, Feb. 1 and April 6

LeBron James is the biggest draw in the sport, even if he hasn’t won Most Valuable Player in a little while. He was the sworn enemy of Pacers fans when he played for the Miami Heat. The venom may have dissipated a little now that he’s again a Cleveland Cavalier but if the Pacers plan on going anywhere in the postseason, they have to go through the Cavs. Indiana hosts Cleveland Feb. 1 and April 6, while matchups in Cleveland are Nov. 8 and Feb. 29.

THE CHAMPS

vs. Warriors, Dec. 8

The Golden State Warriors combined high-octane offense with just enough defense to win the NBA title last season. Fans love watching Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, et al, and their style is what the Pacers want to emulate as they rebuild with newcomers Ellis, Jordan Hill, Myles Turner, etc. The matchup at Bankers Life is Dec. 8.

REMEMBER THEM AS KIDS?

A lot of former high school stars from the area are scheduled to play the Pacers: Gordon Hayward (Brownsburg/Butler/Jazz) on Oct. 31 (fans could dress like him), Eric Gordon (North Central/IU/Pelicans) on March 24, Jeff Teague (Pike/Hawks) on Dec. 28 and Jan. 28, Gary Harris (Hamilton Southeastern/Nuggets) on Jan. 30, Josh McRoberts (Carmel/Heat) on Nov. 6 and Dec. 11. Former Butler coach Brad Stevens brings the Boston Celtics in on Nov. 4 and March 15.

2015-16 PACERS SCHEDULE

Oct. 28: at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 29: Memphis, 7 p.m.

Oct. 31: Utah, 7 p.m.

Nov. 3: at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 4: Boston, 7 p.m.

Nov. 6: Miami, 8 p.m., ESPN

Nov. 8: at Cleveland, 3:30 p.m.

Nov. 9: Orlando, 7 p.m.

Nov. 11: at Boston, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 13: Minnesota, 7 p.m.

Nov. 16: at Chicago, 8 p.m.

Nov. 18: at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Nov. 21: Milwaukee, 7 p.m., NBATV

Nov. 24: at Washington, 7 p.m.

Nov. 27: Chicago, 8 p.m.

Nov. 29: at L.A. Lakers, 9:30 p.m.

Dec. 2: at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.

Dec. 3: at Portland, 10 p.m.

Dec. 5: at Utah, 9 p.m.

Dec. 8: Golden State, 7 p.m.

Dec. 11: Miami, 7 p.m., ESPN

Dec. 12: at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 14: Toronto, 7 p.m.

Dec. 16: Dallas, 7 p.m.

Dec. 18: Brooklyn, 7 p.m.

Dec. 19: at Memphis, 8 p.m.

Dec. 21: at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.

Dec. 23: Sacramento, 7 p.m.

Dec. 26: at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

Dec. 28: Atlanta, 7 p.m.

Dec. 30: at Chicago, 8 p.m.

Dec. 31: Milwaukee, 6 p.m.

Jan. 2: Detroit, 7 p.m.

Jan. 4: at Miami, 7:30 p.m., NBA TV

Jan. 6: at Orlando, 7 p.m.

Jan. 8: at New Orleans, 8 p.m.

Jan. 10: at Houston, 7 p.m.

Jan. 12: Phoenix, 7 p.m.

Jan. 13: at Boston, 8 p.m., ESPN

Jan. 15: Washington, 7 p.m.

Jan. 17: at Denver, 8 p.m.

Jan. 19: at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

Jan. 22: at Golden State, 10:30 p.m., ESPN

Jan. 23: at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.

Jan. 26: L.A. Clippers, 7 p.m.

Jan. 28: Atlanta, 7 p.m.

Jan. 30: Denver, 7 p.m.

Feb. 1: Cleveland, 7 p.m.

Feb. 3: at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 5: at Atlanta, 7 p.m., ESPN

Feb. 6: Detroit, 7 p.m.

Feb. 8: L.A. Lakers, 7 p.m.

Feb. 10: Charlotte, 7 p.m.

Feb. 19: at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m., ESPN

Feb. 21: at Orlando, 6 p.m.

Feb. 22: at Miami, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 24: New York, 7 p.m.

Feb. 26: Charlotte, 7 p.m.

Feb. 28: Portland, 6 p.m.

Feb. 29: at Cleveland, 7 p.m., NBA TV

Mar. 2: at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.

Mar. 4: at Charlotte, 7 p.m.

Mar. 5: at Washington, 7 p.m.

Mar. 7: San Antonio, 7 p.m.

Mar. 12: at Dallas, 2 p.m.

Mar. 13: at Atlanta, 6 p.m., NBA TV

Mar. 15: Boston, 7 p.m.

Mar. 17: Toronto, 7 p.m.

Mar. 19: Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.

Mar. 21: Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Mar. 24: New Orleans, 7 p.m., NBA TV

Mar. 26: at Brooklyn, 6 p.m.

Mar. 27: Houston, 6 p.m.

Mar. 29: Chicago, 7 p.m.

Mar. 31: Orlando, 7 p.m.

Apr. 2: at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.

Apr. 3: at New York, 7:30 p.m.

Apr. 6: Cleveland, 7 p.m., ESPN

Apr. 8: at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.

Apr. 10: Brooklyn, 6 p.m.

Apr. 12: New York, 7 p.m.

Apr. 13: at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.