Indiana Pacers schedule 2013: Fighting the Heat, Nets and Bulls for the East

Chicago got MVP Derrick Rose back after his ACL injury. The Nets swung a blockbuster trade to acquire Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Suddenly, it's more crowded atop the conference, but Indiana's regular season will give it the ability to show it's still a two-team race.

Nov. 6 vs. Chicago -- Indiana gets an early-season test against a Bulls team that should be a challenger atop the Eastern Conference once again. Bulls point guard Derrick Rose is back, which should be a test for a Pacers team that prides itself on defense. And any time the edgy Joakim Noah and David West face off, it's going to be a good time.

Nov. 9 at Brooklyn -- The Nets want to be called the new contenders in the conference, so the Pacers will surely face a motivated opponent. Two of the league's best centers, Roy Hibbert and Brook Lopez, go at it, and additionally, Indiana backup point guard C.J. Watson returns to his home arena of a year ago.

Dec. 1 at Los Angeles Clippers -- In terms of gritty squads, none can quite counter the Pacers. But first-year Clippers coach Doc Rivers certainly would like to see his talented Los Angeles team do just that. That's why Rivers left the Celtics, and how his new squad plays against a battle-tested Indiana squad will be a key teaching point. For the Pacers, it's simply a stiff test.

Dec. 8 at Oklahoma City -- A matchup of one of the NBA's best perimeter scorers in Kevin Durant and one of its best perimeter defenders, Paul George, should make for quality entertainment. From a wider perspective, both the Pacers and the Thunder will be fighting for the right to say they're among the top teams in their respective conferences.

Dec. 18 at Miami -- For obvious reasons, Indiana and Miami's meetings are among the most gripping of the league's rivalries. George has all along been dubbed a LeBron James stopper, and both teams have upgraded their rosters. Miami picked up Greg Oden with the hopes it can finally play with a true center to combat Hibbert in the paint. And Danny Granger finally gets another crack at beating the Heat after Indiana's playoff series loss two years ago.