Are The Pacers Playoff Contenders?

I've made it no secret that I long for the Indiana Pacers to be successful again. Once upon a time, they had a great rivalry with the Bulls. That rivalry could potentially be rekindled in the years to come. The acquisitions of Darren Collison and James Posey not only improve the team, but make the Pacers instant playoff contenders.
The Heat, Magic, Celtics, Bulls, Bucks, and Hawks have already distinguished themselves as virtual locks for the playoffs, and to a lesser extent, the Bobcats. This leaves one spot open that Indiana has a chance of grabbing.
Let's start with Indiana's focal point--Danny Granger. Granger may be the best player in the NBA who isn't a household name. He's a 6'8 forward who can consistently hit the three, rebounds well, and has proven he can handle the scoring load for an NBA team. His time with Team USA this summer should only increase his confidence going into this season. He'll benefit from Collison more than any other Pacer.
The addition of Collison adds another scorer to the Pacers lineup. Collison filled in admirably last year for Chris Paul. So much so, it looked like the Hornets might trade the disgruntled Paul and build the team around Collison. Instead, the Pacers got a steal.
Collison can score in bunches and has shown a knack for getting to the basket. He can also hit the three. He shot 40 percent from behind the arc last year. Collison's driving ability should create open looks for shooters Granger, George, and Posey off the bench.
In order to acquire Collison, the Pacers had to part with power forward Troy Murphy. Murphy averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds a game, as the second option on offense. While Murphy will be missed, his departure allows second year forward Tyler Hansbrough to step into the starting lineup.
It's clear Indiana was looking to get younger. Swapping Murphy for Hansbrough will definitely accomplish that. Hansbrough was injured for most of last year, so this year will be critical to see how he develops as a player. If he's able to provide a decent post game, rebounding, and the occasional mid range jumper, he should fit in just fine.
At center, Roy Hibbert will get the opportunity to start. As his minutes increased last year, Hibbert appeared to be more competent offensively than most initially thought. While he'll be more valuable for his defense down low, how he fits in offensively with Hansbrough should be interesting to see.
The wild card for the Pacers this year is their first round pick Paul George. Drafted 10th overall, many think that George could be the steal of this year's draft. He played small forward in college, the position Granger already occupies, so he'll likely move over to shooting guard. Without any other viable options, it looks like George will have the opportunity to start immediately. If he can hit threes and defend like he did in college, he could be a surprise candidate for Rookie of the Year.
In addition to a young, talented starting lineup, the Pacers can bring veterans off the bench. T.J. Ford, Dahntay Jones, Brandon Rush, and James Posey all have experience as starters. The number of bench players on the Pacers roster that have started in the past speaks to their depth.
With the combination of a talented young starting lineup and veteran bench, it's not out of the question that the Pacers will challenge for the wide open 8th seed in the playoffs.