The Indiana Pacers believe in taking it one step at a time. Team president Larry Bird and company have taken the necessary steps to gradually cleanse the roster. They’ve brought in “good guys,” some of whom also are good defenders. The next step is to return to the playoffs, a tournament they haven’t participated in since 2006. Will that happen this season? It will be difficult. Still, there are reasons for optimism. Five, in fact . . .

1. Upgrade on defense

Overlooking their recent preseason performance, the Pacers’ defense can’t get much worse than last season.

Right?

Fixing it was Bird’s offseason priority.

“We enter this season having looked at what we thought was a weakness from the standpoint of the defense and drafted and signed guys we believe have the capabilities of making that a strength of ours instead of a weakness,” coach Jim O’Brien said. “We are very, very focused on getting the basketball team into the playoffs, but surprise, surprise, it all starts at the defensive end.”

Dahntay Jones and Earl Watson will spearhead what should be a more athletic, mentally tough defensive unit. They have brought an intensity to practice that O’Brien says is a “joy” to coach and watch.

With Jones and Watson on the perimeter, Roy Hibbert and Solomon Jones will man the paint and be the final line of defense to the basket.

2. Better point guard play

Starter T.J. Ford got a wake-up call when he spent the end of last season coming off the bench.

There shouldn’t be a controversy this season. Jarrett Jack went to Toronto, and Watson was brought in to be Ford’s backup.

Ford will have a better grasp of O’Brien’s system after struggling with the pass-first concept in his first season with the Pacers. Ford’s goal is to be a playmaker again after averaging a career-low 5.3 assists last season.

“I think T.J. is going to have a big year for us,” O’Brien said. “I feel very strongly about that. I’m thrilled to have him back for us.”

Ford and Watson will be responsible for setting the tempo defensively from the point.

3. Foundation is there

Jeff Foster and Watson are the only players older than 30.

The team’s core — Danny Granger, Brandon Rush, Roy Hibbert, Tyler Hansbrough and A.J. Price — are all under 27. Granger is an All-Star entering his prime. Rush, Hibbert and Hansbrough are expected to be in the rotation this season.

The group will have played at least two seasons together by the time the Pacers can go after 2011 free agents.

“We’re putting a team together that practices very hard,” Bird said. "I was always big in preparation and I know Jimmy is, too. We like guys that don’t care about individual stats, just wins.’’

Rush, Hansbrough and Mike Dunleavy won NCAA championships. Travis Diener, Ford, Hibbert, Luther Head and Price played in the Final Four.

4. Returning nucleus

After three consecutive years of mixing and matching, trades and injuries, the starting lineup tonight is the same one that played most of last season.

That group went 19-7 at home and 26-25 overall after Jan. 1.

They learned how to play without Dunleavy, whose return date is unknown.

This is the first time in O’Brien’s three seasons that he hasn’t had to teach his offense to a new starter. The Pacers return seven rotation players from last season.

“That really helps from the standpoint of teaching,” O’Brien said. “The returning players can also point things out and help some of the new guys grasp what we’re trying to do.”

5. Danny Granger

The face of the franchise is the only player in league history to increase his scoring average at least five points a game in three consecutive seasons.

He averaged a career-high 25.8 points, was named an All-Star, won the league’s Most Improved Player award and showed he could score on any player, against any team.

Now Granger is out to prove he isn’t just a product of a high-scoring system and that he can carry a less-than-elite team to the playoffs — like Miami’s Dwyane Wade did last season.

Granger spent the summer working on his one-on-one game and his defense. His goal is to shed his reputation as a one-dimensional offensive player and become known as one of the league’s most complete players.

“I think it’ll show in the wins,” he said. “That’s my goal. I’ve averaged a lot of points. I’m not sure I’m going to do that every year. I probably won’t. The transition now is you’ll see we’ll have more wins and we’ll be in the playoffs.”

That alone would make this season better than last season. And the season before . . . and the season before.