The Pacers might get Mike Dunleavy back much sooner than initially expected.

"Our medical people are very pleased with his progression," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien told the Indianapolis Star. "I've changed my view point to a pessimistic one from a standpoint of him being ready in the middle of the season to one that I'm hoping he'll be ready to go for game one."

Indiana will kick off the regular season on Oct. 28 in Atlanta. Following knee surgery in March, the Pacers said they didn't expect to have Dunleavy back until 2010.