Post-Game Grades: Pacers Smack Around the Cavs

This was my first chance to watch the Pacers so far this season and I think I got a pretty good feel for what the season is gonna be like. Two things jumped out at me.

First, this team revolves around Paul George (obviously), Roy Hibbert and Lance Stephenson. Those guys are the core of this team and will be for a good while.

Second, the bench. The reserve unit is going to be way better this year.

Lance looks so much improved from last season. There were hardly any points in the game where he was out of control, and when Danny Granger comes back there’s no reason Lance shouldn’t be up there in the conversation for 6th man of the year award.

C.J. Watson started this game in place of the injured George Hill (sore hip) and didn’t do anything spectacular — but also didn’t D.J. Augustin up the game. He should be solid backing up George Hill.

Luis Scola has also yet to show anything too flashy, but as the season goes on and he gets more comfortable with the Pacers he will prove to be a major improvement over Tyler Hansbrough.

As for the game itself, it was more or less an uninteresting matchup. The Pacers got off to a slow start, then took the lead with 4 minutes left in the first on a Paul George dunk and didn’t really look back from there. Both teams played sloppily throughout and shot poorly, but Indiana controlled the contest throughout.

The Cavs did manage to bring the game within 7 going into the fourth quarter, as neither team was able to do much in the third. But Indiana’s defense held Cleveland to 37 points in the second half, and Lance Stephenson caught fire at the right time to blow the game wide open. Ultimately, this was the Pacers beating a team that they should beat. To go 3-0.

Here is how each guy played individually tonight. Agree? Disagree? Express your thoughts below in the comments or yell at Jared (@8pts9secs) or Tim (@TimDonahue8p9s) on Twitter.