Indiana Pacers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: Game 2 preview

The Indiana Pacers hit the road for the second game of the season against the Cleveland Cavaliers. After a slow start by the Pacers to start the year, they look to earn their first win in Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.

The Indiana Pacers will look to correct its early-season woes in Cleveland this evening against the Cavaliers.

Cavaliers rookie head coach John Beilein has had to adjust on the fly to life in the NBA. That was evident in the Cavaliers’ season-opening loss to the Orlando Magic.

Traveling to Cleveland presents the Pacers with an opportunity to turn the corner and correct the mistakes that were evident in the loss to the Detroit Pistons earlier this week.

The Cavaliers are led by two familiar faces, Kevin Love and Tristian Thompson. Those two big men present an intriguing matchup for the two towers in Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner.

After a promising performance by Sabonis and Turner against the Pistons, where both finished in double-figures, expect the duo to build on what they established against the Cavaliers’ frontcourt.

Battling against Thompson and Love will prove whether the combination of Sabonis and Turner can sustain its success against a formidable matchup, consistency will be evaluated.

However, the Pacers will have the advantage in the backcourt due to the presence of veterans.

The youth of the Cavaliers will be tested on both sides of the floor. Collin Sexton and Darius Garland are two explosive guards but expect the Pacers to attempt to take advantage of their youth by forcing mistakes.

Both Garland and Sexton can attack the basket and get to the rim but expect the Pacers coaching staff to deploy a game plan that forces the duo to score outside the paint.

After agreeing to a four-year extension with the Cavaliers this week, power forward Cedi Osman will look to prove his worth.

Osman will provide a difficult matchup for T.J. Warren, who is coming off a hip contusion suffered in the season opener. Osman’s strength and ability to handle the ball forces defenses to hold themselves accountable from end-to-end.

In addition, the Cavaliers bench is more proven than the Pacers. With the services of Jordan Clarkson, Matthew Dellavedova, Brandon Knight, and Larry Nance Jr., the Cavaliers’ bright spot is their bench.

This is where the Pacers could have difficulty finding their footing.

Due to a second unit that has yet to be established, it will be imperative for the Pacers to showcase cohesion from the bench. Expect Coach Beilein to call on his bench early and often as he continues to learn about his team.

Coach McMillan and his staff will be doing the same.

Pacers fans are anxious for the team to earn their first win and rightfully so. After an offseason that included a bevy of acquisitions expect those pieces to gel versus the Cavaliers as the Pacers kick-off their three-game road trip.

Hopefully, the Pacers can start it off right.