2 Goods, 1 bad to watch in Indiana Pacers game vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Bad – Three-point variance

Three-point shooting is what runs the NBA nowadays. If a team can’t shoot the three-ball at an efficient clip, they probably won’t end up winning many games.

Luckily for the Indiana Pacers, they have plenty of guys who can shoot threes. In fact, in their first game against the Wizards, they shot 20-of-43 from distance (46.5%).

A look back at their preseason game against the Cavaliers reveals a similar success, as in that game, the Pacers shot 13-of-34 (38.2%) from behind the arc.

That said, what once goes up may also have to come down. Their percentage against the Cavaliers (38.2%) is a somewhat reasonable goal for shooting throughout the season, but shooting 46.5% just isn’t going to happen every game.

And on the flip side, in the Pacers’ preseason win over the Cavaliers, which they won 109-104, Cleveland shot just 11-of-35 (31.4%) from behind the arc.

Cleveland added great three-point shooters to their roster this summer in Max Strus and Georges Niang, and both Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland can fill it up from deep, too.

The Pacers need to be ready for games where their shot isn’t there and the opponent’s is. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but rather a bad thing the Pacers need to prepare for, especially against the Cavaliers, who are fresh off a win over the Brooklyn Nets in which they shot 17-of-43 (39.5%) from distance.