Cavs at Pacers Game 4 Preview
The Cavs look to regain homecourt advantage with a win in Game 4.
After two disappointing games to start off the series, the Cleveland Cavaliers are on the verge of swinging things back in their favor. The Cavs will look to regain home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference Semifinals as they take on the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (1-2) vs. Indiana Pacers (2-1)
Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse - Indianapolis, IN
When: 8 pm EST
TV: TNT
Line: Cavaliers -5.5
Expected Cavs starting lineup: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Dean Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
Cavs injury report: No injuries to report
Expected Pacers starting lineup: Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner
Pacers injury report: Isaiah Jackson - OUT (torn achilles)
What to watch for
Zoning out
The Cavs turned the tables against the Pacers in Game 3 with a 3-2 zone, deviating from their usual 2-3 zone. The new look, which moves Evan Mobley up to the top of the zone to be an aggressive hawk, wreaked havoc on Indiana. Mobley’s length and natural defensive instincts make things exceedingly challenging for the Pacers' ball handlers. Tyrese Haliburton, who had just four points in Game 3, saw passing and driving lanes get closed up quickly.
It should be expected that the Pacers will be countering in some fashion. The 3-2 zone exposes the corner for more three-point attempts, which could be problematic. Indiana took 14% of their shots in Game 2 from the corner (87th percentile) and 12% in Game 1.
It should also be expected that Haliburton is going to take umbrage with his poor performance in Game 3.
Is Ty Jerome alright?
No, but seriously, is Ty Jerome alright? The Sixth-Man of the Year candidate has disappeared in this round of the playoffs, with a devastatingly bad performance in Game 2 and an alarmingly poor showing in Game 3. The Cavs outscored the Pacers by 32 points in the first half of Game 3 when Jerome sat and his shot looked flat once again. The patented floater has not been a viable tool in Jerome’s arsenal, and he has been leaving his shot short.
Jerome’s 13 minutes in Game 3 were his lowest since January 8th against Oklahoma City, and in the last three games, he is shooting 10-42 (1-12 from three-point land) with six turnovers. The Cavs may not need Jerome to win Game 4, or even the series, but their margin for error gets even narrower if he continues to play this poorly.