Cavaliers vs. Pacers
Tip-off: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Records: Cavs 44-26; Pacers 30-37.
TV: FOX Sports Ohio. Radio: Cavs Radio Network (1100-AM WTAM; 1590-AM WAKR Akron).
Projected Starters
Pacers: C Roy Hibbert; PF David West; SF Solomon Hill; SG C.J. Miles; PG George Hill.
Cavaliers: C Timofey Mozgov; PF Kevin Love; SF LeBron James; SG J.R. Smith; PG Kyrie Irving.
Injury Report
Cavaliers: SF LeBron James (sick) questionable; C/F Anderson Varejao (achilles) out.
Pacers: G/F Paul George (leg) out.
Dribbles
1. The biggest story involving this game is LeBron James and his illness. No one really cares about anything else. When you have LeBron on your team, you want him to play every time.
2. If James truly is just sick, and I have no reason to believe the Cavs are fibbing, then my guess is he will play. But if the Cavs think it'd be better to rest him, then guess what?
3. How's that for a solid prediction on whether LeBron will give it a go?
4. We'll know more around 6 p.m., when Cavs coach David Blatt has his pregame chat with reporters. Stay locked into Twitter, folks.
5. Either way, this is a game the Cavs should win. The Pacers are suddenly out of the playoff picture again -- but barely. They trail the Heat by just one game for the No. 7 playoff seed in the East. They are tied with the Celtics for No. 8, although I believe the Celtics own the tiebreaker.
6. Indiana leads the season series vs. the Cavs, 2-1. The Cavs didn't have either LeBron or Kyrie Irving in the last matchup, a loss Feb. 27 at Indiana.
7. I've written plenty about the Pacers and how they are a veteran team that could be dangerous come playoff time. It doesn't sound like Paul George will return, though, and that may have killed their buzz. Adding George and a lottery pick to this team next season may turn out to be a great plan.
8. As for the Cavs, they are still two games in front of the Raptors and 2.5 in front of the Bulls for the No. 2 seed in the East. The Raptors play at the Bulls tonight, so somebody is gonna get knocked down at least one peg. Basically, the Cavs could use a win for the sole purpose of separation.
