If the Pacers expect to have any kind of success this season, they're going to have to be able to dictate the tempo.
They didn't do a good job of it in their season-opening loss to the Detroit Pistons. Indiana will be tested again when it takes on the Boston Celtics in its home opener on Saturday. The Pacers are having to get by offensively without their best offensive player, guard Mike Dunleavy. Dunleavy is out indefinitely with a knee injury. His ability to move so well without the ball and run in transition usually trickles down to the rest of his teammates.
The Celtics are going to try to force the Pacers to play a half-court game because they know Indiana doesn't a true low-post scorer. The Pacers won't have much success if they have trouble protecting the ball. They committed 22 turnovers against the Pistons.
Forward Danny Granger is coming off a 33-point game against the Pistons, but he probably won't get as many open looks against the Celtics, who are led by reigning Defensive Player of the Year Kevin Garnett.
PISTONS 100, PACERS 94: The Pistons forced the Pacers into 22 turnovers, which they turned into 19 points, to hand the Pacers their first season-opening loss since 2001. The Pacers shot nearly 50 percent and attempted 13 more free throws than Detroit but they didn't help themselves by giving up 14 offensive rebounds. Forward Danny Granger led all scorers with a game-high 33 points.
