Cavaliers at Pistons
THE STORY: It is only the first week of the season, but the Cavaliers and Pistons are already familiar with each other. Wednesday’s game marks the third time the teams have met, although the first two came in the preseason. The road team won both times. “The preseason and regular season is different as night and day,” Cavaliers guard Ramon Sessions said. “It’s going to be a totally different team out there. But we know them well and they know us well.” The game will feature the top two point guards selected in last summer’s draft. The Cavaliers took Kyrie Irving first overall and the Pistons selected Brandon Knight eighth. The two went head-to-head at the Cavaliers’ pre-draft private workouts, but Irving was widely considered the best player available. “Kyrie is definitely a true point guard,” Cavaliers coach Byron Scott said. “I think Brandon has the ability to be a true point guard, but I think it’s something he has to learn, it doesn’t come natural for him.”
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cleveland), FS Detroit
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (0-1): Irving had a tough debut in Monday’s 104-96 home loss to the Toronto Raptors. He had six points, seven assists and only one turnover, but shot 2 of 12 from the floor. Scott didn’t like some of the gambles he took defensively or some of his shot choices, but was at least happy to see he wanted the ball in his hands in the fourth quarter and wasn’t afraid of the moment with the game on the line.
ABOUT THE PISTONS (0-1): Detroit’s lack of height was apparent in Monday’s 91-79 loss at the Indiana Pacers. The Pistons were outrebounded 53-40 by the longer Pacers and really fell into trouble when 6-foot-11 Greg Monroe was plagued with early foul trouble. Forward Charlie Villaneuva, who is 6 feet 11, remains out while serving a four-game suspension. The good news is the Cavaliers don’t have much size either, and Pistons bruiser Jason Maxiell had some success overpowering the Cavaliers in the middle in the preseason.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Sessions, the Cavaliers’ backup point guard, hit a pair of 3-pointers Monday against the Raptors. He had three all of last season.
2. Pistons forward Jonas Jerebko had 17 points and five rebounds in his first game back Monday after missing all of last season with a partially torn right Achilles.
3. Cavaliers forward Alonzo Gee was at practice Tuesday and feeling fine after slipping off the rim following a dunk Monday and landing on the back of his head. Gee said it happened to him once before in high school.