CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers are no longer perfect in the preseason.
After back-to-back drubbings of the Boston Celtics, the Cavs were on the receiving end against the Indiana Pacers on Monday night, losing to last year's fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, 111-102.
Let's call it an early reality check.
During the most important stretch -- the first three quarters when most of Indiana's regulars were playing, the Cavs lost by 14 points (81-67).
Earlier in the day, members of the team talked at length about what they wanted to accomplish in the final two tuneups before the regular season opener, hoping to build on a pair of quality defensive performances and sharpen the movement principles in this new offense.