Pacers Open Preseason Action vs. Minnesota

May 30, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Indiana Pacers guard George Hill (3) drives to the basket as Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) defends in game six of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Indiana Pacers will open their 2014 preseason tonight against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and there are quite a few things to keep an eye on. Obviously the Pacers will look much different than they have in recent years, with both Paul George and Lance Stephenson not playing this season for different reasons. Indiana’s starting lineup will look quite a bit different tonight, and their rotation will also look different.

Tonight, the Pacers are expected to start George Hill, Rodney Stuckey, C.J. Miles, David West, and Roy Hibbert. Those five are likely going to be the opening night starters for the regular season assuming they all keep their spots, and it is a fairly solid lineup. Stuckey and Miles are the new additions to the team, and they are both quality players that can help fill the roles that George and Stephenson possessed last season.

It will be interesting to see how Miles and Stuckey fit in with the three other starters from last year, and also how rookie Damjan Rudez fares off of the bench. There are also some new players on training camp and preseason contracts to keep an eye on, and the two most intriguing players are C.J. Fair and Adonis Thomas. Both players have a chance to make the roster, but they will have to make a major impact with the minutes that they receive.

Unfortunately, the Pacers will be without three of their key role players for the upcoming season tonight. Chris Copeland, C.J. Watson, and Ian Mahinmi will all sit the game out due to small injuries. Don’t be too concerned about those three players, and they will all likely be back for some preseason action in the near future.

All of that being said, this will be the first look that Pacers fans get at their team for the upcoming season. It isn’t going to be a championship contending team, but they do have the talent to make the playoffs once again if they play up to their potential. Frank Vogel has a big task on his shoulders this season, and it all starts tonight.