Cavs Rewind + the Week Ahead

By: Will

Basketball life is good in the ‘Land right now.  The 12 game winning streak had me seat dancing like Taylor Swift at an awards show. 13-1 since January 15th and a ½ game out of the 3-seed in the East. The Cavs 12 game win streak was snapped Friday night in Indianapolis against the Pacers but we bounced right back to thump the Lakers 120-105 on Sunday.  Let’s rewind:

Last Saturday, Kevin Love returned to Minnesota for the first time and although the game was close until the early 4th quarter LeBron took over late and outdueled Andrew Wiggins for the win.  LeBron had 36 and Love put up 14 points and 17 rebounds.  Wiggins paced the Twolves with a career high 33. CAVS 106, Timberwolves 90

On Monday Philly brought their D-league team to the Q and while the score says we won by 10,3 the game was a lot tougher than it needed to be.  We definitely played down to the level of competition we were facing and it almost cost us.  After being up 19 in the third, the Sixers cut the lead to 80-77 in the fourth.  But we have All-stars and Philly doesn’t.  Kyrie rattled off 6 straight points and Delly hit a 3 to put the game away.  Kyrie finished with 24.  LeBron had 18 and 11 assists.  Cavs 97, Sixers 84

After a couple days of rest the Cavs took on the Clippers at the Q.  We got off to a hot start and did not look back the entire game.  Saying the Clippers got frustrated is an understatement as they got T’d up 5 times with Matt Barnes being ejected after his second.  After the game Chris Paul called out a female ref and got fined 25k for it.

Kevin Love bounced back from an awful game against Philly to lead the team with 24 points and 9 rebounds. Guys, about the girl ref though….would you? I think I might. Like, just to do it but it’s not a “no” for me. Cavs 105, Clippers 94.

So the Cavs played like shit and won against bad Minnesota and Philly teams.  They got way up for the Clippers game and blew out a good team.  Then came the Pacers Friday night. It was the second night of a back to back, the Cavs had to travel after the Clippers game.  Indiana has a bad record.  All these things came together in the wrong way and the Cavs came out expecting to win without any effort like they did with Minny and Philly.  They let Indiana hang around and then George Hill and CJ Miles got hot in the 4th quarter and it cost us the game and the win streak.  Kevin Love had 5 points for the 2nd time in three games which is a little worrisome for me. Pacers 103, Cavs 99.

Thank god for the Lakers though.  The Cavs ended that ugly 8 game losing streak against the Lakers in LA last month and we got them again coming off the loss to the Pacers.  Just what the doctor ordered.  Kevin Love looked like Kevin Love going for 32 and 10 (on 7/8 3pt shooting), Kyrie got a big double-double with 28 points and 10 assists and LeBron was two assists shy of a triple-double with 22-10-8.  Games like this make me appreciate how good this team can be when they’re on. As Kanye would say, “respect the artistry.” Cavs 120, Lakers 105.

The Week Ahead

The Cavs only play twice this week before 8 days off for the All-Star break.  Wednesday night we get Miami in the Q.  I’m actually excited for this game and is has nothing to do with D-Wade, LeBron, Bosh, or Love.  I LOVE Hassan Whiteside.  I hope he goes for 25 and 25 with 10 blocks….  But the Cavs still win by 30. How can you not embrace that kid’s story.  He played at Marshall (MACtion, baby!), didn’t get drafted, played overseas for years working on his game, didn’t make a team out of training camp this year and all of a sudden got his shot with Miami and is absolutely crushing it.  Plus Miami is terrible this year so I don’t feel bad at all liking one of their players that isn’t Wade or Bosh. This game is nationally televised on ESPN.

After Miami, we go to Chicago for another primetime game on TNT. The Bulls are a mess lately so this doesn’t really worry me that much.  I’m looking forward to a nice 34-21 record heading into All-Star weekend.

Editor’s note: Will is now an Uber driver in Cleveland on the weekends since Bottlegate.com isn’t exactly paying the bills yet. If you see a 6’7 driver pull up in a black Honda don’t be afraid to talk some Cavs with him.