The Cleveland Cavaliers are having a hard time finding consistency thus far this season. After a lengthy win streak that made them look like the heavy preseason favorites to win the NBA title, the Cavs are once again in a midst of a rut. Will they be able to turn things around in their next game against Brooklyn? Or will the Nets avenge their 110-88 loss to Cleveland a couple of weeks ago?
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Brooklyn Nets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Preview
The Nets can only do so much against the Toronto Raptors without big men Brook Lopez and Kevin Garnett. The Nets zoomed into a hot start and battled toe-to-toe with the Raptors for the most part the ballgame. Unfortunately, a disastrous fourth quarter wherein they were outscored 29-16, led the Nets to a 105-89 loss Wednesday night.
[sc:NBA240banner ]Brooklyn felt the full effects of Lopez and Garnett’s absences in that game, as the Raptors repeatedly abused the Nets’ slim interior defense. The Raptors scored 56 points in the paint against Brooklyn’s normally decent defense that allows just 40.4 points in the paint (PITP) per game this season. Garnett (7.6 PPG, 8.5 RPG) is likely to return to the lineup against the Cavaliers after getting a long rest. The power forward’s rebounding and solid rim protection should help the Nets in limiting Cleveland‘s (43.9 PITP per game) inside production.
Mason Plumlee, on the other hand, will continue to start in center in lieu of Lopez. Plumlee has been playing exceptionally well lately, averaging 16.2 PPG and 9.6 RPG over Brooklyn’s last five games. He finished the Toronto game with 23 points and eight rebounds.
Garnett’s return should also bump up the Nets’ bench scoring with Mirza Teletovic now sliding back to his usual backup role. Teletovic is averaging 10.6 PPG this season. Speaking of scoring, the guard combo of Deron Williams and Joe Johnson are currently the Nets’ top options on offense with Lopez still out. Williams and Johnson are averaging 16.2 PPG and 15.9 PPG, respectively.
The under is 8-2 in the Nets’ last 10 road games.
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Betting on the Cleveland Cavaliers
Not long ago, the Cavaliers looked like a team that has finally turned the corner when they strung together eight-straight wins from late November to early December. But a 1-3 record over their last four games have brought back memories of their shaky start to this season.
In their last outing, the Cavs were handed a huge 127-98 loss on Wednesday by the Atlanta Hawks. LeBron James scored 21 points to lead the Cavs followed by Kevin Love, who had 13 points. Big Three member Kyrie Irving, however, conspicuously had a so-so game, scoring just nine points to go along with six assists. Irving must regain his shooting touch against Brooklyn in order to keep the Nets’ defense puzzled.The Nets defense ranks 11th in the league with 98.1 PPG allowed per game.
It would be a big lift for the Cavs if Dion Waiters manages to sustain his recent scoring surge. Waiters is averaging 14.7 PPG over the Cavs’ last six games, third behind James (28.4 PPG) and Love (18.3 PPG). Irving, meanwhile, has experienced a dip in his scoring during that stretch with 13.7 PPG, down from his season average of 19.9 PPG.
Despite Irving’s low point production against the Hawks, scoring didn’t seem to be an issue for the Cavs, who went 37-for-82 (45.1%) from the field. The loss could be blamed more on their defense that allowed Atlanta to wax hot, especially from the three-point area, as the Hawks knocked down a total of 16 triples. Brooklyn (33.7%) isn’t as good as the Hawks (37.8%) in outside shooting, but the Cavs can’t afford to sleep on Williams, Johnson, and Teletovic, who are all shooting 34% or better from beyond the arc.
The over is 4-1 in the Cavs’ last five games overall.
