Dribbles: Yes, Cavs Sure Could Use a Win, at Home, Over Knicks

CLEVELAND — Random dribbles on the Cavaliers’ playoff rematch with the Knicks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Tuesday.

1. Yes, we are less than five games into the season. Yes, there are 80 more to go. And yes, we will be doing this until April. So we will experience at least fall, winter and spring before the season ends. 

2. That’s a long time. In fact, if the Cavs stay healthy, who knows? Maybe they’ll be playing into summer.

3. Anyway, the point is that it’s hard to view an NBA game as vital at this time of year. And I’m not about to refer to the Cavs’ next two games, both against New York, as vital. They’re far from it. 

4. But I will agree with big man Evan Mobley, who said, “It’s a big game for us.” Mobley is probably the least likely guy on the team to hype anything. He’s always cool, calm, collected. So if he says it’s big … well, we can trust that.

5. That said, it’s hard to put too much stock into the game when the Cavs are likely to be incredibly shorthanded — with Darius Garland (hamstring) and Jarrett Allen (ankle) still out. The Cavs are also missing backup point guard Ty Jerome (ankle).

6. But wait, there may be more. Donovan Mitchell (hamstring) is questionable — and get this, so is Caris LeVert (hamstring), the man who usually handles the ball when Garland and his backup are out.

7. While the Cavs could take all those injured body parts and build a pretty cool Frankenstein for Halloween, the Knicks are fully healthy.

8. Like the Cavs’ chances yet?

9. Oh, and the teams meet again Wednesday at Madison Square Garden. Oh, and the Cavs are 1-2. After the two against the Knicks, they open the inaugural Play-In Tournament with a visit to the Pacers on Friday.

10. There’s a reason why I keep reminding myself that the Lakers started 2-7 last season and made it to the Western Conference Finals. Or that the Cavs started 8-1 and lost in the East first round.

11. So would it be nice for the Cavs to beat the Knicks and exact a little regular-season revenge? You’d better believe it. That’s especially the case when the Cavs are home — where they’ve yet to win in two tries.

12. Still, without the majority of their playoff core, well, it’s hard to envision it being such a night for Cleveland. And again, that’s OK. We will be doing this until after another Super Bowl, another trade deadline, and even another start to the baseball season. It’s important to not get too worked up over results in October. Then again, for the Cavs, beating the Knicks is nice anytime.