Pregame Dribbles: Cavs Put 15-0 On The Line With Visit To Reigning Champion Celtics

November 19, 2024

Random dribbles ahead of the Cavaliers’ road game against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday (7 p.m. EST). …

1. Who is having more fun than the Cavs (15-0) these days? No one, that’s who.

2. The only team that could make a case is the Celtics (10-3), and that’s because they’re the defending champs. They also have a lot going for them this year.

3. But at this point, nobody has been as good as the Cleveland Cavaliers. Not this season.

3. You don’t need me to sit here and tell you how tough this will be. The Celtics want to show they’re still Beasts of the East (and the entire NBA). And let’s face it, the Cavs are due to lose. They’re not going unbeaten this season. I hate to say or even think that — but it’s just true.

4. If a game were ever set up for Kenny Atkinson and the Cavaliers to fall, this would be it. On the bright side for the Cavs, I’ve said that about six other times already this season.

5. Darius Garland shrugged when asked about tonight: “Same as always. Go out and get a win.”

6. The Cavs will be without Dean Wade, who suffered a sprained ankle in Sunday’s win over the Hornets. That stings, because Wade always does a nice job defensively and in the intangibles department. Isaac Okoro, Caris LeVert and Sam Merrill are all questionable at this writing.

7. I think the Cavs will need at least two of Okoro, LeVert and Merrill. Otherwise, man, the bench will be thin. Not what you’re hoping for against Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the champs.

8. The Cavaliers and the Celtics have the two highest-scoring offenses in the entire NBA. But Atkinson and the players know that Cleveland must be better defensively. As Ty Jerome said, there have been some “slippages” in that area over the past few games. “It’s an easy fix, though,” Jerome added.

9. Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen give the Cavs a chance on any night, and all are a go. Given the circumstances, they all may have to play a little longer tonight.

10. It’s also an NBA Cup game. I never know where to squeeze that in. So there it is. I love the floors of this in-season tournament, and the fact commissioner Adam Silver is trying to generate some buzz. The rest? I don’t really care. Sorry, just being honest.

11. I love basketball just the way it is, always have. So the NBA doesn’t need to worry about me. I’m already hooked. Games like tonight are a big reason why.

12. Do I think the Cavs can win? Yes, I do. I’m not about to start doubting this team. Do I think this could be where they finally could lose? Well, yes there, too. We’re talking about the reigning champs on their own floor.

13. After this, the Cavs immediately hop back on the plane and head back to Cleveland. They have a home game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. Then they get three days off, their longest break of the early season.

14. The Cavs are just one of four teams in NBA history to start 15-0. With a win, they’d be just one of two to go 16-0, joining the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, who won 24 straight to open the season.

The #Cavs face their tallest task of the unbeaten streak when they roll into Boston tomorrow night. #LetEmKnow

"That's the big one. You go in there and win, and finally, the national media will give the Cavs some love."

– @AmicoHoops pic.twitter.com/H3MnMcfwI9

— Full Court Cleveland (@FullCourtCLE) November 18, 2024