Full Court Cleveland: Talkin’ Cavs, First Trip To West, What’s Working, What’s Ahead

December 27, 2024

Go West, young men. That right there is what the Cavs are about to do — for the first time this season. It all starts Friday night in Denver.

We discuss that and a whole lot more on this week’s Full Court Cleveland from the Big Play Sports Network. Joining Yours Truly are Cavs Spanish play-by-play man Rafa Hernandez-Brito and show host Nick Pedone. Watch on YouTube here or the player directly below.

The game tips off at 9 p.m. Eastern on FanDuel Sports Network, on which you can also watch this very show.

Cleveland (26-4) enters with the NBA’s best record and riding a five-game win streak, having taken nine of their last 10. Meanwhile, Denver (16-12) hopes to recover after a Christmas Day loss to the Phoenix Suns.

Under the guidance of first-year head coach Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland has seen major strides this season. Atkinson’s flexibility and ability to adjust on the fly have been key to the team’s success.

Case in point: Monday’s win over Utah, where Atkinson leaned into a spacing-heavy approach to counter the Jazz’s twin towers. He had Evan Mobley anchoring the defense as the lone big, a strategy that saw Jarrett Allen on the bench for most of the fourth quarter in favor of more offensive firepower.

That move was a product of matchups, and it won’t be the same story against the Nuggets. Denver’s game is built around the dominant Nikola Jokic, the reigning MVP and arguably the most complete offensive center in the league.

Jokic’s scoring, vision, and high basketball IQ make him a nightmare for any defense, and Cleveland will need Allen to be at his best in containing him. His rim protection, along with Mobley’s versatility, will be crucial for keeping Jokic in check and limiting Denver’s easy baskets.

Adding to the challenge, the Nuggets will be without Aaron Gordon, who’s sidelined with a calf injury. Gordon’s absence is significant, as he’s not only a strong interior defender but also a key contributor in transition and as a vertical spacer.

With Gordon out, Denver’s frontcourt depth takes a hit, which could present an opportunity for Cleveland to capitalize on the paint.

On the flip side, the Cavs are also dealing with their own injuries. Dean Wade, who’s been dealing with knee soreness, could miss his second consecutive game, further thinning the Cavs’ rotation on the wing.

Combine that with the absence of Isaac Okoro, who’s already out with a right shoulder sprain, and Cleveland finds itself short on versatile defenders. This could open the door for Denver to exploit the gaps, especially with players like Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray providing a dynamic scoring threat.

Basically, the Cavs will need to tighten up their defense, especially in the absence of key wing defenders, while also capitalizing on Denver’s vulnerabilities without Gordon.