Live Thread: Mavs @ Cavs

Good evening CtB!

Tonight is another marquee matchup of two playoff seeking teams, with the Dallas Mavericks traversing north to the shores of Lake Erie to take on the hospital Cavs. Things have changed a lot since the Cavs went to the Big D and handed Luka Dončić and the Mavs a thorough beat down 114-96. That game was dominated by Tower City along with Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love off the bench, all of whom easily rendered Dončić’s triple double useless.

Now, there are only two surviving players among those five: Lauri Markkanen and Kevin Love. And besides the decimation of the Cavs’ roster to injuries, the Dallas Mavericks are playing their best ball of the season and are a dark horse candidate to make a deep playoff run. If the Cavs have any designs on winning tonight, they will require a MVP level performance from Darius Garland, along with some vintage Minnesota Kevin Love and a dash of “Robert Horry clutchness” from Lauri Markkanen. Also, perhaps J.B. Bickerstaff will let Moses Brown loose on his former squad? Or is that too much to ask?

The calculator paints a very interesting picture about tonight’s matchup. One could argue that these two teams are mirror images of each other. How are the Mavs winning this year? By slowing the game down to a crawl with lockdown defense and “good enough” offense. This game will be decided by which defense can impose its will on the other. Another key matchup will be on the boards, with the Cavs’ 11th ranked offensive rebounding rate versus the Mavs’ 11th ranked defensive rebounding rate. Can the Cavs manufacture some extra looks? Stay tuned.

Tip off is scheduled for 7:00PM ET and will be broadcasted live on Bally Sports Ohio/Great Lakes, Go Cavs!