Live Thread: Cavs Vs Bulls, Game One

What do you wear to watch Cavs games? Do you go shirtless? If so, do yourself, your family, and your friends a favor and buy an official Cavs:The Blog t-shirt. It comes in black and red. Are you wearing a button down shirt to watch the game? If so, you need to relax and get a t-shirt. Again, Cavs:The Blog has you covered, see above. And, finally, if you’re wearing a t-shirt right now, check and see if it has a word cloud on it. It probably doesn’t, so again, I refer you to above. Today is your last chance to get these shirts. Remember all proceeds go to the Lauren Hill, “The Cure Starts Now,” tribute fund. Also, check out the five on five, which was posted this morning.

The Cavs face the Bulls tonight. This marks the rare occasion that the Bulls are healthier than an opponent, as the Cavs are missing Kevin Love and Derrick Rose actually appears to be healthy. The Cavs are also missing JR Smith tonight because he decided to hit someone in the head with a closed fist. He’ll be back in time for game three.

Kevin Love provided 9.7 rebounds and 16.4 points per game this season playing 34 minutes an evening. JR Smith provided 12 points a night during the regular season and almost ten points a night during the postseason. These two guys’ scoring will be missed, but the Cavs should be able to overcome it with extra scoring from Kyrie Irving/ LeBron James and extra Tristan Thompson garbage production.

To date in the playoffs Tristan has scored 7.3 points a game to go with 6.8 rebounds (3.8 offensive boards) in 25 minutes a night. Extra playing time and time on the floor without Kevin Love will allow TT to grab some extra rebounds and score more second chance points. However, he will not stretch the floor like Love. The Cavs will have to figure that out without Big T (although, his offensive rebounding abilities may help drag opposing defenders to him because they’re afraid a free Thompson will grab too many rebounds). James Jones and Mike Miller may both see extra floor time as well as Shawn Marion in an attempt to stretch the floor.

LeBron may also see time at the power forward spot tonight to keep Timofey Mozgov and TT off the floor at the same time. This would ensure the lane stays free for Kyrie to drive and cause chaos.

I’m predicting the Cavs win this game, 112-90. The Bulls are going to let their guard down and try to rely on Derrick Rose for offense when they struggle to score. That’s a game plan David Blatt can combat. Let’s just hope the Bulls don’t realize Jimmy Butler should be their offensive go to.

And, for Cavs fans who are skeptical that the Cavs can win this series, I refer you to Tom Thibodeau.

“The way they’re built, they still can do the same things,” Thibodeau said from Bulls practice. “They have a very versatile roster. The thing that makes them so versatile is LeBron (James), and Kyrie (Irving) because Kyrie can play off the ball as well as on the ball. LeBron handles the ball so much and he can go to (power forward).”

The best part about having a big three is that when one of them gets injured you still have two superstars.

Mike Miller and Iman Shumpert are reportedly starting tonight for JR Smith and Kevin Love. This means LeBron will start at the power forward spot.