Live Thread: Cavs vs. Mavs (Pre-Season Finale!!!)

Moz is ready to #PinkTheQ… how about you?

Color me excited… because tonight, the Cavs finally say goodbye (and good riddance!) to the preseason portion of their schedule, and then get a full week to continue to heal up before the games that matter begin. Even though they finally got Kevin Love back on the floor last night, the Wine & Gold crew is still feeling pretty black & blue from their various physical setbacks and missing pieces. Without Kyrie, Shump, he who shall not be named/depicted, and very probably LeBron, who could blame the Cavs if they were green with envy at the healthiness of other NBA teams? At least they get to match up with an equally winless and banged up Mavericks squad at the Q this evening, who (sadly for them) still have two more meaningless contests to struggle through, and an owner who’s still seeing red following a disastrous off-season.

Yet, the overriding hue of tonight’s game will be pink, with the Cavs hosting their annual “Breast Cancer Awareness Night” in conjunction with Cleveland Clinic and Susan G. Komen Northeast Ohio to help educate fans and bring awareness to the worthy cause, as they #PinkTheQ.

Who do YOU fight for in the battle vs. breast cancer?
Join @imanshumpert & the Wine & Gold – share with #PinkTheQ 🎀 pic.twitter.com/VYYOLtJH4W

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) October 19, 2015

Though he’s no longer rocking a pink cast following his surgery, Iman has still been one of the most vocal Cavs in support of breast cancer awareness, having lost both his aunt and godmother to various forms of the affliction. He’s even created his own shirt you can order, with all proceeds going to support this worthy cause. Also, the good news about his missing cast is that Shump is making good progress on the road to recovery.

The Mavericks, like the Cavs, also have a slew of guys missing from their lineup, including Raymond Felton (left hamstring strain), Chandler Parsons, (knee surgery), Wes Matthews (left achilles surgery), Deron Williams (right calf strain) and JaVale McGee (left tibial stress fracture). Dirk Nowitzki, however, will start the game for Dallas.

The probable starting lineups should be: Mo Williams, Matthew Dellavedova, Richard Jefferson, Kevin Love and Anderson Varejao for the Cavs; and J.J. Barea, John Jenkins, Justin Anderson, Dirk Nowitzki and Zaza Pachulia for the Mavs.

With the Cavs (0-6) and the Mavs (0-4) a combined 0-10 for the preseason, they represent the only two teams in the NBA who have gone without a victory. So, this could turn into an interesting battle of winless attrition…

It's the 0-4 Mavs vs. the 0-6 Cavaliers tonight. Rick Carlisle: "Something's got to give."

— Earl K. Sneed (@EarlKSneed) October 19, 2015

The only other issue to be settled, is the race for the 15th spot on the roster amongst the Cavs’ training camp invitees. Jared Cunningham (aka Much Danger Ninja), seemingly has a strong grip on the lead, and this game could be the last opportunity for the rest of the field to make an impression. However, with a certain holdout dragging on, there might be at least a temporary additional spot for one more lucky D-Leaguer.

Tune in to Fox Sports Ohio, or 1100 WTAM, to find out how it all resolves at 7 pm EST.

GO CAVS… and #PinkTheQ!