Live Thread: Cavs @ Suns (#TimeToGoSupernova)

After three straight games of ice cold shooting (the last of which was also accompanied by a total defensive collapse), the Cavs should be due for an explosion of epic proportions. Especially against the imploding celestial body that is the Phoenix Suns these days. The Cavs’ shooting stars have been anything but lately, as gravity and isolation have dragged their overall shooting percentage down to just 35% (90-255) since they last lit up the sky against the Sixers. The long range bombs have been an even less successful 25% (21-83) in that time. Fortunately, they face off against a Suns team that has spiraled out of orbit this season, and is on the verge of a complete meltdown.

The Suns are now down two starters, with Eric Bledsoe (who had been having a stellar year) suffering a knee injury that reportedly will keep him out until after the All-Star break, and the ongoing misadventures of Markieff Morris who is serving a two game suspension for literally throwing in the towel… right at his coach’s head.

While the Cavs have lost two straight, and are coming off of an embarrassing loss to the Trailblazers, the Suns can one-up them on that front having lost four straight, including Saturday’s debacle at home where they handed the lowly 76ers (who were without Jahlil Okafor) their first road win of the year. And, as if getting a face-full of sweaty terrycloth wasn’t humiliation enough… Coach Jeff Hornacek’s seat has been hotter than the surface of the sun lately, with Phoenix management firing two of his assistant coaches against his wishes. It may only be a matter of time before Hornacek himself burns up or out.

The Cavs don’t have nearly the issues the Suns have, but their lackluster performance on Saturday has certainly given rise to a nebula of questions and concerns. Mostly, they could use a return to a larger rotation, and a return to sharing the ball the way they had been doing earlier in the season. Everyone is healthy and available on the Cavs’ side of things, as Kyrie Irving will return from a scheduled day of rest. Hopefully, with a day off to dwell on the mysteries of their basketball universe, they can return with enough fire power to inflict a massive and catastrophic destruction on the unstable Suns. If not, things might get a whole lot hotter for Coach David Blatt, LeBron and the rest of the team.

Projected starting lineup for the Cavs: C Timofey Mozgov; PF Kevin Love; SF LeBron James; SG J.R. Smith; PG Kyrie Irving. And for the Suns: C Alex Len; PF Jon Leuer; SF P.J. Tucker; SG Devin Booker; PG Brandon Knight.

Gametime is 9 p.m. (EST)/6 p.m. for those of you on the West Coast, and all the action can be seen on Fox Sports Ohio… or heard on WTAM 1100.

Since I’m already on a positive kick… I’ll predict the Cavs to go supernova tonight and light up the NBA galaxy… while leaving the Suns to get sucked into the resulting supermassive black hole. Prediction: Cavs 112, Suns 84.