Live Thread: Cavs vs Spurs

The Cavs final regular season match-up with one of the top two teams in the Association takes place tonight. It promises to be the biggest test yet in Tyronn Lue’s young head coaching career. The Spurs come to town without Tim Duncan, who is sidelined indefinitely with a knee issue. It’s a shame, because it would probably been Timmy’s final trip to the Q. Charles Barkley claimed in a podcast with Bill Simmons last week that, “Tim Duncan is pretty much done.”  I don’t know if I believe that, but I do believe that this year’s playoffs will be the ride off into the sunset for Old Man Riverwalk. We’ll never see his likes again.

On the Cavs’ side, they’re looking pretty healthy aside from their own old man, Richard Jefferson, who is battling a toe injury on his left foot. Rumor is the Cavs are considering shutting RJ down for at least a week, and if I were them, I might make that week last through the All-Star break.

Jefferson’s toe been injected once and it will be injected again right before All-Star break, Jefferson told ESPN.com.

So, it’s just one of those things where it’s manageable. It’s affected a little bit but it’s not surgery, it’s not anything. It’s just you’re going to have to deal with it. It’s a pain-tolerance situation.

Cleveland is coming off it’s most promising win of the Lue era last night over a feisty 25-21 Pistons team. The Cavs played excellently with the big three all scoring over 20, and Mozgov and Thompson also in double figures. The Spurs have had four days rest after drubbing the Rockets 130-99 on Wednesday. LaMarcus Aldridge, after notching only five against the Warriors, dropped 25 and 10 with five dimes against the Rockets while Kawhi and Danny Green each notched 18. Parker added 15 and seven assists.

Beating the Spurs is a tough task because they spread the ball so well, and take what the defense gives them. Cleveland played San Antonio tough in their first battle, but I fear a better game from L.A. than his six point stinker ion January 14th. Also key to tackling the Spurs is making Tony Parker work on defense. Parker decimated Irving in their first battle, dropping 24 on 11-18 shooting. Meanwhile, Irving was a measly 6-17 from the field. Irving has to make Parker expend energy on the defensive end. Key to that will be Kyrie pushing the pace and moving without the ball.

Bench production has to get better too. David West was a game high +17 for the Spurs earlier this month, with 13 points in 18 minutes. West will be most probably starting tonight. I really hope that Anderson Varejao was held out last night to give the Cavs that kind lift tonight. But Diaw, Ginobili, and Patty Mills are always dangerous. I’d also like to see a better game from Delly whose shooting has really fallen off in the last five games: 37% from the field and 35% from three. Let’s hope Mozgov’s improved play of late keeps up. Aside from the hulking Boban Marjanovic, Mozgov should have a decided size advantage against the Spurs. Shump will also hopefully bounce back from his -13 showing in the first Cavs game.

The marquee tonight is, of course, LeBron versus Kawhi. LeBron has a chance to work towards reclaiming his “best player in the world” title since being surpassed by Steph, Kawhi, and Dramond Green. Here’s hoping LeBron boxes out tonight, after doing a lousy job last night, and an even lousier job against the Spurs on the 14th. The King will have to keep playing unselfishly, moving the ball (and without it), and exploiting the size advantage the Cavs will have inside. Oh, and he’ll have to play defense all night. Just like this guy.