Live Thread: Clippers @ Cavs

Good evening CtB!

Cleveland, it is game time (h/t Mr. Cavalier Austin Carr) and the Cavs will play host the Los Angeles Clippers in what should be a delightful slugfest for those who are connoisseurs  of defense. The Cavs will need to be ready for the Ty Lue/Isaiah “Hard Rock” Hartenstein revenge game as they embark upon the biggest home stand stretch of the young Cavs’ careers.

The Clippers are really an amazing story within this NBA season, losing their top three scorers and yet still treading above .500 water. It cannot be denied the excellent jobs the Clips’ front office and Coach Ty Lue have done. As a fan who’s been critical of Lue in the past, it’s not a stretch to say that Ty Lue deserves some type of Coach of the Year hype.

News, Notes, Stats…

It appears that the Cavs will be facing the G-League Clips, there are rumors they won’t have starting PG Reggie Jackson. The Cavs sound like they will be healthier than they have been in awhile with the possible returns of Caris LeVert and Lauri Markkanen. It looks like Coach J.B. Bickerstaff and the guys are pulling out all of the stops to end this recent slide.

There are three stats in regards to the Clippers that stand out. First, they are a tough as nails defense, easily top 10 in defensive efficiency. They’re defensive dawgs and they get after it. The second stat is how poor their offense is, close to bottom five in the NBA in efficiency. The Cavs have a massive opportunity to use their top five defense to really dominate the game and relieve pressure on their offense. The last stat is how poor the Clippers are rebounding the ball on both ends of the court. There’s an opportunity for the Cavs to crash the glass on offense and score some easy looks at the basket.

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