Live Thread: Cavs @ Jazz (#BackToBacksAreWhack)

The Cavs finish up their four game run through the West Coast with one last stop in Salt Lake tonight against the Utah Jazz on the second night of a… you guessed it… back-to-back. For all the talk of the League trying to reduce the frequency of back-to-backs during the NBA schedule, this will be the Cavs’ 14th double-dip so far (with three more to go before the season comes to a close), and fourth just in the last two weeks. On the plus side, Cleveland has a 9-4 on the second nights of back-to-backs. They’ve had some of their worst defeats (the Portland game comes to mind), but also some of their biggest victories (like San Antonio) in them. On the minus side, it can’t be easy to get up for games on consecutive games… especially at the end of a roadtrip, against a team that is struggling to make the playoffs. Maybe the schedule-makers, or Adam Silver will find ways to trim the number back next year, but for now the Cavs will need a good effort to avoid one last potential pot-hole on the road before heading back home.

Fortunately, LeBron has fared pretty well on the second night of back-to-backs in his career…

Tonight will be @KingJames 224th game on 2nd night of BTB..his average of 27.8 is slightly higher than career norm..only Kobe 28.1 is higher

— Fred McLeod (@CavsFredMcLeod) March 14, 2016

And, the Cavs have built some terrific momentum over the first three games of this trip through most of California. Hopefully, they can continue their red-hot shooting from beyond the arc, so they don’t have to deal as much with the “Stifle Tower” Rudy Gobert in the paint. One guy they definitely won’t have to worry about is Jazz star and leading scorer, Gordon Hayward, who is going to miss this one with plantar fasciitis.

The Cavs probable starting lineup will be: Kyrie Irving, J.R. Smith, LeBron James, Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson (who reportedly gets the start tonight). For the Jazz: Shelvin Mack, Rodney Hood, Joe Ingles, Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert.

Game starts at 10:30 p.m EST (for you night owls)/7:30 p.m. on the west coast. All the action will be broadcast on ESPN and Fox Sports Ohio, and can be heard on WTAM 1100.

Prediction: Weary from the back-to-back at the end of a long road trip, the Cavs let the Jazz play things close until the second half. Cavs find a way to win and head back to Cleveland for some home cooking 99-87.