Live Thread: Trail Blazers @ Cavaliers

Fresh off a rare four-day rest, the Cleveland Cavaliers return to action tonight as they host the Portland Trail Blazers at Quicken Loans Arena. The Blazers are on the second night of a back-to-back, having lost to the Knicks in New York Tuesday night, but that doesn’t mean that tonight’s game is going to be a walk in the park.

Much has been made of the Trail Blazers taking a step back this season. At 8-8 after losing to the Knicks last night, the concern isn’t so much about their record, but the numbers behind that record. The Blazers have the second-worst defensive rating in the league, giving up 108.3 points per 100 possessions, just 0.1 fewer points than the Sacramento Kings. The signing of Evan Turner has been a total disaster. Signed to a four-year $70 million deal, Turner is shooting just 39% from the field and his Real Plus-Minus rating of -5.41 is the worst in the entire league by a significant margin. Fellow wing Allen Crabbe, himself the recepient of a four-year deal worth $75 million, hasn’t been much better. Crabbe currently has an RPM rating of -2.06, which ranks 71st just among shooting guards. Still, the Blazers have a pair of studs in Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. Both men are prolific offensive players who give them a chance against any team in the league.

The Cavaliers should be well-rested and ready to go. Their biggest concern may be rust with their long layoff, but given the Trail Blazers’ defensive woes, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Cavs put up some big numbers on offense. If that’s the case, this could be a fun game to watch in terms of offensive highlights.

Be sure to tune in tonight at 7:00 on Fox Sports Ohio to root the Wine & Gold on to victory, and be sure to stop by and share your thoughts here at Cavs: The Blog!