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The Cavaliers, losers of 5 of 6 and 13 of their last 20 arrive in the Big Apple for a Saturday matinee against the Knicks, who have won 4 of 5. The Knicks are 16-22 at home and have been eliminated from playoff contention.
The Cavs get a break in that the Knicks' best player, Julius Randle, has been ruled out with a quad injury. Randle averages 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. Also out is Derrick Rose, averaging 12 points a game on 40.2% on 3’s, Kemba Walker at 11.6 ppg, and Nerlens Noel, their backup center and a solid rim protector.
The injuries leave the Knicks with a probable starting lineup of Mitchell Robinson (7’0”) at center, Obi Toppin (6'9”) at PF, RJ Barrett (6’6”) and Even Fournier (6’6”) at the wings, and either Eric Burks (6'6") or Immanuel Quickley (6'3") at point guard.
RJ Barrett is averaging 24.6 ppg in March but is shooting only 40.1%. He’s putting up 21 shots per game. Evan Fournier is hitting 39.3% of his 3’s and just set a franchise record for 3-pointers in a season, breaking John Stark's record from 1994. Obi Toppin, who many thought the Cavs would draft with the #5 pick last year, is averaging 7.6 ppg. However, he seems to gear up for the Cavs as this season in two games he is averaging 12 points in 13 minutes while going 9-for-13 from the field.
The Knicks are an offensively challenged team, ranking 27th in scoring at 106.4 points per game. Without their leading scorer in Randle they will be even more challenged. The injured players account for 44 points and 22 rebounds per game.
The Knicks are a 3-point team all the way, ranking last in the NBA in points in the paint. With Randle out there should be even fewer points in the paint. I'm looking for a blizzard of 3's.
They shoot the 7th most 3’s and are 12th in 3-point percentage. Fournier and Burks are hitting just under 40% from deep and Barrett is at 34.6%. Power forward Taj Gibson is shooting 45% from deep. He should get more than his usual 18 minutes today with Randle out.
The Knicks rank 29th in assists so it appears they do a lot of isolation. Randle likes to post up so they may play with a faster tempo today. The Knicks rank 5th in offensive rebound percentage so there will be a lot of offensive rebounds off missed 3’s. The Cavs’ wings need to get to the elbows and grab those long rebounds off the missed 3’s.
The Knicks also get fouled a lot, ranking 2nd in free throws. But the injured players, especially Randle, account for 40% of their free throws so they shouldn’t get to the line as much today.
The Cavs’ task defensively is simple; keep switching on the perimeter, contest all the 3’s, and don’t give up a lot of offensive rebounds leading to made 3-pointers. It seems to me that way too often when the Cavs give up an offensive rebound the opponent kicks it out to a wide open 3-point shooter. I think the Cavs have been very poor at getting back on their man when there is an offensive rebound. It's extremely discouraging to play great defense for 20+ seconds, force a missed shot, only to give up an offensive rebound and then an uncontested 3-pointer.
Mitch Robinson averages 4.1 offensive rebounds in just under 26 minutes per game, so somebody needs to box him out. At 7’0”, 240 pounds, that will not be easily done.
Defensively the Knicks are very good, ranking 8th in points per game, 4th in points in the paint, and 9th in block percentage. Robinson is an excellent shot blocker so the Cavs need to be aware when he’s in the game.
Their defensive weak point is fouling as they rank 27th in opponents’ free throw attempts per play. They are 28th in forcing turnovers, 24th in steals, and 25th in fast break points. They don’t gamble for steals on defense, they just play straight up and force missed shots, ranking 8th in effective field goal percentage. They don’t allow any second chance points, ranking second in defensive rebound percentage, although with Randle (6’8”) and Noel (6’11”) out it may be easier to get some offensive boards and also score in the paint, especially when Robinson is out.
In their last six wins the Knicks have allowed between 97-106 points so they definitely win with defense.
This has all the earmarks of a low scoring game. With Randle, Rose, Walker, and Noel out and the Knicks out of playoff contention the injury-depleted Cavs have an opportunity to steal a road W that they cannot afford to miss. Tomorrow they play the Sixers with nobody who can guard Joel Embiid so they need this win. They are two games ahead of the Hornets and Hawks for 9th place with five games to play.
Last night the Bucks, with Holiday, Middleton, Brook Lopez, and Giannis all out with injuries, lost to the Clippers 153-119. Just goes to show what happens when your three top starters are out. Cavs fans should keep that in mind as the Cavs struggle to hold their playoff position without Allen, Mobley, and Sexton.
The Cavs get a break in that the Knicks' best player, Julius Randle, has been ruled out with a quad injury. Randle averages 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. Also out is Derrick Rose, averaging 12 points a game on 40.2% on 3’s, Kemba Walker at 11.6 ppg, and Nerlens Noel, their backup center and a solid rim protector.
The injuries leave the Knicks with a probable starting lineup of Mitchell Robinson (7’0”) at center, Obi Toppin (6'9”) at PF, RJ Barrett (6’6”) and Even Fournier (6’6”) at the wings, and either Eric Burks (6'6") or Immanuel Quickley (6'3") at point guard.
RJ Barrett is averaging 24.6 ppg in March but is shooting only 40.1%. He’s putting up 21 shots per game. Evan Fournier is hitting 39.3% of his 3’s and just set a franchise record for 3-pointers in a season, breaking John Stark's record from 1994. Obi Toppin, who many thought the Cavs would draft with the #5 pick last year, is averaging 7.6 ppg. However, he seems to gear up for the Cavs as this season in two games he is averaging 12 points in 13 minutes while going 9-for-13 from the field.
The Knicks are an offensively challenged team, ranking 27th in scoring at 106.4 points per game. Without their leading scorer in Randle they will be even more challenged. The injured players account for 44 points and 22 rebounds per game.
The Knicks are a 3-point team all the way, ranking last in the NBA in points in the paint. With Randle out there should be even fewer points in the paint. I'm looking for a blizzard of 3's.
They shoot the 7th most 3’s and are 12th in 3-point percentage. Fournier and Burks are hitting just under 40% from deep and Barrett is at 34.6%. Power forward Taj Gibson is shooting 45% from deep. He should get more than his usual 18 minutes today with Randle out.
The Knicks rank 29th in assists so it appears they do a lot of isolation. Randle likes to post up so they may play with a faster tempo today. The Knicks rank 5th in offensive rebound percentage so there will be a lot of offensive rebounds off missed 3’s. The Cavs’ wings need to get to the elbows and grab those long rebounds off the missed 3’s.
The Knicks also get fouled a lot, ranking 2nd in free throws. But the injured players, especially Randle, account for 40% of their free throws so they shouldn’t get to the line as much today.
The Cavs’ task defensively is simple; keep switching on the perimeter, contest all the 3’s, and don’t give up a lot of offensive rebounds leading to made 3-pointers. It seems to me that way too often when the Cavs give up an offensive rebound the opponent kicks it out to a wide open 3-point shooter. I think the Cavs have been very poor at getting back on their man when there is an offensive rebound. It's extremely discouraging to play great defense for 20+ seconds, force a missed shot, only to give up an offensive rebound and then an uncontested 3-pointer.
Mitch Robinson averages 4.1 offensive rebounds in just under 26 minutes per game, so somebody needs to box him out. At 7’0”, 240 pounds, that will not be easily done.
Defensively the Knicks are very good, ranking 8th in points per game, 4th in points in the paint, and 9th in block percentage. Robinson is an excellent shot blocker so the Cavs need to be aware when he’s in the game.
Their defensive weak point is fouling as they rank 27th in opponents’ free throw attempts per play. They are 28th in forcing turnovers, 24th in steals, and 25th in fast break points. They don’t gamble for steals on defense, they just play straight up and force missed shots, ranking 8th in effective field goal percentage. They don’t allow any second chance points, ranking second in defensive rebound percentage, although with Randle (6’8”) and Noel (6’11”) out it may be easier to get some offensive boards and also score in the paint, especially when Robinson is out.
In their last six wins the Knicks have allowed between 97-106 points so they definitely win with defense.
This has all the earmarks of a low scoring game. With Randle, Rose, Walker, and Noel out and the Knicks out of playoff contention the injury-depleted Cavs have an opportunity to steal a road W that they cannot afford to miss. Tomorrow they play the Sixers with nobody who can guard Joel Embiid so they need this win. They are two games ahead of the Hornets and Hawks for 9th place with five games to play.
Last night the Bucks, with Holiday, Middleton, Brook Lopez, and Giannis all out with injuries, lost to the Clippers 153-119. Just goes to show what happens when your three top starters are out. Cavs fans should keep that in mind as the Cavs struggle to hold their playoff position without Allen, Mobley, and Sexton.
