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Sorry I wasn’t able to file a report before Thursday’s wonderful blowout in Denver, sports fans. My big office move, along with the Cavaliers playing on the West Coast, has really kicked my butt. The sad thing is, I really had a great feeling about the Nuggets’ game. All afternoon, my mind was aglow with whirling, transient nodes of thought, careening through a cosmic vapor of invention. And yet, time ran out on me. I apologize. And I feel shame.
But I am, after all, the Optimist. So, it’s back on the horse for me.
Normally, I don’t do weekend games. Frankly, I feel that working weekends is for chumps. But first, I feel shame for missing the Nuggets win. And second, I have that same good feeling about Saturday’s game against Toronto. Just this morning, my mind was a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought, cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives. But first, let’s recap Thursday’s butt-whipping, shall we?
Before rolling into Denver, the Cavaliers got in the way of the high-octane buzzsaw that is the Suns and it wasn’t pretty. Cleveland didn’t necessarily play a bad game, but Phoenix shot 88% from the floor – two percentage points below their season average – and our road-weary Cavaliers were doomed.
But here’s the silver lining comes in …
Going against the Suns and Nuggets back-to-back is like going against the Globetrotters and Generals back-to-back. After facing the Suns, the Nuggets must have looked like a bunch of old men shuffling around the WalMart to our beloved Cavaliers.
Denver could have pulled out Dan Issell, David Thompson, Fat Lever, John Denver, John Elway, Lyle Alzado and Mork from Ork last night, and it wouldn’t have done them any good. Besides, you didn’t think TheBron was going to have two bad nights in a row, did you?
But that’s in the past. On Saturday night the Cavaliers return home to face Vince Carter and the Raptors. Toronto has only won two road games this year and by the time they roll into Cleveland tomorrow, they’ll be in the middle of a six-game road trip. Overall, the Raptors are 7-10 and they face Boston on Friday night.
Toronto’s futility on the road is easily explained. We went over this last year, but for those of you who didn’t pay attention or are just tuning in, it’s very simple. Two words: exchange rate.
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It really kind of sucks for Sam Mitchell’s squad down here in the States. But, by the same token, nobody told Toronto to get a basketball team. They already have the Maple Leafs, but I guess that wasn’t good enough for those hosers.
If I seem a little callous, it’s because I remember vividly the painful loss that Toronto dealt the Cavaliers late last season when All-Optimist All-Nemesis First Teamer, Jalen Rose hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to stick a dagger in Cleveland’s playoff hopes.
So, I can’t worry about hurt feelings. I have to call for a big, bad blowout on Saturday night. Put it on your bulletin board, Raptors! It won’t matter. The Cavaliers are going to skunk Toronto good at the Gund this weekend. TheBron loves a Saturday night home game; look for him to finally get his first triple-double. Big Z will bounce back from Thursday’s game. J-Mac will stay strong and the Thunder & Lightning combination of Drew Gooden and Tractor Traylor will dominate in the low post.
Let’s go with an offensive show since the Cavaliers are still trying to adjust to Eastern Conference speed: Cavaliers 111, Raptors 101.
You heard it here first, people. Feel free to use those digits for your Pick Six lottery tickets as well. Because I like you, it's on the house.
Hope everyone has a great weekend and please, always remember …
Keep the Faith, Cleveland!
Your pal,
The Optimist
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