LET THE GAMES BEGIN
On Wednesday night, we’re off and running – with the Wine & Gold tipping off the 2023-24 season with a matchup against Mikal Bridges and the Nets in Brooklyn.
The Cavaliers – who returned to the postseason after a five-year absence last season – come into the campaign with big expectations and a retooled roster that hopes to challenge in the Eastern Conference. Donovan Mitchell had a career year in his first season with Cleveland, Darius Garland continued his rapid ascent and Evan Mobley showed why he’s one of the league’s brightest young two-way stars. Jarrett Allen had another outstanding year, but he’ll miss Wednesday’s opener against his former team with an ankle injury.
The Nets went through seismic mid-season changes last year – making a coaching change and later trading both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant – and still reached the Playoffs. But, like the Cavaliers, Brooklyn made a quick First Round exit – bowing in four games to the Sixers. It’s Mikal Bridges’ team now, and one of the biggest stories of the preseason has been the play of Ben Simmons.
The Cavaliers took two of three against Brooklyn last year – including the thrilling win via Isaac Okoro’s last-second shot at Barclays Center in late March. Cleveland opens the home slate on Friday night against OKC at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
FOLLOW THE LEADERS
In Donovan Mitchell’s first season in Cleveland, he scored at least 30 points in his first three regular season games and at least 40 points in his last four. He shattered the franchise’s mark for three-pointers in a season, set the team’s single-game scoring mark with a 71-point masterpiece and was named to the NBA’s All-NBA Second Team at season’s end.
So, what will he do for an encore?
Mitchell got revved up for the grind in Friday’s preseason finale in Indy – leading both teams with 28 points, going 11-for-21 from the floor, including 3-of-7 from deep. The four-time All-Star scored 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including 2-of-3 from long-range in the third quarter alone.
In three games against the Nets last year, Mitchell topped the 30-point mark in the final two – averaging 25.7ppg on 41 percent shooting from three-point range.
Mikal Bridges was the key to the Kevin Durant trade from the Nets’ perspective, and the former Villanova star made an immediate impact in Brooklyn last year – averaging 26.1ppg in his final 27 regular season games after the deal.
Bridges has had some nice games against the Cavaliers in the past, but was outstanding in the final meeting last year – leading both teams with 32 points on 11-of-19 shooting.
NEW KIDS IN TOWN
Although the squad’s newcomers got a run in the preseason, tonight marks the official debut of Cleveland’s offseason acquisitions.
Max Strus was inserted immediately into the starting lineup, and in three preseason contests went 5-of-16 from long-range. Last year, Strus hit multiple three-pointers in 55 regular season games and in 14 of his 23 starts during Miami’s Finals run.
Georges Niang – who’s shot at least 40 percent from long-range in each of the last five seasons – saw action in all four preseason contests, going 10-for-24 from the floor overall, but 9-for-19 from beyond the arc.
With Jarrett Allen still sidelined, veteran big men Damian Jones and Tristan Thompson should see action on Wednesday.
Jones was rock-solid in the preseason – swatting two shots in the opener against Atlanta and three more in the win over Maccabi Ra’anana while hitting six of the seven shots he attempted. Thompson, who spent his first nine season with the Wine & Gold, grabbed five rebounds in two of his four preseason appearances.