L.A. Clippers at Cleveland Cavaliers
Time: 8 PM ET
TV: TNT
Spread: CLE -5
Total: 207
Betting odds c/o Bovada
The Cleveland Cavaliers appeared on a quick track to mediocrity earlier this season, but have since reeled off an 11-game win streak to propel LeBron James and the Cavs within just three games of No. 2 in the East, where Toronto sits trailing the Atlanta Hawks by eight games.
The Cavs will play host to the L.A. Clippers in the first half of a TNT double-header. Early NBA game odds showed the Cavaliers as 5-point favorites at Bovada.
The total of 207 in the daily NBA spreads is appropriate given the offensive output of these teams. The Cavs average 101.7 points per game while the Clippers put up 106.7. L.A. has a plus-7 point differential, second in the West to only Conference leading Golden State. The Clips still boast a better record than both the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs, and the West is still very subject to shakeups with there being just five games separating No. 2 and No. 7. Winning these games for Doc Rivers’ team is vital because it will be a dog fight in the West until the last week of the regular season.
The Cavaliers are 18-9 at home this season and are 11-11 against the Western Conference. The Clippers have had success on the road, posting a 13-9 record away from Staples Center. The Clippers fell to the Brooklyn Nets Monday night (Feb 2) 102-100 despite 22 points and 20 rebounds from center DeAndre Jordan. Jordan leads the league in rebounding with 13.6 per game but the 22 points were an outlier for the offensively challenged center who typically scores about 10 per game.
Even so, he is an ultra efficient player and with Chris Paul setting the table for both he and Blake Griffin, the Clips pack a lot of interior punch.
Griffin took just 10 shots in the loss, which should not be the case given that Matt Barnes had just as many field goal attempts. Paul shot 8 of 18 for 20 points while having closed in but fallen short of a triple-double with eight rebounds and eight assists. J.J. Redick played just four minutes and will not be suiting up for this game due to lower back spasms.
In his stead, Jamal Crawford will likely get the start, but Rivers may choose to go with his son Austin to keep Crawford’s Sixth Man role intact. Crawford thrives off jumpstarting stale offenses or packing second unit punch, and at this point Rivers is likely better suited to starting and absorbing the easier shots from the starting unit. But that’s all guesswork, at this point.
The Cavaliers won 97-84 over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night as Kyrie Irving scored 24 points and dished out five assists. LeBron James had an off game going just 6 of 17 from the floor, but he still dropped 11 dimes.
LBJ committed six of Cleveland’s 18 turnovers, but the Cavs held Philly to 39 percent shooting. Kevin Love looked like his old self on the boards, grabbing 15, but he still can’t shoot the ball this season, hitting just 1 of 7 from the field. Having Love find his touch would make the Cavs indisputable contenders, but at this point it has been Irving who has been the least negatively affected by the pairing of Cleveland’s new ‘big 3.’
Owner Dan Gilbert said Love was by no means a sure thing as a max-contract when his deal expires, and it’s difficult to imagine his market value is anywhere near that now that he’s bricking threes and rebounding less. 15 boards may be a start to him re-establishing his identity. With his decline, the best power forward in the NBA title is up between LaMarcus Aldridge, Blake Griffin, Chris Bosh and Dirk Nowitzki. Love was nearly indisputably the best while in Minnesota.
Either way, the Cavs are rolling now, and Love has little to do with why. Over the last 10 games, he’s averaged just 13 points and 11 rebounds per game while hitting 37 percent from the field. He’s not just performing below his standards, but is nothing more than an overpaid role player with that production. His scoring average hasn’t been this low since his third season in the league, and his 18.6 PER is hovering around the league average (15).
