While the NBA world is concerned about the effort of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Washington Wizards is the game they have certainly circled on their calendar. The Wizards have been loud about the Cavs being lucky not to face them last playoff, and do usually cause trouble to James & co., so it’ll be exciting to see who can back their words.
Cavaliers at Wizards
Spread: Washington Wizards -3.5 (-105) at BetDSI Sportsbook
Total: N/A
The Cavaliers hold team meeting, but still, get ousted from the Q
Without any coaching guidance and leadership, the players turned to the usual method of getting things sorted out and held a meeting before the home game against the Pacers. Sadly, it was a meeting for the media. Lue spoke of how great the practice was, the players were nodding their heads, confirming when they were asked if the team chemistry is improved now. But, nothing truly changed. The Cavaliers went out on the court and showed all the same flaws like before. The result was also the same. Revived Pacers, a team that should have been struggling to win any game, blew out the Cavaliers 107-124 in their own arena.
It’s no secret why the Cleveland Cavaliers aren’t champion Cavaliers of two seasons ago. It began last year when they simply stopped playing defense in the first full season under Lue, and it got ugly this year. The Cavaliers are allowing 111.9 points per game, on 47 percent shooting from the field and 42 percent from three-point range. On average, they lose a game by 7 points (this calculation includes the wins). After the meeting that was advertised as one that will solve their troubles, the Cavs allowed Indiana to shoot 54.4 percent and 16-of-26 from the three. The offense simply couldn’t keep up. James led them with 33 points (14-of-22 FGs) and 11 assists, but he also had 8 turnovers. Rose returned to score 19 points on 9-of-13 shooting, and Love had a solid double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. The Cavs started Tristan Thompson again, in an attempt to hold the fort, but the defensive troubles start with guards, not on the interior. Jae Crowder, freshly removed from the starting lineup, was team-worst -33 on the plus-minus. Fellow reserves, Wade and Korver, each missed 5 of the 7 shots they took and finished with 5 points apiece. All J.R. Smith did in 34 minutes of play, was to take 6 threes. He made two and actually improved his shooting percentage for the season.
Thompson was forced from the previous game due to a left calf strain and it is undetermined if he will suit up against the Wizards on Friday. Shumpert is sidelined with a knee injury. Lue wants to increase the minutes of his 34-year-old superstar James, so he would get into the rhythm. Seriously, when does this guy get sacked?
Place: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
Date/Time: Friday, November 3rd, 2017. 7:00 PM ET
TV Coverage: ESPN
Washington surrenders big lead, lose to the Suns
Playing without Otto Porter Jr, the Washington Wizards should have know better. After building a 22 point first half lead, they allowed complete comeback by a bad Phoenix Suns because they lost their defensive focus. Not having Porter, their top perimeter defender, proved costly, as Suns wing T.J. Warren exploded for career-high 40 points, 26 of which he scored after the break. The Wizards dominated a weaker opponent until they grew bored and remained defenseless until the end of a 122-116 loss at Capital One Arena.
After opening a 32-15 lead after the first quarter, Washington eased up, they couldn’t answer Phoenix’s fight. It was the usual playing down to the opposition thing for the Wizards team, one that had cost all of us betting them as a home favorite, when they barely manage to win. This time, it hurt them as well. Two-star guards and Mike Scott were the only players who contributed offensively. Beal was 12-of-25 from the field and 10-of-11 from the foul line to score season-high 40 points. Wall had a good night shooting the ball from the field, scoring 21 points on 10-of-18 FGs, but somehow managed to miss all of his 4 attempts from the charity stripe. He also had only 6 assists with 4 turnovers. Scott added 12 points and 8 boards and finished the game with the starting unit. The Wizards should have done more ball movement and be a bit more patient against a poor defense, trading good shots for great ones. Instead, they shot 44.5 percent and 33 percent from the deep, which are not bad numbers against more solid defenses, but not against the Suns, and not against any team when you allow 49.4 percent shooting to the opposition and force just 9 turnovers. The Wizards need to turn off the autopilot if they are serious about being taken seriously.
On top of Porter probably returning from illness, the Wizards starting unit will finally be complete with the long-awaited return of their ‘bad boy’, Markieff Morris. He was cleared from injury before the last game, but his debut was delayed due to league invoked suspension for leaving the bench during the Green-Beal skirmish few games back.
Cleveland Cavaliers at Washington Wizards Game Trends & Prediction
Betting on the Cavaliers is simply not recommended at this point. They have started the season 0-5 at home against the spread and 1-7 overall. Good news, they aren’t at home in this one. The bad defense continued in the last game, so it was another overs. The Cavs are 4-4 against the total points, literally alternating the outcome in each next game.
The Washington Wizards wouldn’t cover at home again, failing to return on investment all three times they’ve played in D.C. Overall, they are 3-4 against the spread. They are also predictable at home when it comes to total points. Each home game resulted in an over, while the Wizards overall O/U record hides it, as they are 4-3 this season.
Admi-Rank: This tool of mine is dynamic and unapologetic. It doesn’t know or care whether these Cavaliers went to three finals or if King James plays for them. The Cavs are in a free fall, and it shows. As for the Wizards, the bad loss to the Suns is a slip-up, but they generally have done a fair job to maintain their status.
This is going to be a tense game. The Wizards are angry at themselves for wasting a game, and the Cavaliers are surely not very comfortable with losing. Okay, they just want to play in the postseason, but if they continue to play like this, they could as well watch the postseason from their couches.
The books are not releasing the early odds, likely waiting to confirm the game status of Otto Porter Jr. It seems that Tristan Thompson will miss a few weeks, so the Cavaliers are back to square one with the lineup. Even if Porter sits, it’s also good for the over play, and that’s what you should be after here.
I expect the total to be set somewhere at 222 points. If that is the case, I would suggest you to go with the over. In addition, the Cavs are a bleeding beast right now, which is why I would go with the Wizards win as well.
My Pick: Washington Wizards -3.5 (-105)
Total: (odds yet to be released – if set at 222, take the over)
