Cleveland Cavaliers Preview: Cavs vs. Golden State Warriors
By Zak Kolesar
Nov 5, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dion Walters (3) reacts after making a 3-point basket against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center. The Cavaliers defeated the Clippers 108-101. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE
The Wine and Gold will try to extend their winning streak to two on Wednesday when they head to ORACLE Arena to face the Golden State Warriors in the second game of their West coast trip. The Cavaliers (2-2) will tip-off with the Warriors at 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 7. The action game be watched on FSOhio or listened to via radio broadcast at WTAM 1100.
On Saturday the Warriors were able to get the best of the Los Angeles Clippers at the STAPLES Arena on November 3, winning 114-110 to capture the second win of the season. After the game that rookie two guard Dion Waiters had against the Clippers, he will have a tough matchup to deal with on Wednesday with Stephen Curry looking across him on the lineup. The Cavaliers will be playing their third game of a six-game road trip, and are looking to improve that road record to 2-1 against Golden State. We will talk about the Waiters-Curry battle following some brief statistics.
Cavaliers (2-2, 1-1 away)
Offensive Efficiency – 98.0 (20th)
Pace – 97.0 (6th)
Turnover Ratio – 27.9 (24th)
Effective Field Goal Percentage – 49.4 (13th)
Defensive Efficiency – 104.0 (22nd)
Average Points – 97.5 (16th)
Average Rebounds – 43.0 (14th)
Average Assists – 22.0 (13th)
Average Points Allowed – 101.3 (21st)
Warriors (2-2, 0-1 home)
Offensive Efficiency – 99.0 (18th)
Pace – 97.0 (6th)
Turnover Ratio – 25.4 (21st)
Effective Field Goal Percentage – 46.8 (18th)
Defensive Efficiency – 100.0 (15th)
Average Points – 96.8 (19th)
Average Rebounds – 42.8 (16th)
Average Assists – 20.8 (20th)
Average Points Allowed – 98.3 (16th)
The Cavaliers could have had Harrison Barnes with the No. 4 pick in the 2012 draft, but instead they opted to select Dion Waiters. Right now Waiters is averaging an impressive 16.3 points while shooting 55 percent from three-point range. Against the Clippers on Monday he was emphatically calling for the ball, sensing a hot shooting streak that was about to begin. Waiters, who shot lights out against Chris Paul, will face another tough challenge in going up against premier shooting guard Stephen Curry.
Waiters will also have to fight off Klay Thompson, who both happen to average 16.5 points and over 35 minutes per game. Kyrie Irving will also be a huge force in this contest, as the Waiters-Irving backcourt looked it’s best with 52 points against the Clippers. It has only been four games, but there have been numerous signs that this young backcourt can become one of the best in the NBA. Challenges like the one that faces them on Wednesday night are a good indication of how much room the two have to grow together.
The Cavaliers are still far from being a playoff contender, as they shoot a league worst 61 percent from the free throw line. With players like Anderson Varejao and Alonzo Gee hitting more than 85 percent of their free throw attempts. Andy has been the brightest of the group, hitting 65.8 percent of his field goal attempts and 86 percent of his free throws. Although the mid-range jumper is a dying shot, Varejao should continue to take it whenever he gets open looks at the top of the key. If opponents leave him uncontested in that area, then Andy should continue to shoot the ball.
I think that the Cavaliers can squeeze out a few more wins on this lengthy road trip, and one of those opportunities will come against the Warriors. It won’t be easy. The defense will really need to step up on the glass and the team will need to work out their problems at the charity stripe. These problems should be addressed early in the season, unless they will persist throughout.