Cleveland Cavaliers: Expectations for before the 2019-20 All-Star break

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Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images /

February

As the calendar flips to the second month of 2020, the load gets lighter for the Wine and Gold. There are only 11 games on the schedule this month, with five before the All-Star break and six afterward.

Focusing on the first five games of the month, the Cavaliers welcome in the Golden State Warriors, Knicks, Clippers, and Hawks. For their lone road game before the break, the Wine and Gold visit the new-look Oklahoma City Thunder, who lost Paul George and Russell Westbrook this offseason via trade.

While most of these games can be competitive contests, the Wine and Gold will likely be dealing with trade rumors for their veteran players. Kevin Love and Tristian Thompson both will have their name in the rumor mill by this time and the hope is that these rumors are not too distracting for the rest of the team.

With those rumors about two Cleveland big men, this will be a good point in the season to judge what Ante Zizic has done. Last season after the All-Star break, the young center averaged 10.2 points and 6.3 rebounds in 22.8 minutes per game in 18 appearances out of a possible 24 (per NBA.com), showing that he has promise.

If both Love and Thompson are out mid-season, it will be Zizic’s time to shine along with Nance. Post-All-Star break in 2018-19, Nance was playing 28.3 minutes per night and was scoring 10.1 points and grabbing 8.2 rebounds, to go with 3.6 assists per game (per NBA.com).

These two young big men could be thrust into significant roles, but if last season is any indication they will be up to the task.

Recap

After navigating through the Cavaliers’ first-half schedule, they do have some tough stretches and long road trips they will have to overcome.

As stated throughout the article, the number of wins may be minimal (I see the Cavs winning just 12-14 games by mid-February), but it is all about how they battle during games.

Next. Cavs: 3 things to watch for in preseason action. dark

Sure, wins are what this game is ultimately about, but for now, it is about developing chemistry and a core of young players that will be around for when this team can turn the ship around.