Predicting how the Cleveland Cavaliers will do against the Atlantic Division

How the Cavs stack up against the Celtics in 2019-20

The Boston Celtics no longer have the ball-handling and isolation scoring wizardry of Kyrie Irving, but considering the awkwardness seemingly around the team last year, they could be better off in 2019-20.

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They will be just fine with Kemba Walker now as Irving’s replacement at the point guard position; Walker is one of the league’s best point guards and a willing passer. Walker had 25.6 points on 55.8% true shooting, 5.9 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game last year for the Charlotte Hornets, per Basketball Reference.

I’d expect Walker to carve up the likes of Collin Sexton and/or Darius Garland in pick-and-roll/at the point of attack, and I’d imagine Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Gordon Hayward and Marcus Smart will feast in handoff/pick-and-roll situations against Osman, Jordan Clarkson and likely a rookie at times in Windler.

Boston will undoubtedly miss the all-around play of Al Horford as a scorer/pick-and-pop man, screener and most importantly, passer (he was second on Boston in assists per game last season with 4.2, per NBA.com), and that’s clear.

They’ll still have plenty of playmaking/ball and man movement next year, though, and they should find favorable matchups against the Cavs, anyhow.

Throw in the rolling/screening and post-up presence of new arrival Enes Kanter at the 5 for long stretches, and Cleveland will feasibly have to double down some, which will likely lead to open catch-and-shoot three-point looks for Tatum, Brown, Hayward, Walker, Smart and I would think rookies Grant Williams and Carsen Edwards on occasion, too.

Maybe the Cavs can lure Jayson Tatum and Brown into tough contested two’s after hard closeouts?

I would think that’s a good possibility, but the drives will likely be there if Boston is persistent enough, though, and Cleveland’s only viable presence at the rim is likely John Henson, who only played 14 games last season (per Basketball Reference) due to reported wrist ligament surgery.

Offensively, I’d think the Cavs should be able to take advantage of Kanter, and Larry Nance Jr. should find some lob opportunities with naturally wings in Tatum and Hayward on him at times, or Kanter, who does not offer much in terms of verticality.

The C’s without Horford will likely need to double Love some, and I’d think the Cleveland Cavaliers should get some more consistent movement than last year against the Celtics, when they were often stagnant.

Though Tatum, Semi Ojeleye and Hayward I’d think would be effective primary defenders against Osman, Garland, Sexton and likely Windler and at times Porter should find spot-ups. Matched up some against bench players, Jordan Clarkson and Matthew Dellavedova, along with Brandon Knight, should find some playmaking and scoring opportunities in pick-and-roll, too.

To a large degree, though, on-ball creation will be tough for the Cavs in these matchups.

Shots near the rim will be tough for the Cavaliers against versatile defenders outside of Kanter and with rim protectors such as Robert Williams III and Daniel Theis, and coupled with Walker being a more capable on-ball presence than Irving for the Celtics against point guards, some runouts for the Celtics will probably ensue, making it even harder for Cleveland.

Predicting the Cavs’ record against Boston in 2019-20: 0-4

Boston was 4-0 last season against the Cavaliers, and though the loss of Horford will hurt them some I would imagine overall, I’d expect even some young role pieces in wing Romeo Langford and a nice young post scorer/playmaker and defender in Grant Williams to give bench players on Cleveland problems.

Cleveland might win in the rebounding department and have some moments from deep from Windler, but considering the Celtics are a similar team in terms of talent and depth in their rotation as last year I believe, I don’t see the Cavs beating them.

Boston had their second best net rating last year against Cleveland in comparison to the rest of their opponents (per NBA.com). I see more of the same in 2019-20.