Predicting how the Cleveland Cavaliers will do against the Atlantic Division

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

The Brooklyn Nets made some huge headlines this offseason while adding Kyrie Irving via unrestricted free agency and executed a sign-and-trade for former Golden State Warriors superstar Kevin Durant, as was initially reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (and the highlight of that deal for the Warriors was D’Angelo Russell).

Durant is reportedly likely to miss all of next season, though, due to a torn ACL he suffered in the 2019 NBA Finals while playing for the Warriors against the Toronto Raptors.

Brooklyn should still be very formidable, though.

The Nets made the postseason in 2019 with good ball and man movement, and though losing Russell’s passing feel hurts a bit, Brooklyn will be more than fine with Irving’s gravity as a masterful three-level scorer helping generate opportunities for others by presence alone.

Moreover, the Cavs will have no matchup for Irving, and keeping Spencer Dinwiddie and Caris LeVert out of the paint won’t be an easy task for players such as Collin Sexton, Cedi Osman, Dellavedova and/or Clarkson, either.

LeVert was on track for a heck of a season last year before a broken leg cut that year short. He did come back from it, though, and for the regular season, had 13.7 points, 3.9 assists and 3.8 rebounds (per Basketball Reference), and it was a good move by the Nets locking him up to a three-year, $52.5 million extension (as reported by Wojnarowski).

Osman, who again, has had his struggles moving laterally and had issues in pick-and-roll coverage last season, could have a rough time with LeVert, especially if screens from new Net DeAndre Jordan to go with Jarrett Allen are involved, and given that, I’d think the Cavs could feasibly have Osman matched up a fair amount against new Net Taurean Prince, who will likely play the small-ball 4 often for Brooklyn in 2019-20.

Prince, who came over in a reported trade from the Atlanta Hawks (along with a future second-rounder) centered around Allen Crabbe and a Nets’ 2019 first-round pick, is formidable in his own right, though, and I’d think should feast on spot-ups next year (he shot 39.0% from deep in 2018-19).

Joe Harris and free agent signing Garrett Temple as spot-up/off-screen and cutting threats, to go with Allen/Jordan as rollers will likely give the Cavaliers problems, too, and realistically, the Cavs will likely just be picking a poison on the defensive end in these matchups.

On the offensive end, former Cav David Nwaba won’t be easy for Sexton, Garland, Osman and/or Porter to penetrate on, along with talented Brooklyn defensive forward Rodions Kurucs in regards to Porter/Osman, and with Allen/Jordan behind them, even more so.

Nwaba was very effective last year for the Cavs on the defensive end in his primary matchups, as KJG contributors have often noted, and he’s as versatile as it gets on and off-ball with his strong frame, 7-foot wingspan, strong and quick hands, and ability to diagnose ball-swings, leading to deflections often.

Garrett Temple, a solid veteran on the defensive end in particular, could make his presence felt against Cleveland wings as an on-ball defender and rotator to perimeter shooters, too.

Predicting the Cavs’ record against Brooklyn in 2019-20: 1-2

The Cavaliers will have their defensive issues, but the Nets will be a small-ball team, and in minutes where Jordan isn’t on the floor, Cleveland and Kevin Love should have more post-up and offensive rebounding opportunities, and I’d think Nance should have his share of putbacks at times, anyhow.

I’ll say the Cavs and Garland get hot in one instance, and take one game against the Nets in an off shooting night for them, and who knows?

Maybe Kyrie won’t play when the Nets are in Cleveland one or both of their games here on Nov. 25 and the (almost certainly) last Cleveland home game of the season on April 13, given his seemingly convenient injuries (though I’ll give him a pass for a reported hip strain in one) and rest instances in recent years set to be playing in Cleveland with the Celtics.

Irving didn’t even so much as make the trip to support his teammates in those, either.