Predicting how the Cavaliers will do against the Southeast Division

How the Cavs stack up against the Wizards

The Washington Wizards are not a team that’s likely going to be very competitive in 2019-20.

One of their best players, lead guard John Wall, is likely not going to play next season due to Achilles tear rehabilitation, according to owner Ted Leonsis (and was reported by The Athletic‘s Michael Lee), and that’s a massive blow to the Wizards’ hopes of really being able to stay in games, even.

In addition to that, Washington lost a serviceable backup point guard in Tomas Satoransky via unrestricted free agency to the Chicago Bulls, so in the mean time, the acquisition of Ish Smith will have to do. Smith has been a decent contributor off the bench for the Detroit Pistons, but as a starter and with not really many viable scoring threats to create for themselves off the bounce other than Bradley Beal, I’d think Smith will struggle mightily.

The Cavaliers won’t have much to worry about from the Washington rotation to deal with outside of Beal, who is spectacular and had 25.6 points, 5.5 assists and 5.0 rebounds last season (per NBA.com), and will get his production, but I’m not sure where the Wizards’ offense consistently comes from, even against a young Cavs’ defense.

Troy Brown Jr. will need to be able to create for himself more this season on the wing, and though I’d think he’ll get catch-and-shoots, he’s not shown much as a spot-up threat at this point, and given that, I’d think Osman and the likes of Windler and/or Porter should be fine in their coverage of Brown both off-the-bounce and off-the-catch.

Free agent addition Davis Bertans has been a terrific off-the-catch shooter at this point in the NBA (40.4% from deep in three seasons, per Basketball Reference), but that was also on the motion-heavy San Antonio Spurs. I’d think that players such as Love, Nance and maybe on occasion, Windler and/or Osman, would be just fine staying attached to Bertans with the Wizards likely having limited spacing next season, especially with a non-shooter in Thomas Bryant at the 5 (though he is a good screener).

In a reserve role, Washington rookie Rui Hachimura could do damage against the Cavs inside the paint, but I don’t buy much into his shooting ability at this point, as he was very streaky in that regard at Gonzaga, where he had plenty of talent around him, and anyhow, he’s a player that could get his in mismatches, but it’s unclear how much he’ll really affect games. I’d think Washington will miss stretch big Bobby Portis, too (who signed with the New York Knicks this offseason), who killed the Cavs last year, by the way.

On the offensive end, the Cleveland Cavaliers should be able to find plenty of favorable matchups. Sexton and Garland should get buckets often against the likes of Smith and Beal, given that Beal I’d think could be favoring towards the offensive side in games, which is reasonable with his likely workload.

Osman and Porter, along with Sexton and others, should have plenty of slashing chances, and post-ups and pick-and-pops should come for Love, perhaps Wade in the early matchup of the season, and Nance should get some open looks after ball-swings as well.

This Wizards’ defense was the fourth-worst in the league in 2018-19, and it’s not likely to be better in 2019-20, so the ball and man movement Beilein and the coaching staff will want to feature next year will be on full display against the Wiz.

Predicting the Cavs’ record against Washington in 2019-20: 3-0

The Wizards are a team that is clearly tanking, and whether or not they try to eventually trade Beal during the season is something I’m unsure of at this point, but whether or not they do or don’t, this is a team that doesn’t have much to show as far as players that can create their own offense.

Along with that, Washington’s defense is one that the Cavaliers should be able to score on at will, so I’ll say the Wine and Gold take all three from the Wiz in the 2019-20 campaign.

That’s it for the Cavs-Southeast Division predictions.

How do these compare to yours for Cleveland against the Southeast in 2019-20, Cavs fans?

Feel free to let us know in the comments section, on Twitter (@KJG_NBA) or on Facebook (@fansidedkjg). Thanks as always, readers!