Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 of their toughest road trips in 2021-22

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Cleveland Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton greets teammates in pregame introductions. (Photo by Lauren Bacho/Getty Images) /

Darius Garland, Collin Sexton and the Cleveland Cavaliers got little help from the NBA schedule makers recently when the schedule for the upcoming season was released. They have several tough stretches of games with several road trips that will require the young Cavs team to be on top of their game and ready to be mentally tough and finish games off this season with a win rather than a loss.

Even though the Cavs haven’t made the playoffs ever since LeBron James left the team a second time, the NBA schedule makers are making Cleveland start the season on the road and road trip success this upcoming season will be important if the Wine and Gold intend on getting to the playoffs. Let’s look at three road trips that will define their season.

Late October West Coast trip

After the Cavs open the season on the road at the Memphis Grizzlies on Oct. 20, they return to the road starting Oct. 25 when they battle the Denver Nuggets. That trip continues through to Los Angeles when they first face the Clippers on Oct. 27. They then play the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 29, and a reunion with their former leader in LeBron James.

They then travel the next night over to Phoenix to face the Suns, last season’s NBA Championship runner-ups. Instead of coming home after the West Coast trip, the Cavaliers travel to Charlotte to face the Hornets on Nov. 1.

Finally, they settle back home to play the Portland Trail Blazers on Nov. 3 and a reunion with Larry Nance Jr., who was recently traded to them in a deal that brought the Cavs Lauri Markkanen, from the Chicago Bulls.

But, wait, instead of them settling for that home cooking, they get to go back on the road and travel north of the boarder and play the Toronto Raptors on Nov. 5 and then back to New York to play the Knicks on Nov. 7. Thanks NBA scheduling makers.

So if you’re doing the math, that’s eight of their first 11 games on the road against mostly playoff teams. The Cavaliers aren’t just getting their feet wet, they are being submerged in an ocean of water by the NBA.

What a crazy start to the season, and quite honestly a rough stretch that doesn’t make much sense, especially in this recent era of COVID-19 precautions.