Cavs: Projecting how team will fare in first quarter of 2021-22

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Cleveland Cavaliers guards Collin Sexton (left) and Darius Garland celebrate in-game. (Photo by Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports) /

Projecting the next 10 Cavs games from there

In the next five games, the team faces the two teams that have represented the Western Conference in the NBA Finals over the last two seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns. The Lakers have had a ton of turnover this offseason with over nine players who haven’t played for the team over the last two seasons.

This game would be a great chance for the Cavs to steal one against a team that everyone expects to make it out of the West. As for the Suns, this team brings back the same core that made it to the Finals and looks to be on a mission. I don’t expect this to be a pretty one for the Cavs.

The next three games are against the Hornets, Toronto Raptors, and Portland Trail Blazers. I expect them to drop a game against the Hornets and bounce back against the Raptors as not only does the loss of Kyle Lowry impact them but, Pascal Siakam underwent labrum surgery this offseason and may not be ready by season’s start.

The final game in this stretch is against the Trail Blazers meaning the return of Larry Nance Jr. to Cleveland. This game could go either way depending on how our backcourt fares against theirs. For now, I’ll call it a Cleveland win.

The next five games start with the Cavs facing off against the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden where I expect a new-and-improved Knicks win. Then comes a four-game stretch of home games against the Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics.

I could see them going 3-1 in this stretch, winning against a young Pistons team, taking advantage of what I envision being yet another slow Wizards start, and splitting games against the Celtics.