Cavs: A tough schedule ahead means the losses will pile up

Cavs: Tough Schedule Ahead

Monday night the Cavs will host the Brooklyn Nets, a rematch from this past Wednesday’s 10-point loss in Brooklyn. Two nights later they take on the scorching-hot Phoenix Suns, winners of 10 straight, including a nine-point loss in Phoenix.

Those two games are part of a stretch where nine of eleven games are against teams currently in the top four of either conference. They will hit every team on that list, all eight teams currently slotted to have homecourt advantage when the playoffs begin. Over the course of the season those standings will likely change, but enough games have been played to establish each of these teams as difficult opponents at the very least.

Of the two games not a part of murderer’s row only one is a true respite, a home game against the 4-11 Orlando Magic. The other is a December game in Milwaukee, the defending champions. Now that Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton are back from extended absences that depressed their record, the Bucks could easily be back in the top-4 by the time they face each other.

The Eastern Conference is tougher this season than it has been in a long time, with only two real gimmes in the standings. Thankfully the Cavs can expect to play the Detroit Pistons three more times this season, but their next matchup won’t come until late January. There are no gimmes, and the Cavs will likely be the underdog in all but the Orlando game; a 2-9 or 1-10 record isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

The Cavs have to face one of the toughest stretches any team will have to face all season, and they will do so short-handed.