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

Cavs: Hope for the season

After the doom and gloom of the last two slides, it is time for some hope. Partially that hope is rooted in the return of their best players. Jarrett Allen and Lauri Markkanen could be back as early as their next game on Monday, and Evan Mobley’s elbow injury could have been a lot worse. He is engaged and present on the bench with the team and will come back while the season is still relatively young.

Secondly, the schedule does lighten up after this walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Starting on Friday, December 10th the Cavs will play nine of twelve against teams who currently have a losing record, including games against the dregs of the West in the Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans. Even if they take a tumble down the standings, that run through January 2nd could right the ship, especially with their starting frontcourt all back.

It should also be recognized that the Cavs have not rolled over at all this season, with the possible exception of the game in Phoenix. They were up 13 to start the 4th quarter against the Warriors, and they were as close as eight late in the 4th against the Nets. They have short-handed wins over a number of teams, most recently their comeback over the Boston Celtics without Sexton, Markkanen or Love. This is a scrappy, defensive team that could absolutely play spoiler to some of these teams above them in the standings.

The East is going to be brutal all season, and this stretch of tough games paired with their injury issues could set them back far enough that they can’t make the play-in this year. That’s ok if it does happen, as this core adding a wing in the draft could be a silver lining. What the first month has shown, however, is that this team has the foundation needed to make a leap in the standings, whether or not it truly comes this season or waits for next year.