Cavs vs Blazers: Previewing a matchup with backcourt storylines

The Cleveland Cavaliers are in a state of extreme backcourt flux right now. In the past two weeks this team has lost Ricky Rubio for the season, seen Darius Garland miss multiple games in health and safety protocols, traded for Rajon Rondo and had Isaac Okoro go down for a few weeks with an elbow injury.

Amidst all of that flux, the Cavs have had a shaky time of things, losing four of their last five games. In particular opposing point guards have lit them up, with Trae Young and Ja Morant in particular laying the heat. As they roll in Portland to start a six-game road trip, will it be more of the same, or will the expected debut of Rajon Rondo help right the ship?

The Cavs play the Portland Trail Blazers Friday night to kick off their road trip. What do you need to know about who is playing and how to bet?

Fortunately for the Cavs, Portland’s backcourt is in a similar amount of chaos. Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum are both out for the game recovering from torso injuries (Lillard an abdominal injury, McCollum a chest injury). Yet that doesn’t mean a cakewalk for Cleveland, as backup point guard Anfernee Simons went for 43 points earlier in the week in a win over the Atlanta Hawks.

Who will be playing for both teams, and who should come out the victor? Perhaps more interesting to some, what are the odds for the game and which way should you bet? Let’s run through what you need to know for tonight’s game.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Portland Trail Blazers: Odds, spread, over/under

The Cavaliers (21-17) will visit the Trail Blazers (14-23) tonight. According to our partners over at WynnBet, Cleveland is favored by five points. The over/under total is 216.5 for the game.

Cleveland last played on Tuesday night, giving them two full days off before the start of their road trip. Portland is in the midst of a five-game homestand, but they played more recently with a Wednesday evening bout with the Miami Heat.

Cavs vs Trail Blazers: Project starting lineups, injury report

Portland starters: Anfernee Simons, Norman Powell, Nassir Little, Robert Covington, Jusuf Nurkic

Cleveland starters: Darius Garland, Lamar Stevens, Lauri Markkanen, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

The Blazers’ key injuries: Damian Lillard (out, abdomen); CJ McCollum (out, chest); Cody Zeller (questionable, protocols); Larry Nance Jr. (out, knee)

The Cavaliers’ key injuries: Collin Sexton (out for season, knee); Ricky Rubio (out for season, knee); Isaac Okoro (out, elbow); Cedi Osman (probably, conditioning)

Cavs vs Blazers: Prediction

Even with the success of the season thus far, it’s bizarre to see the Cavs favored for a game on the road in Portland, a team that has made the postseason for eight-straight seasons, a streak that might be snapped with season for the 14-23 Trail Blazers. Yet with three starters out, including Cavaliers alum Larry Nance Jr., the Trail Blazers are at a significant talent disadvantage.

The name of the game becomes containing Portland guard Anfernee Simons, which is why J.B. Bickerstaff will likely start Lamar Stevens again at the 2. Portland doesn’t have a great path to offensive success if Simons isn’t rolling.

For Cleveland, the major story is the Cavaliers debut of Rajon Rondo. Will the veteran guard have something left in the tank to offer Cleveland, or will this go down as a meaningless addition for the Cavs that dominated the headlines needlessly? They can desperately use a steady hand at the till when Garland is off the court, but will Rondo provide that?

It’s unlikely Portland will find any success scoring inside, so they will need to get hot from the perimeter to have a chance. Meanwhile the Cavs should have plenty of space for Garland to work, and Evan Mobley will have a height advantage on whoever tries to check him. Former Oregon native Kevin Love should roast their backup big men.

Cleveland should win this game, and almost needs to in order to prove the early season success was not a Rubio-induced mirage that has disappeared into the smoke. Normally Cleveland games would be a good bet for the under, but Portland’s defense is so bad there is the possibility this one blows open.

Prediction: Cleveland 114, Portland 106

The Bet: CLEVELAND (-5), OVER

Cavs vs Blazers: Where to Watch

This game will be a late one for fans of the Cavaliers, with tip-off scheduled for 10:00pm EST. Bally Sports Ohio will have the game for local viewers, while fans in and around Portland can tune in to Rot Sports Northwest. NBA League Pass will have the game for everyone else.

Cleveland Cavaliers Upcoming Schedule

The game against Portland starts a six-game West Coast road trip that continues Sunday evening in Golden State. That matchup is significant not only because of these two teams’ shared history, but because it is expected to be the return of Klay Thompson after missing 2.5 years rehabbing multiple injuries. If possible all basketball fans should try to tune into that one.

From there the Cavs continue bouncing around the Western Conference, playing in Sacramento, Utah, San Antonio and Oklahoma City, six road games in nine nights. Can the Cavs go 3-3 on this trip? 4-2? The state of the backcourt will likely go a long ways towards determining how this team performs in the weeks to come.