5 Cavs games that jump out in first half of 2022-23 season

5 key Cavs games in 2022-23 first half – No. 1: Oct. 19 at the Toronto Raptors

The first we’ll start out with is Cleveland’s first game of the 2022-23 campaign, in what will be a road tilt on Wednesday, Oct. 19 at the Toronto Raptors at 7:30 PM. This being the opener for both teams features another matchup between Evan Mobley and Scottie Barnes, first off.

Barnes was the winner of the Rookie of the Year last season by a slim margin over Mobley, and both look to have the makings of potential superstars in the not-too-distant future.

Barnes had 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.1 steals per contest, and Mobley had 15.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.7 blocks per game. The impact both had on winning was crucial last season as well, and largely played into both teams climbing back to relevance in the East.

Other crucial elements of this one should involve Darius Garland and Caris LeVert/Collin Sexton being a notable matchup for stretches versus Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr., with Isaac Okoro and Malachi Flynn being well in the mix I’d think as well for both sides.

Also, how do both squads approach OG Anunoby and on the other end, Lauri Markkanen? Anunoby is a difficult cover for Markkanen, but this coming season, with the Cavs’ mixing in zone and with Mobley and Allen behind him, he should be more comfortable in defense of opposing wings. Markkanen did seem to be as he got experience in his newer role, too.

Overall, this one will probably have some sloppy play at times with this still being two younger teams, but there’s likely to be awesome back-and-forth competition between two teams on the way up in the East.

Toronto lost in six games to the Philadelphia 76ers last season in a series between the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds in the East (they were the latter), and will be one of the clubs that figures to be in the thick of things with Cleveland and others again this season.