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

Key Cavs game No. 3 of second half: At the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday, March 12 @ 5 PM

This matchup in Charlotte is another contest that’s set to be a fun one, and is the first of two consecutive meetings with the Hornets on the road.

Charlotte is a high-flying club with LaMelo Ball as their engine, and with their pace, shooting capabilities and run-and-gun style, it’s an interesting contrast between teams, with the Cavs at their core being defensive-minded and wanting to often play through their bigs.

These two clubs had some tight contests last season, with most of the contests generally being close, and being games of runs, which I could foresee transpiring in this one.

Given the contrast in styles, and the Ball-Garland element, albeit with neither guarding one another much head-to-head, this looks to be a game I’ll be circling in coming years.

Do the Cavaliers stick with the three-big look for significant stretches, or do they potentially go smaller to counter the Hornets?

Charlotte was eighth in offensive rating and fifth in pace, but was 22nd in defensive rating. Provided he’s around, Gordon Hayward gave Markkanen some issues defensively last season, for instance, and with Charlotte at times going smaller, perhaps goes with LeVert/Isaac Okoro more at the 3 for stretches here, to be quicker.

In any case, at this point in the year, a matchup between two young clubs, but with different styles, is another one I’m circling and might be glossed over a bit.