Cavs News: Likely playoff opponents, playing time, Mobley excellence

The Cleveland Cavaliers have 19 games remaining, and while they are currently in fourth place they still have a very real chance of catching the Philadelphia 76ers for third. The standings are churning behind them as well, with the New York Knicks winning six straight games to climb into the fifth spot.

According to PlayoffStatus.com, the Cavs have a 39 percent chance of landing at fourth and a 31 percent chance of finishing at third in the East. They have less than a three percent chance of falling to seventh and having to face the Play-In again, so they are nearly a lock to break their playoff drought.

Who is their most likely playoff opponent? RIght now the Knicks are the favorite to finish in the fifth spot, but since the Cavs could also rise up to third it shakes things up a bit. The Brooklyn Nets are still the favorite to finish at sixth, so they check in as the Cavaliers’ most likely first-round playoff opponent, with a 32 percent chance of facing off. The Knicks are only a hair behind with a 31 percent of facing Cleveland. Well behind are the Miami Heat (14 percent) and the Philadelphia 76ers (12 percent).

The Cavaliers would undoubtedly rather play the Nets, as their lack of a star creator will cause them to break against the Cavs’ defense. The Knicks will be a tougher opponent, with Julius Randle’s high-volume shooting increasing their variance and Jalen Brunson playing as well as any guard in the East. The Cavs would be clear favorites either way, but they would certainly prefer to face Brooklyn.

More Cavs news

Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff is playing the Cavs’ stars extremely high minute totals, and he needs to lower their playing load so they have energy left for the playoffs. In doing so, there are three Cavaliers players who deserve more playing time — including Dean Wade, who has to have a more prominent role on the team.

Also on the site, new contributor Caleb Crowley awards the cherished Player of the Month Award for February. The recipient? Evan Mobley, breaking out offensively while still bringing the impact on defense.

NBA news

The New York Knicks beat the Boston Celtics with a convincing 109-94 win at Madison Square Garden, their sixth-straight win since the NBA Trade Deadline. That moved them up into the fifth spot, and dropped the Boston Celtics to second for the first time in months. In other East results, the Miami Heat came into Philadelphia and knocked off the 76ers 101-99.

The Charlotte Hornets have been a tough out recently, winning multiple games over better teams, but that may have come to a crashing end last night. LeMelo Ball fractured his ankle against the Detroit Pistons and is likely to miss the rest of the season, which will only help their efforts to tank. In related news, the Cavs still have three games remaining against the Hornets.

Coming up: The Cavaliers will continue to prepare for a showdown with the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night.