Quicken Loans Arena
8 p.m. Thursday
Radio: WTAM-AM 1100, WMMS-FM 100.7, La Mega-FM 97.7
TV: TNT, Fox Sports Ohio
1. This is a game teams circle when the schedule is released. Many of the players will say it's just another game. Just so you know, that's total bunk. This is a possible preview of the NBA Finals in June. Both teams are that good. The Warriors are off to one of their best starts in franchise history. They have the best record in the NBA. The Cavaliers are the hottest team in the NBA, having won 17 of their last 19. There are star players throughout both teams' rosters.
2. The Warriors' starting backcourt of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson - the so-called Splash Brothers - is the league's best. Not many guard tandems even come close. They are on pace to be the first Golden State guards to average at least 20 points a game since Monta Ellis and Baron Davis in 2007-08. It hasn't happened in the NBA since New Jersey's Devin Harris and Vince Carter did it in 2008-09. It's almost debatable which one shoots the ball better from the perimeter. Trying to slow down this pair will be the focal point of the Cavaliers' defense. Keeping them in check will likely be the key to the game.
3. The Cavaliers have figured things out at The Q. They've won 10 games in a row at home. They haven't lost at The Q since Jan. 7 vs. Houston. They will have to play with energy tonight in the nationally televised game on TNT.
4. It all starts with forward LeBron James, who directs the flow for the Cavaliers. He's playing at an MVP level right now. However, he can't commit nine turnovers in tonight's game like he did against Detroit. The Warriors are just too good. They are not only talented, but they are deep. Two former Cavs play key roles off the bench in guard Shaun Livingston and center Marreese Speights. Golden State is also well-coached by Steve Kerr.
5. The Cavs dropped a 112-94 decision at Golden State on Jan. 9. Thompson was outstanding in that game with a game-high 24 points. Of course, James didn't play in that contest. He was still on his two-week sabbatical when he was resting his sore back and left knee.
6. The Warriors have won the last four meetings with the Cavs at The Q. In addition, they have won seven of the last eight outings vs. the Cavs. Think this is going to be easy? Think again.
7. Kerr played three-plus seasons with the Cavs from 1989-92. When he left, he was the franchise leader in 3-point percentage at 47.2. Also, one of Kerr's assistants, Luke Walton, played the last 1 1/2 seasons of his career in Cleveland in 2012 and 2013.
8. The Warriors on in the midst of playing 10 of 11 games on the road. They are 1-1 on their current trip. Of course, they are a league-best 20-8 away from home this season. They are also 17-3 vs. the Eastern Conference this season.
9. Cavs forward Shawn Marion (strained hip) will be out for at least two weeks. He was having trouble finding minutes in Coach David Blatt's rotation any way. His absence has paved the way for more playing time for swingman James Jones. We'll see if newly acquired center Kendrick Perkins will be inserted into the rotation. He only played Tuesday in Detroit because starter Timofey Mozgov got in foul trouble.
10. In three games following the All-Star break, the Cavs have won by an average of 22 points per game. They have a point differential of +12.3 in their last 19 games, first in the NBA.
UP NEXT: at Indiana, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, 7 p.m. Friday
PROBABLE STARTERS
SF LeBron James (6-8, 250) vs. Harrison Barnes (6-8, 225)
PF Kevin Love (6-10, 243) vs. Draymond Green (6-7, 230)
C Timofey Mozgov (7-1, 250) vs. Andrew Bogut (7-0, 260)
SG J.R. Smith (6-6, 220) vs. Klay Thompson (6-7, 215)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 193) vs. Stephen Curry (6-3, 190)
PROJECTED INACTIVE LIST
Cavs - C Anderson Varejao, F Shawn Marion
Warriors - C Ognjen Kuzmic, F James Michael McAdoo
OFFICIALS
Bennett Salvatore, Pat Fraher, John Goble
8 p.m. Thursday
Radio: WTAM-AM 1100, WMMS-FM 100.7, La Mega-FM 97.7
TV: TNT, Fox Sports Ohio
1. This is a game teams circle when the schedule is released. Many of the players will say it's just another game. Just so you know, that's total bunk. This is a possible preview of the NBA Finals in June. Both teams are that good. The Warriors are off to one of their best starts in franchise history. They have the best record in the NBA. The Cavaliers are the hottest team in the NBA, having won 17 of their last 19. There are star players throughout both teams' rosters.
2. The Warriors' starting backcourt of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson - the so-called Splash Brothers - is the league's best. Not many guard tandems even come close. They are on pace to be the first Golden State guards to average at least 20 points a game since Monta Ellis and Baron Davis in 2007-08. It hasn't happened in the NBA since New Jersey's Devin Harris and Vince Carter did it in 2008-09. It's almost debatable which one shoots the ball better from the perimeter. Trying to slow down this pair will be the focal point of the Cavaliers' defense. Keeping them in check will likely be the key to the game.
3. The Cavaliers have figured things out at The Q. They've won 10 games in a row at home. They haven't lost at The Q since Jan. 7 vs. Houston. They will have to play with energy tonight in the nationally televised game on TNT.
4. It all starts with forward LeBron James, who directs the flow for the Cavaliers. He's playing at an MVP level right now. However, he can't commit nine turnovers in tonight's game like he did against Detroit. The Warriors are just too good. They are not only talented, but they are deep. Two former Cavs play key roles off the bench in guard Shaun Livingston and center Marreese Speights. Golden State is also well-coached by Steve Kerr.
5. The Cavs dropped a 112-94 decision at Golden State on Jan. 9. Thompson was outstanding in that game with a game-high 24 points. Of course, James didn't play in that contest. He was still on his two-week sabbatical when he was resting his sore back and left knee.
6. The Warriors have won the last four meetings with the Cavs at The Q. In addition, they have won seven of the last eight outings vs. the Cavs. Think this is going to be easy? Think again.
7. Kerr played three-plus seasons with the Cavs from 1989-92. When he left, he was the franchise leader in 3-point percentage at 47.2. Also, one of Kerr's assistants, Luke Walton, played the last 1 1/2 seasons of his career in Cleveland in 2012 and 2013.
8. The Warriors on in the midst of playing 10 of 11 games on the road. They are 1-1 on their current trip. Of course, they are a league-best 20-8 away from home this season. They are also 17-3 vs. the Eastern Conference this season.
9. Cavs forward Shawn Marion (strained hip) will be out for at least two weeks. He was having trouble finding minutes in Coach David Blatt's rotation any way. His absence has paved the way for more playing time for swingman James Jones. We'll see if newly acquired center Kendrick Perkins will be inserted into the rotation. He only played Tuesday in Detroit because starter Timofey Mozgov got in foul trouble.
10. In three games following the All-Star break, the Cavs have won by an average of 22 points per game. They have a point differential of +12.3 in their last 19 games, first in the NBA.
UP NEXT: at Indiana, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, 7 p.m. Friday
PROBABLE STARTERS
SF LeBron James (6-8, 250) vs. Harrison Barnes (6-8, 225)
PF Kevin Love (6-10, 243) vs. Draymond Green (6-7, 230)
C Timofey Mozgov (7-1, 250) vs. Andrew Bogut (7-0, 260)
SG J.R. Smith (6-6, 220) vs. Klay Thompson (6-7, 215)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 193) vs. Stephen Curry (6-3, 190)
PROJECTED INACTIVE LIST
Cavs - C Anderson Varejao, F Shawn Marion
Warriors - C Ognjen Kuzmic, F James Michael McAdoo
OFFICIALS
Bennett Salvatore, Pat Fraher, John Goble
That was nice.
