CLEVELAND AT BOSTON 11/19/24

IS CLEVELAND FINALLY GONNA LOSE TOMORROW?!?!?!

@usikbasterd

 I like Cleveland tomorrow, most of the bettors will jump on Boston.

I’ll probably change my mind 50 times over the next 24 hours and then not even take a side, BUT here’s my $0.02 

I’ve heard some people try to spin the narrative that Boston will want to get up for this game. Clearly this team is bored and a little bit cocky. From Jaylen Brown comments to the defensive stats to even their record of 11-3 which includes a loss to the hawks without Trae, it’s obvious to anyone who is paying attention that this team is not serious right now. You can’t exactly blame them given how easily they ran through competition last year, but that’s the concern with a team trying to repeat. They should face more difficult competition this year (at the very least in the finals, should they return) and we’ve already seen a lack of focus. It’s a long season, but so far they have not been the aggressors as Mazzula was saying and that is a hole in the armour of the league’s most talented team. 

The #1 thing I am always trying to sort out when I cap games is how much each team cares about this specific game in particular. Can the Celtics win? Of course. Can Cleveland? Of course. This could be a dd victory for either team and I would not be surprised. 

Cleveland’s motivation is obvious and almost overwhelming;

- undefeated so far. Clearly want to keep that going as long as possible. 
- game against the defending champs and clear #1 team. Great chance to prove themselves. 
^ Show the importance of this game by resting Mitchell the game before and bringing Mobley back so he’s not rusty for that game. 
- it’s on a smaller scale but let’s also note that this is a cup game. Boston is already 0-1 because of that loss to the hawks. Cleveland is 1-0 with a +18 PD. I think cup motivation leans heavily in favour of a team like the Cavs, rather than a team coming off a league championship. 

What’s the motivation for Boston?

- Be the team to end the streak. > I would like this angle more if Cleveland was headed towards breaking some Boston record but they’re not. 
- Re-assert themselves at the top of the EC. > Even if they win this game, they will still be in 2nd and they’ve already shown they don’t care as much about regular season. 
- Get back in the running for the cup. > as I said earlier, I’m just not sure a team that’s been to the top so recently cares. We probably would have seen a better effort in their first game if they did. 

Gimme the Cavs. 

I’ll probably change my mind 50 times over the next 24 hours and then not even take a side, BUT here’s my $0.02 

I’ve heard some people try to spin the narrative that Boston will want to get up for this game. Clearly this team is bored and a little bit cocky. From Jaylen Brown comments to the defensive stats to even their record of 11-3 which includes a loss to the hawks without Trae, it’s obvious to anyone who is paying attention that this team is not serious right now. You can’t exactly blame them given how easily they ran through competition last year, but that’s the concern with a team trying to repeat. They should face more difficult competition this year (at the very least in the finals, should they return) and we’ve already seen a lack of focus. It’s a long season, but so far they have not been the aggressors as Mazzula was saying and that is a hole in the armour of the league’s most talented team. 

The #1 thing I am always trying to sort out when I cap games is how much each team cares about this specific game in particular. Can the Celtics win? Of course. Can Cleveland? Of course. This could be a dd victory for either team and I would not be surprised. 

Cleveland’s motivation is obvious and almost overwhelming;

- undefeated so far. Clearly want to keep that going as long as possible. 
- game against the defending champs and clear #1 team. Great chance to prove themselves. 
^ Show the importance of this game by resting Mitchell the game before and bringing Mobley back so he’s not rusty for that game. 
- it’s on a smaller scale but let’s also note that this is a cup game. Boston is already 0-1 because of that loss to the hawks. Cleveland is 1-0 with a +18 PD. I think cup motivation leans heavily in favour of a team like the Cavs, rather than a team coming off a league championship. 

What’s the motivation for Boston?

- Be the team to end the streak. > I would like this angle more if Cleveland was headed towards breaking some Boston record but they’re not. 
- Re-assert themselves at the top of the EC. > Even if they win this game, they will still be in 2nd and they’ve already shown they don’t care as much about regular season. 
- Get back in the running for the cup. > as I said earlier, I’m just not sure a team that’s been to the top so recently cares. We probably would have seen a better effort in their first game if they did. 

Gimme the Cavs. 

It's November.  Meaningless game.  Cleveland!