Cleveland (63 - 19)

Expert Pick
0% >< 0%

Charlotte (48 - 34)

Ja in, Fox out


With 3 weeks to go in the season, teams are battling for playoffs and draft position. These two teams are in a hotly contested battle to hold the line, as the Cavs look to strengthen their grip on the 1 seed out East, and the Hornets look to regain some positioning currently in the 5 spot. The Cavs are looking to do so without their star guard DeAaron Fox who is out due to injury, while the Hornets await the return of Ja Morant to complement the rest of their star studded lineup. The Cavs: The Cleveland Cavaliers have been the class of the league all season. For many weeks now they have held the title of the best record in the NSL, and because of so, they were rewarded with the first playoff birth the league could offer. With a strong starting squad of DeAaron Fox, NAW/Malik Beasley, Scottie Barnes, Juluis Randle, and your pick of the trio of star big men, they've proven to be the team to beat all season. In recent weeks, the Cavs train has come to a halt. With a major injury coming to DeAaron Fox, and injuries to Andre Drummond and other key players, the Cavs have felt the mortality that many of the rest of the leagues teams have felt on any given week. The jury is out on the potential return date of DeAaron Fox, but GM Shams isn't holding his breath. He hasn't flinched either, sticking to his gameplan of running 6th man extraordinaire Anfernee Simons off the bench even during Fox's absence. The Hornets: The Hornets are essentially the Cavs antithesis. They've battled injuries all season, including another shortened season from Ja Morant. KAT has missed time as well, and the pieces as a result have had a bit of trouble meshing. It's hard to compile a team when key guys miss time. That being said, the Hornets are now healthy, and looking like a team that will have a say in the Eastern Conference playoffs this season. Their combination of talent, length, and defense should prove troublesome to all they come into contact with. Ja, KAT, and co. sure look able to make some noise down the stretch. Projected Match-Ups: Center: Okongwu vs Towns Right out of the gate we get a matchup of 2 high-level centers in the NSL. With KAT's name comes star power, and he does indeed back that celebrity status up in game, but Okongwu is no slouch either. The more unheralded of the 2, Okongwu has proven his worth over a number of season in the NSL. Last year, he was with the Thunder team who took the eventual Western Conference Champion Lakers to 7 games. He has the experience and skills to play a big role in a big game, and the Cavs will need 1 from him here. KAT though, is more of a 2-way force, and so he has to get the nod from me here. Power Forward: Randle vs Williams Kenrich Williams was the Hornets mid-season move to bolster their roster, and he's done a great job in playing his role with the starting unit. He'll score and defend a bit, though his athleticism is lacking a bit to match up with some of the starting combo forwards of the league. I believe he would find trouble in this matchup, if Craig has him matched up with Randle(which I don't expect to happen). Randle gets the edge here due to his offensive prowess, and his ability to shoulder the Cavs scoring load when necessary. Small Forward: Barnes vs Anunoby If matched up on each other, neither of these guys is likely to finish with more than 10 points. Both guys have a supreme defensive skillset that allow them to defend 10 feet beyond the long line, all the way into the rack. OG can shoot the rock a bit better, while Barnes can initiate the offense at a higher level. Both guys will play pivotal roles in this game, and to their teams down the stretch, but I don't think there's a ton that separates them in game, so I will label this one a wash. Shooting Guard: Beasley vs Derozan Beasley has stepped into the Cavs starting role admirably after struggling to find minutes on the talent laden team early on. He's done nothing but fill it up from deep, providing the Cavs with some shooting that has otherwise been a bit tough to find. Whether he's coming off a screen, or finding a look through play art, Beasley is a guy who will be relied upon to keep the Cavs in this one. Derozan is aging like fine wine in the NSL. Always a high impact guy, we may be seeing the best version of him yet in this talented Hornets team. Derozan gets the edge here, and it's not particularly close. Point Guard: Dunn vs Morant As mentioned earlier in this article, the Cavs have not wanted to mess with the secret sauce. Sure, Simons could light up the league for 30 points per night with 30+ minutes per game, but the Cavs love him coming off the bench to attack tired/2nd team defenders. As a result Dunn has been inserted in the starting lineup to provide even more defense to a team where it is a plenty. Dunn is a handy guy in game, and his major efforts in this one will come in the way of stopping Ja for going for 30+. Can he do that? My money would be on no. In the words of the wise BabyTron, B** I ball like Ja Morant, but I can't sport the number 12. Ja Morant balls out of control in this one, and he's got the edge because of it. Benches:** I'll keep this one short and sweet. Cavs in a landslide. The Cavs have multiple guys on their bench who would be starters on other teams, a couple of which would be stars on other teams. Anfernee Simons is in the running for 6th man of the year, Deni Avdija had stretches of stardom with Phoenix earlier this year, Yves Missi is in the running for rookie of the year, and NAW started many a game for this Cavs team, providing length, defense, and some improved shooting. The Hornets bench is compiled of role players, who might find it hard to find any minutes on other NSL Teams. Bronny James, Champagnie, and Saric have some tools, but they will have a tough time keeping up the finely tuned bench unit of Cleveland.

With 3 weeks to go in the season, teams are battling for playoffs and draft position. These two teams are in a hotly contested battle to hold the line, as the Cavs look to strengthen their grip on the 1 seed out East, and the Hornets look to regain some positioning currently in the 5 spot. The Cavs are looking to do so without their star guard DeAaron Fox who is out due to injury, while the Hornets await the return of Ja Morant to complement the rest of their star studded lineup.

The Cavs:

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been the class of the league all season. For many weeks now they have held the title of the best record in the NSL, and because of so, they were rewarded with the first playoff birth the league could offer. With a strong starting squad of DeAaron Fox, NAW/Malik Beasley, Scottie Barnes, Juluis Randle, and your pick of the trio of star big men, they've proven to be the team to beat all season.

In recent weeks, the Cavs train has come to a halt. With a major injury coming to DeAaron Fox, and injuries to Andre Drummond and other key players, the Cavs have felt the mortality that many of the rest of the leagues teams have felt on any given week. The jury is out on the potential return date of DeAaron Fox, but GM Shams isn't holding his breath. He hasn't flinched either, sticking to his gameplan of running 6th man extraordinaire Anfernee Simons off the bench even during Fox's absence.

The Hornets:

The Hornets are essentially the Cavs antithesis. They've battled injuries all season, including another shortened season from Ja Morant. KAT has missed time as well, and the pieces as a result have had a bit of trouble meshing. It's hard to compile a team when key guys miss time. That being said, the Hornets are now healthy, and looking like a team that will have a say in the Eastern Conference playoffs this season. Their combination of talent, length, and defense should prove troublesome to all they come into contact with. Ja, KAT, and co. sure look able to make some noise down the stretch.

Projected Match-Ups:

Center: Okongwu vs Towns

Right out of the gate we get a matchup of 2 high-level centers in the NSL. With KAT's name comes star power, and he does indeed back that celebrity status up in game, but Okongwu is no slouch either. The more unheralded of the 2, Okongwu has proven his worth over a number of season in the NSL. Last year, he was with the Thunder team who took the eventual Western Conference Champion Lakers to 7 games. He has the experience and skills to play a big role in a big game, and the Cavs will need 1 from him here. KAT though, is more of a 2-way force, and so he has to get the nod from me here.

Power Forward: Randle vs Williams

Kenrich Williams was the Hornets mid-season move to bolster their roster, and he's done a great job in playing his role with the starting unit. He'll score and defend a bit, though his athleticism is lacking a bit to match up with some of the starting combo forwards of the league. I believe he would find trouble in this matchup, if Craig has him matched up with Randle(which I don't expect to happen). Randle gets the edge here due to his offensive prowess, and his ability to shoulder the Cavs scoring load when necessary.

Small Forward: Barnes vs Anunoby

If matched up on each other, neither of these guys is likely to finish with more than 10 points. Both guys have a supreme defensive skillset that allow them to defend 10 feet beyond the long line, all the way into the rack. OG can shoot the rock a bit better, while Barnes can initiate the offense at a higher level. Both guys will play pivotal roles in this game, and to their teams down the stretch, but I don't think there's a ton that separates them in game, so I will label this one a wash.

Shooting Guard: Beasley vs Derozan

Beasley has stepped into the Cavs starting role admirably after struggling to find minutes on the talent laden team early on. He's done nothing but fill it up from deep, providing the Cavs with some shooting that has otherwise been a bit tough to find. Whether he's coming off a screen, or finding a look through play art, Beasley is a guy who will be relied upon to keep the Cavs in this one. Derozan is aging like fine wine in the NSL. Always a high impact guy, we may be seeing the best version of him yet in this talented Hornets team. Derozan gets the edge here, and it's not particularly close.

Point Guard: Dunn vs Morant

As mentioned earlier in this article, the Cavs have not wanted to mess with the secret sauce. Sure, Simons could light up the league for 30 points per night with 30+ minutes per game, but the Cavs love him coming off the bench to attack tired/2nd team defenders. As a result Dunn has been inserted in the starting lineup to provide even more defense to a team where it is a plenty. Dunn is a handy guy in game, and his major efforts in this one will come in the way of stopping Ja for going for 30+. Can he do that? My money would be on no. In the words of the wise BabyTron, B**** I ball like Ja Morant, but I can't sport the number 12. Ja Morant balls out of control in this one, and he's got the edge because of it.

Benches:

I'll keep this one short and sweet. Cavs in a landslide. The Cavs have multiple guys on their bench who would be starters on other teams, a couple of which would be stars on other teams. Anfernee Simons is in the running for 6th man of the year, Deni Avdija had stretches of stardom with Phoenix earlier this year, Yves Missi is in the running for rookie of the year, and NAW started many a game for this Cavs team, providing length, defense, and some improved shooting.

The Hornets bench is compiled of role players, who might find it hard to find any minutes on other NSL Teams. Bronny James, Champagnie, and Saric have some tools, but they will have a tough time keeping up the finely tuned bench unit of Cleveland.

Cavaliers Star

Anfernee Simons
Simons the one time 6th man of the year favorite is now in a very different position. Though the Cavs do have talent surrounding him, the PG spot has played a major role for the squad all season. Simons will be once again asked to step up and take hold of a large portion of the scoring load. It will be interesting to see what defensive matchups are in place for this game. The Hornets will likely want to put one of their defensive stalwarts on Simons here to slow his play.

PPG 20.7

RPG 2.4

APG 2.6

SPG 0.5

BPG 0.1

FPG 1.5

TPG 1.1

PPG 35.3

RPG 4.3

APG 4.3

SPG 0.9

BPG 0.3

FPG 2.4

TPG 1.7

Hornets Star

Ja Morant
Ja Morant is the engine that keeps the hive buzzing. When healthy, Morant is a top guard in the NSL, and he's complemented on a talented Hornets team, surrounded by scoring and defense. He's been great when healthy, ranked the 10th best player in the NSL and averaging over 35 points per game. His return is pivottal to the Hornets success in this game, and down the stretch of the season.

X-Factor
The X-factor's in this matchup are the Hornets starting 5, and the Cavs bench. Normally, I try to keep this to one X-factor, but these two teams are built completely different. For the Hornets, they rely on heavy minutes from their impactful starting 5. Beyond those guys, the bench will be comprised of role players like Champagnie, Bronny James, Antonio Reeves, and Dario Saric. Those guys will have to hold their own vs a talented Cleveland bench, who is operating with multiple players who have started for swaths of the season for Cleveland. Deni Avdija, Anfernee Simons, NAW, and Yves Missi comprise one of, if not the best bench unit in all of the NSL. Shams will need strong minutes from each of his bench contributors in this one to emerge victorious.

X-Factor

The X-factor's in this matchup are the Hornets starting 5, and the Cavs bench. Normally, I try to keep this to one X-factor, but these two teams are built completely different. For the Hornets, they rely on heavy minutes from their impactful starting 5. Beyond those guys, the bench will be comprised of role players like Champagnie, Bronny James, Antonio Reeves, and Dario Saric. Those guys will have to hold their own vs a talented Cleveland bench, who is operating with multiple players who have started for swaths of the season for Cleveland. Deni Avdija, Anfernee Simons, NAW, and Yves Missi comprise one of, if not the best bench unit in all of the NSL. Shams will need strong minutes from each of his bench contributors in this one to emerge victorious.

Injury Report
Injured Players: Kyle Lowry (Hip/Back) - 42 NBA Games missed this season Returning Players: Caleb Martin (returning from Back/Shoulder/Groin/Hip) - 34 NBA Games missed this season Ja Morant (returning from Thigh/Hip/Knee/Back/Shoulder/Foot/Illness/Hamstring) - 30 NBA Games missed this season	Injured Players: Terrence Shannon (Foot/Groin) - 14 NBA Games missed this season Julian Strawther (Knee) - 16 NBA Games missed this season DeAaron Fox (Glute/Finger) - 15 NBA Games missed this season Andre Drummond (Illness/Ankle/Toe/Injury Management) - 34 NBA Games missed this season Al Horford (Rest/Toe/Illness) - 17 NBA Games missed this season

Prediction
I've got to give the edge to the Hornets given the exclusion of DeAaron Fox. It would have been a fun matchup at full health, but the Cavs should still give this game a good run with who they've got. If Simons can fill up the cup in his bench minutes, the Cavs should have good runs that keep them in the game, and perhaps even capture the lead at points, but the versatile scoring and defending of the Hornets I believe proves too much. CHA 112 - CLE 106

Prediction

I've got to give the edge to the Hornets given the exclusion of DeAaron Fox. It would have been a fun matchup at full health, but the Cavs should still give this game a good run with who they've got. If Simons can fill up the cup in his bench minutes, the Cavs should have good runs that keep them in the game, and perhaps even capture the lead at points, but the versatile scoring and defending of the Hornets I believe proves too much.

CHA 112 - CLE 106

		Comments (1)
CraigB 04/10 12:26 am	Hey Ben, this was an excellent write-up. Thanks for putting in the time and the quality! :)

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