The Cavaliers tip off the season’s unofficial second half on Thursday night, trying to beat the Bulls for the first time this season when they welcome Chicago to The Q for a nationally-televised affair.
Both teams are much different than they were the last time they met on January 23 in Cleveland. In that game – Tyronn Lue’s debut as Cavs’ head coach – the Wine and Gold committed just four turnovers but shot just 37 percent from the floor, 16 percent from long distance and 41 percent from the stripe.
Since that game, the Bulls have dropped seven of nine – including four straight heading into the Break, the last two by an average of 20.0 points per. The Cavaliers have gone in the opposite direction following that loss – going 8-2 overall and winning three straight heading into All-Star Weekend.
Back in early January, the Bulls were right on Cleveland’s heels, just 2.5 games behind the Cavaliers. With their top player, Jimmy Butler, sidelined until March, they now find themselves in the seventh seed – a full 11 games behind the East-leading Cavaliers.
Though they have six All-Star appearances between them, neither Derrick Rose nor Kyrie Irving suited up for the East in this year’s mid-season classic in Toronto.
Kyrie went into the Break on a total tear, playing as well as any point in the Conference. Against the Lakers, Kyrie led all scorers with 35 points, his second straight contest topping the 30-point mark. Irving scored 20 or more points in seven of his last eight outings, averaging 26.9 points and shooting over 56 percent during that span.
Rose averaged 17.1 ppg in his last eight games before the Break – dropping 30 points on Denver and doubling-up with 18 points and 10 assists against the T-Wolves. Rose has been just OK in two matchups with the Wine and Gold this season and averages 18.4 ppg against them in 18 career contests.
Kyrie was injured for the first matchup with Chicago this year and struggled mightily in the January 23 loss in Cleveland – going 5-for-16 from the floor for 11 points.
Aside from Thursday being the start date of the season’s second half, it’s also the league’s trade deadline day – and both the Bulls and Cavaliers have found themselves in the center of the rumor mill.
For Chicago, six-time All-Star Pau Gasol’s name has been bandied about for days. The Spanish star and two-time NBA Champion is having another rock-solid season, averaging 17.0 points and 10.9 boards per contest. He’s been even better against Cleveland over the course of his career – posting averages of 19.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in 24 games against the Cavaliers. Gasol was the difference in the Bulls’ recent win over the Wine and Gold – finishing with 25 points and 10 boards (and a +21 in his 33 minutes of action).
If he’s still with Chicago when the two squads square off, he’ll match up with Tristan Thompson – who will be playing in his 340th straight game on Thursday night. Thompson grabbed double-digit boards in his last four games before the Break, doubling-up with 15 points and 13 rebounds in the first half finale against the Lakers.
If Gasol was the difference in Chicago’s January 23 win at The Q, Taj Gibson was definitely the X-factor. He didn’t post huge numbers – and rarely does – but it seemed like every one of his 15 points and eight boards stung the Cavaliers in some way.
As the Bulls struggle to stay above water with Jimmy Butler and Nikola Mirotic still on the sidelines, they’re going to need every bit of offense they can get from guys like Gibson, E’Twaun Moore and Doug McDermott.
The Cavaliers will counter Chicago’s frontline of Gibson and Mike Dunleavy with LeBron James and Kevin Love, who left the Lakers game before the Break with a left shoulder stinger but should be ready for action in Round 3 of this season series. Love, who missed the entire Second Round series against Chicago last year, has been solid-but-not-spectacular against the Bulls this season – averaging 16.0 points and 6.5 boards through the first two contests.
As the Wine and Gold gear up for the season’s second half, they’d like nothing more than getting Love back into his early-season form.
The Cavaliers should be getting Matthew Dellavedova back for Thursday night’s matchup with Chicago. The scrappy Australian missed Cleveland’s final five games before the Break with a sore left hamstring and – although the Cavs adjusted to his absence over the final three games – his energy, hustle and defensive intensity were definitely missed.
As Tyronn Lue continues to formulate his rotation he’ll start working Delly back into the lineup. With Delly back, the Cavaliers bench will be at full strength for Chicago on Thursday night.
The shorthanded Bulls are not so lucky. They’ll be without their All-Star swingman, Jimmy Butler, but also be without both Joakim Noah (left shoulder) and Nikola Mirotic (appendicitis). With the Cavaliers looking to notch their first win over Chicago this season – simultaneously trying to bury the struggling Bulls deeper in the standings – Thursday would be the ideal night to jump on their Central Division rivals.
