Tonight is a pretty big barometer

[furls]

The cavs have been playing much better as of late, but we have seen strings like this before.

Tonight is a pretty good gauge of the mindset of this team, a road game on the back end of a back to back against a bad Memphis team. How many times have we seen this let down? I hope they don't do it again. The Cavs should be able to rip off some wins with their schedule in the immediate future.

[buddycowley]

I'm going to disagree with you a bit about this game being a "BIG barometer."

How often, in the playoffs, are the Cavaliers going to need to get it together against a team like Memphis?

If the end of the regular season is a time to prepare for the playoffs, do we REALLY care how this team comes off after a 4 game/5 night swing? Especially against a team in Memphis that is probably one of the 5 worst in the league right now?

If the Cavaliers lose tonight, I'm not going to get all melty and start in on the "This team is not ready" bandwagon like so many like to fire up after EVERY WIN.

Being able to respond on back-to-back nights in the playoffs SHOULD be easier because of what is at stake for the coming rounds. A regular season back-to-back against Memphis, in March? Not a big deal.

My guess? Cavaliers come out flat, trail by 4-5 points at the half. They turn it around in the 2nd half, but need the final few minutes to pull out the win. Something like the recent Milwaukee game.

Buddy

[pup]

Just win. These are the types of games that you look back on in a few weeks when you can't catch Detroit for the #1. Look as ugly as you want, but come crunch time, get it done.

[Guest]

I agree Pup 100%
Just win baby

[furls]

Maybe I overstated barometer or chose the wrong word.

Basically what I meant is that these are the games that we typically watch the Cavs come out flat and lose too often. The Cavs have been playing very well lately, about as good as anyone. This leads me to fear the typical stumble.

I am not ready to fire up the Cavs bandwagon and a win over Memphis is not going to get me on it, but it will make me feel a lot better.

This stretch of schedule that they have right now, is about as good as they could hope for. Let's just hope that they can keep it going and make some progress on Detroit.