New York Knicks at Cleveland Cavaliers 2/11/19 – NBA Pick
The Knicks and Cavaliers are both struggling on the year. In fact, the Cavaliers look like a team that could be doing battle this early in the season for a lottery pick. The Knicks, though, look like a team that could really use a lottery pick as they have only managed to get 10 wins on the year. What is even worse is the Knicks are playing as one of the worst teams in the league right now and have been completely trashed in the games they have been playing lately.
New York Knicks Preview
The Knicks have dropped 16 games straight and have slipped from being a respected team to being one that is an easy win. The last game is a very good example of that when the Knicks fell to the Raptors 104-99. Kevin Knox led the Knicks scorers with a total of 20 points in the game. Mitchell Robinson came off the bench to put in another 15 points. When it came to cleaning up the glass in the game the Knicks relied on DeAndre Jordan who was a monster with 18 boards, 7 of them offensive boards.
Dennis Smith Jr. has only played in 4 games for the Knicks, but is already the talk of the town. Smith has managed to score 19.3 points a game, get 6.5 assist a game. The Knicks have also been able to get 14.7 points a game from Emmanuel Mudiay on the year as well. On the season the Knicks have been able to score only 105.2 points a game. The passing game is horrible with only 19.7 assist a game. The Knicks have managed 44.2 rebounds a game, but defensively the Knicks are giving up 114.3 points a game.
Cleveland Cavaliers Preview
While the Cavaliers have only managed to pick up 11 wins on the year, they are not as bad as the Knicks when it comes to losing. The Cavaliers have only dropped 4 straight games and that has to be seen as a minor victory coming into this game here. The last game out for the Cavaliers was a loss to the Pacers with the final score being 105-90. The scoring for the Cavaliers was led by Jordan Clarkson who put in 18 points from the bench. The Cavaliers did have Larry Nance Jr and Collin Sexton score 16 points a piece to round out the starters in double digits. In the game the Cavaliers only managed to get 30 rebounds and 10 of those came from Nance who completed his double-double.
On the year the Cavaliers have been led in the scoring by Jordan Clarkson with 16.8 points a game. The Cavaliers offensively have 102.3 points a game. The Cavaliers actually pass a little bit better than the Knicks with 20.4 assist a game. When it comes to rebounding the Knicks have the edge as the Cavaliers get 42.3 boards a game. With the defense the Cavaliers are giving up only 113.1 points a game.
Knicks at Cavaliers Line: Cleveland Cavaliers -1.5 O/U 210
My Free Knicks at Cavaliers Prediction: Cleveland Cavaliers -1.5
The Cavaliers are struggling on the season, but the Knicks have to settle in from the trades they have had and the Cavaliers are getting Kevin Love back. With the return of Love coming slowing into the lineup it will help the Cavaliers get some balance back on what had been a horrible season. I look for the Knicks to still be searching for an identity and the youth of Smith to have some mistakes in the game that the Cavaliers are able to take advantage of in the game. I look for the Cleveland Cavaliers to win and cover 95-90.
