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00:00We continue with opening week here on New York Got Game.
00:19Dexter Henry, Brian Fonseca and the Knicks will tip off their season on Wednesday night
00:24at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
00:27This is a matchup of two of the teams many people believe will be competing
00:31for the Eastern Conference title this year.
00:35Yeah, they are the two favorites in the East.
00:38So this episode, we're going to preview things.
00:41And to do it, we're going to preview with a guy who is the host of Across the Cavs podcast,
00:48a fantastic podcast covering the Cleveland Cavaliers.
00:50His name is Zach Weiss, and he joins us now.
00:53Zach, what's going on, man?
00:55Hey, Dexter, great to be with you and Brian again.
00:58We spoke in February, and I know that every time these teams get together, it is just, it's must-see.
01:05I mean, you mentioned it.
01:07These are the two projected to finish at the top of the East.
01:10We got our old pal Jordan Clarkson joining you guys now.
01:13I'm very excited to watch his role.
01:15And also a big, I was hoping the Cavs might get Yabu, Yabu Sele, because Kenny coached him in France a couple years ago.
01:23But I can't wait to see the new guys.
01:25I can't wait, man.
01:26We got this game, and it's coming.
01:29It's so close.
01:30No, it's going to be a good one.
01:32I feel like it's going to be a good conversation between seeing where both of these teams are this season.
01:37I got to ask you this, Zach, because from the Cleveland perspective, how does the front office view this season?
01:44Because last year was such a high in the regular season for the Cavs, and then obviously disappointing in the loss in the second round to the Pacers.
01:52So is the context of this season for the Cavaliers finals or bust?
01:56Is that where we are in terms of expectations for the Cavs?
02:00I think on the one hand, you have to look at it as finals or bust.
02:04But I think realistically, it's just let's get to the conference finals.
02:07Because you think about losing to Indy in five games, all the credit in the world to the Pacers.
02:13The only excuse the Cavs have is injuries.
02:15It's not a big enough excuse.
02:17Indiana still, as the lower seed came in, they won in Cleveland.
02:22Halliburton had a second of three insane shots and moments in those three rounds.
02:27And it happened.
02:28We moved past last season.
02:29I think it has to be because first year, it moves to the Knicks.
02:33Second year, run out of steam against Boston after barely clearing round one.
02:36Third year, and third year, Donovan Mitchell, obviously, it's a new coaching staff now.
02:42But third year, you dominate round one.
02:45Historic level of sweep.
02:46Almost had the biggest win in franchise history.
02:49One of the biggest wins in the history of the postseason in that series with the Heat.
02:52One of those four sweep wins.
02:54And then you lose in five.
02:56So it's three times.
02:57In three years, your season ended by losing in five.
03:00You ran into a team in your conference you just weren't ready for.
03:02Or once it was the Knicks, once it was the Celtics, once it was the Pacers.
03:06I think it has to be considered title or bust.
03:09But I think realistically, it's just get through round one, get through round two.
03:14You can assess during the conference finals how the season shakes out.
03:19A little bit of a forward thinking question here.
03:22But this team is kind of locked in, is it not, Zach?
03:25Like, they're right at the second apron.
03:27There's not a lot they can do in terms of roster flexibility.
03:31Like, this is who they are.
03:33And they're coming into the season with a couple of injuries already.
03:37Do you think they have enough in terms of continuity and in terms of maybe the Lonzo Ball addition, you know, adding something to this roster?
03:45Do you think they ultimately have enough in order to get to the conference finals or at least the conference finals, like you said?
03:51I would say continuity-wise, absolutely.
03:53And they come in with injuries.
03:55But let's remember, Max Struess also missed the first, what, six or eight weeks last season, too.
04:00And then he came back just fine.
04:02Of course, everyone wants to talk about the last game against Indy.
04:05And you have to.
04:05He went 0 for 9.
04:07Similar to Klay's last game as a Warrior two years ago.
04:09So, but earlier in the series, his shooting kept him in every single game.
04:15He had some big moments.
04:16He's out again.
04:16So, I do think they'll miss him.
04:17But he'll come back healthy.
04:19They will be without Garland.
04:20But Sam Merrill's been here a few years.
04:23And his defensive ability, I think, will be exciting to watch next to Donovan Mitchell.
04:27Yes, while undersized, he's led the team in charges for the last couple of years.
04:30He gets into passing lanes.
04:32He even blocks some shots if you watch Sam Merrill highlights.
04:35I'm sure Brett Usher can hook us all up with that.
04:37And I do think they have enough between Lonzo, who gives him 3 and D.
04:43Larry Nance Jr., who's a little bit of a do-everything guy.
04:46Thomas Bryant is a more efficient version of Tristan Thompson, who provided his bench
04:52minutes last year.
04:54And really just veteran.
04:55But you have a guy that just went to the finals.
04:57He's also won a title with Denver.
04:58Even not playing a big role, he's been there.
05:00And, of course, LNJ coming back, as I just mentioned, does it all.
05:04And if needed, Tyrese Proctor, the rookie, had some incredible shooting games in the
05:09Summer League and the preseason.
05:11And it also looks like Craig Porter, who had a 5-for-5-3 game in the preseason, that they
05:16got shoot us.
05:17That's on Whiteside's favorite thing to say.
05:18I think it's true about the Cavs, that they got shoot us.
05:21And they're ready to play them on the floor.
05:23When you looked at this offseason, though, Zach, for the Cavs, what did you think was their
05:29biggest offseason priorities?
05:31Was it shooting that you just mentioned there, depth, offensive creativity?
05:36And do you feel like they actually addressed that?
05:38Did you feel like they addressed it effectively?
05:40I think the biggest thing was depth, honestly, at that big man position.
05:44Because it's always been Mobley and Allen, but if one of them goes down, what do you
05:47do?
05:48Who comes in?
05:49Because Tristan Thompson's not going to provide big minutes for you.
05:52He was able to two years ago last year.
05:54Really not the case.
05:55They just went small ball.
05:56We had games with DeAndre Hunter playing the 5.
05:59There were moments where George Niang was, before the trade deadline, was playing the
06:035.
06:03And while it's not horrible, Dean Wade was even playing the 5, which I feel like is
06:09not the most feasible option if you want to win big games.
06:11Shout out to his fourth quarter against Boston two years ago, scoring 20.
06:15That completely came out of nowhere and will always love it, but probably shouldn't have
06:19had to play the 5 just because they were shorthanded at the big spot.
06:21He did.
06:23I think adding Thomas Bryant and adding Larry Nance solidifies the position so that you
06:27won't be too undersized because Larry played center minutes for the Pelicans in the first
06:31round two years ago and honestly looked as efficient.
06:34He shot 58.5% from the field as Jonas Valanciunas did.
06:39And then number two, Thomas Bryant spaces the floor.
06:42He knocks down some threes.
06:43He might not be needed for big minutes, but I think that he brings a leadership role from
06:47the Pacers team that just beat them in last year's postseason.
06:51So I think bringing a Pacer over can do a lot for them.
06:55Yeah.
06:55I mean, in New Orleans a couple of years ago, there was a little bit of a push-pull where
06:59Willie Green wanted to play Larry Nance more over Jonas Valanciunas and was able to get
07:05his way because of Jonas Valanciunas' impact on those lineups.
07:08And I'm wondering if he's going to have a similar impact on this roster.
07:11Um, one thing I wanted to ask Zach, what is Kenny Atkins' messaging been in training
07:16camp, in preseason, having gone through this now for a year with this specific roster and
07:21they're more or less running it back?
07:23Is the messaging different from maybe last year?
07:27I think the confidence level, I would say, is definitely still there because you think
07:30about what, 64 wins last year.
07:32I think it's even losing in the second round, it's hard to hang your head now that we're in
07:36a new season and some new pieces.
07:38Of course, the big change though, and what'll be different, there's no super sixth man here
07:43anymore.
07:44Ty Jerome went to Memphis, suffered that injury.
07:46He will be out at least four weeks.
07:48Hopefully he is okay.
07:49It was a pretty, it looked worse when it happened a few days ago, but they gave Sam Merrill the
07:53money instead.
07:54What a 6-2 guard, last pick in the draft five years ago, ends up winning a title as a rookie
07:59works his way out now.
08:00He'll be starting.
08:01I think the message is really just stay the course and understand that no one game is going
08:07to carry too much value because they started 15-0 last year and everyone thought, all right,
08:13these are the guys, this is the team.
08:14No one saw it coming.
08:15Even winning 15 in a row, they were only, what, two games ahead of Boston for most of
08:19the year until they pulled away at the end.
08:22I think that the message pretty much is we're going to play Cleveland Cavaliers basketball.
08:28We brought in these new guys to kind of help, you know, be more glue guys.
08:31They can make plays happen.
08:33And I think that they can definitely get things done.
08:35So I think we're just looking at a team that should be able to finish at the top of the
08:40East, but let's understand the Magic got better.
08:42The Knicks, we're going to talk a lot about them today, of course.
08:45It's the New York Post.
08:46The Knicks got better.
08:48The Hawks got better.
08:49The Celtics are going to be tricky.
08:50The East is wide open, but it's still not a cakewalk.
08:53And let's not just pretend that just because Tyrese Halliburton is out, the Pacers are just
08:58going to be an easy playoff sweep for somebody.
09:00They did win, they didn't win games in the conference finals two years ago while he was
09:04out, but they certainly played extremely hard because when they moved Nembhardt to the point,
09:10their defense got even better.
09:11So the East is not going to be easy.
09:13So I think the message just has to be play your game.
09:16Don't overreact to any one or two games.
09:19And just make sure that you're setting the tone in these types of ballgames and not letting
09:23your opponent do that first.
09:25Zach, I want to ask you about two players for the Cavs here.
09:29One being Darius Garland, who had an uneven last season last year, right?
09:35And some of that is with health with him.
09:38Do you see signs that he's ready for a resurgence to get back to all-star level?
09:43That's one.
09:44And then two is Evan Mobley.
09:46Because there's always talks about Evan Mobley in the offseason, him working on his game,
09:51being focused on being a little bit more skilled in that regard.
09:55We know how good of a defensive player he is.
09:58But what have you seen with Mobley or what have you heard about him that makes you think
10:03that he's possibly ready to take the next leap in his game?
10:07So if you could talk to me a little bit about Garland and Mobley, that'd be great.
10:11Yeah.
10:11So let's start with Darius Garland here.
10:13I mean, he was on fire started last year.
10:15He was one of the best cards in the East.
10:17There's a reason he was voted as an all-star.
10:19I think it's going to be hard to use the phrase all-star level with the new format
10:22because, what, only 12 American players make it now with the 12 international players.
10:28But I think that he certainly will have a chance.
10:31He only averaged 18-4-7 after the all-star break.
10:34His play did dip.
10:35That foot injury was something that was hampering him a lot in the second half
10:40and then was aggravated against Miami.
10:42That toe injury, he said he could barely walk on it.
10:44I don't know how he was getting playoff minutes.
10:46I have no idea how he stayed in at all or how he managed to share the court
10:52with other guards as the season was dwindling, able to do anything.
10:57It was really bad when you hear him recounting that.
11:01So I think the other thing for him is he started off being a great finisher at the rim.
11:05He needs to get that back when he comes back.
11:07He will not be playing to open the season.
11:10Sam Merrill likely, as I mentioned a few minutes ago, will take that spot.
11:13I am confident in his ability.
11:14He's dealt with injuries throughout his career.
11:16Let's remember he only played five games or maybe it was nine games.
11:19Five games.
11:20Yeah, five games in college before getting to a very physical NBA.
11:24So, you know, the high school count, there's what, 25 games on it, 28 games.
11:28College will give you about 45 if you make it through.
11:31He played five.
11:32And so he's still trying to complete that full healthy season,
11:36which I do think can happen after he comes back.
11:39And as for Evan Mobley, I just want to see him get more jumpers, get some more touches.
11:44You know, the pick and roll with the Cavs has been great for a long time.
11:48They set picks.
11:50They run to the rim.
11:51Mobley and Allen together.
11:52Garland, Mitchell, Jerome when he was here.
11:55I think Craig Porter, Alonzo Ball are going to be big lob throwers as well for their two bigs.
12:01And I just want to see him aggressive because the big problem with Mobley
12:04is there just aren't enough touches to go around for everybody every game.
12:08But Mobley needs to be the guy taking other people's touches and not the other way around.
12:12So I think just keep taking the jumpers.
12:15I think he'll have a full feature in the offense while Garland recovers.
12:19And I think these touches will be massive later because when they're at full strength and late in the game,
12:24it should not be Mitchell hero ball.
12:26It should not be Garland hero ball.
12:27It's let's even get Mobley going inside.
12:30Let's get Mobley a couple of jumpers.
12:32Let's get Evan the basketball because everybody in Cleveland who watches,
12:37who's on the staff, who's on the broadcast team would agree that more Mobley touches is positive.
12:43I mean, he was also just a defensive player of the year.
12:45Yes, Wemby was out.
12:47You have to acknowledge that Wemby was out because he would have run away with the award
12:51and won it not only unanimously but more than that if possible.
12:56Every single living person would have voted for Wemby.
12:58But he won it.
13:00He was the best healthy defender for the course of the season.
13:03He gets through that special gold patch now in his jersey, one of only three players in the league that gets to do that.
13:08The MVP, the rookie of the year, and the depoy.
13:10But I think he's capable of putting up 23, 24 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks a night while shooting somewhere between 48 and 55 percent from the field.
13:23Do you think that ultimately this team is going to go as far as Evan Mobley's development could take it?
13:30Or does this have to be another year where Donovan Mitchell is sort of the lead guy before that?
13:37Well, Brian, I think that's a great point.
13:39I think we need to see a 50-50.
13:41I think it's both.
13:42I think Mitchell taking on so much of a load is the reason these injuries keep happening.
13:47And for Evan Mobley, who can do it on both ends, he's not involved enough.
13:52So he's kind of just waiting around, waiting to get going.
13:55He's one of those guys that won't hinder him on defense if he's involved or not.
13:58But knowing what he's capable of and his reach and the fact that he can get to the basket so quickly, he's put on significant muscle.
14:06I think Mobley's continued development combined with Mitchell being able to know when it's his moments is what it'll take to get the Cavs as far as they need to go.
14:16Because, I mean, it's an M&M connection here.
14:18Mobley and Mitchell are the two.
14:20Garland should be the number three at full strength, as good as he can be.
14:23And in doing that, you can keep his body fresher in-game, picking those moments.
14:29Obviously, it's hard to be the number three versus being the number two.
14:32But I think anybody you talk to in Cleveland would say Evan Mobley will need to step up and be the top two.
14:38And there's been conversations about should it be Mobley's team.
14:43I still think it's Mitchell's team, but I think that they're running mates.
14:47I don't think it's one and two.
14:49I think we're going to be at a point this year where it's a 1A, 1B between the two of them on given nights.
14:54It feels like that might be the best pathway forward for the Cavaliers going with – I like that, 1A, 1B running mates.
15:02I like that there, Zach.
15:03Zach, from the Cavs' perspective, looking at this season, I want to kind of pivot to the Cavs-Knicks matchup here, Zach.
15:11How much different do you think it's going to be for the Cavs preparing for a Mike Brown coach-Knicks team as opposed to a Tom Thibodeau coach-Knicks team?
15:22When you look at that from the Cavs, how much do you think that's going to affect their preparation?
15:26Is it easier?
15:26Is it harder?
15:27What do you think?
15:28I think it's harder.
15:29I mean, you remember the video.
15:30The Kings were like, turn on the Jets!
15:32Turn on the Jets!
15:35This is a Knicks team, I think, that's going to be doing a decent amount of running to start, even while they're going too big, which I believe is the lineup they're leaning toward.
15:42I don't know if it's been officially announced for opening night that Mitch will start with Cat.
15:46But I think that in and of itself is the big thing because it was only a few years ago.
15:51It's not ancient history that Mitchell Robinson was destroying Jared Allen on the glass and we got the lights were too bright, quote, at the end of the series.
16:01So, I think that the big thing from the Knicks side, I know you asked me about the Cavs.
16:07They're not trying to mimic the Cavs with the too big look, but I think the Cavs need to make sure to win on the glass.
16:13I think that's the biggest factor in being able to beat the Knicks, especially with Mitch starting.
16:19He was so valuable in the playoffs last year.
16:21Finally healthy, having a big impact.
16:24He got two seven-footers.
16:26Cats played with a seven-footer before, regularly.
16:29Two years ago, he started every game.
16:31Well, he missed some time, but every game he played, he started next to Rudy Gobert.
16:34He can do it.
16:35Knicks fans, I know, were clamoring for it.
16:37Now the Cavs have to be ready for it.
16:39And I think with Mike Brown versus Tom Thibodeau, they're going to get a little bit more in the game planning.
16:44And I think also now Brendan O'Connor, who comes in to help run the Knicks defense, that's going to have a slightly different look than it did before.
16:51I think the Knicks are going to stagger minutes a bit more than they did in the past.
16:55I think that's something to get used to.
16:56With McBride, Clarkson, Hart, Yabusele, Shamit, they're going to have options to bring in off the bench.
17:03Of course, people might want to see Kolak or Dottie as well.
17:06I know they just signed DOR to his standard deal today.
17:10So I'm very curious to see how the Knicks rotations look.
17:13But it's not just going to be four starters play every full first quarter.
17:17There's going to be more deuce minutes.
17:19And I think they certainly have to keep their eyes on him because he's somebody that can burn you in any game.
17:24The Knicks bench certainly has a little bit more potency than the Cavs.
17:27So I think the first four to six minutes of the game, I think Cleveland's going to be fine.
17:31They'll play their offense.
17:32I think they'll have a lead.
17:33And I think when the Knicks go to the bench, we're going to get our first taste at how Kenny makes adjustments with his new look roster, especially down Struis and Garland to start the season.
17:43Yeah.
17:43And speaking of that, I mean, the Knicks did add some depth pieces, which you talked about.
17:48How do you think that's going to compare, at least in this initial matchup?
17:51Because the Knicks have a full squad, assuming Mitchell Robinson doesn't sit due to rest.
17:55That was a report that came out earlier that he might.
17:58And the Cavs, you know, they're down Garland and Struis.
18:02So that's going to test their depth, which is already, as we mentioned, probably not as deep as they may like, given the restrictions that they have on their roster this year.
18:13Yeah.
18:14So I think from the latest report said the Cavs bench rotation of Alonzo is backup one, Craig Porter backup two.
18:20Jalen Tyson, who's put in a lot of work shooting in the offseason, also changed his jersey number.
18:25Dean Wade will be playing the backup four.
18:27And, you know, some kind of a split between Larry Nance and Thomas Bryant.
18:32I, you have to think it'll be Larry Nance Jr., especially coming back to Cleveland.
18:38He's one of the ultimate glue guys.
18:40I think the Hawks missed him significantly last year.
18:42He missed a lot of time with a couple injuries.
18:45I also think he would have been moved at the deadline and there was a chance.
18:47People wanted him on the Cavs last season, but because of the thumb injury, it knocked him out past the deadline.
18:53So that couldn't, even though they did do business with the Hawks, they were never able to get Larry Nance.
18:59And so I think having a 6'7", 6'8", guy that can play some small ball four and five for you to give you some playmaking,
19:07couple assists a night and can also space the floor with a three.
19:09He'll be big.
19:10He's also a massive lob threat.
19:11But, I mean, Larry Nance had one of the V-dunks of all time, just V-dunks in the Patrick edit, but he throws it down hard.
19:20Dean Wade, I think if he's making a couple shots, he's very viable.
19:24When he's not, I think it's hard to play more than 15 minutes.
19:27I think for Craig Porter, let's remember two years ago, the game he had against Philly on national TV.
19:31He's capable, and as for Lonzo Ball, last year was his first season in three, after missing two full seasons.
19:40He didn't play that many games.
19:41He did not play after February.
19:43He just has to stay healthy, take care of his body.
19:45He'll have a smaller burden than he did in Chicago.
19:47He gets steals.
19:49He was shooting 43% from three before the injury happened.
19:52He shot 35% in his return.
19:54I think if he's confident, can find a little burst, get to the rim.
19:58If he's comfortable enough doing that, I think their bench depth should be fine.
20:03Hunter's going to probably start, but I could see him coming out after six or seven minutes and then pulling in Tyson.
20:10Kind of like they used to stagger Struis and Hunter last year and do them kind of in for each other.
20:14I think also with Mobley and Allen, you could see any one of these guys be first in.
20:21I think not having Jerome, there's no more de facto sixth man.
20:24And while Hunter starts and Struis is not available, it also changes things.
20:29Someone just has to come in and make a few shots.
20:30I think that's all the Cavs bench has to do if they want to hang with the Knicks second unit.
20:36When you look at this opener on Wednesday, Zach, which Cavs player do you think is, you know, maybe the under-the-radar guy?
20:43That, you know, somebody in Knicks fans might not be talking about here that could swing the game here in this first game.
20:49Who's that sleeper guy for you on the Cavs roster?
20:51So I've got two, and I've talked about them a lot tonight.
20:55I think the first has to be Craig Porter Jr.
20:57He's been fighting for minutes his whole career, but when he came in and started minutes two years ago, he was very good.
21:04The minutes he did play against Indy last year were solid, and a lot of people were surprised that he did not come in
21:11and that he was not inserted into the game.
21:14And I think on the other side, the starting guard, who he's going to be splitting minutes with, that's Sam Merrill.
21:21Just got his contract, highest paid 60th pick of all time.
21:25He's been working on a lot more than just shooting.
21:27He's been getting to the basket.
21:28He's been getting a lot of other looks off the dribble, which we have not seen from him inside the three-point line before.
21:35I think he's ready for this big role.
21:37I think his time at Utah State and his year on the Bucs, where he didn't play much as a rookie but got the title,
21:44has taught him very well to be a big minutes guy as a starter, because he hasn't played starter minutes in the NBA before.
21:50He's gotten opportunities that he's made the most of, but he hasn't been a 30-minute-a-night guy,
21:55which I think he could be these first couple weeks.
21:57I think the shooting ability of Merrill, combined with his defensive impact on the Knicks guards,
22:04and then pair that off the bench with Craig Porter, who I think if he plays well, will get extended run.
22:11He can drive.
22:11He's got a tight handle.
22:12And he had a preseason game where he shot five for five from three.
22:15If Craig Porter starts making threes, he is a perfect offensive weapon to lead that second unit for you.
22:22Let me also ask you this, because, look, both teams have postseason ambitions.
22:26Both teams are trying to win the East.
22:28Both teams are the favorites to win the East and potentially go to the finals.
22:32When you look at this opener, you know players will say this all the time, Zach.
22:36It's just one game.
22:37Brian, you know this, right?
22:38It's just one game.
22:39It's just another game, one of 82, but it is the first one.
22:43Do you think this game will reveal where Cleveland and or New York stands among the East elite?
22:51Do you think it matters in this one?
22:53I think you always want to get off to a good start, but does it matter to you?
22:55And do you think it matters to the guys on either side of this matchup?
22:59So I think for the Cavs, Dexter, there's a way to look at it.
23:03And it's that they were 15-0 to start last year in the Kenny Atkinson regime.
23:08So if this year they start 0-1, I don't think there's anything to worry about.
23:11They're getting their new guys acclimated.
23:13And they're facing a Knicks team that has a brand new system, a new defensive identity.
23:18They're going to have a new offensive identity.
23:19They got a new leader.
23:20I think on the one hand for the Knicks, it's only one game.
23:27But on the other, they lost every game to the top two teams in the East and West last regular season.
23:33So I think considering that, the Cavs swept them, the Celtics swept them.
23:36They couldn't take the Thunder.
23:39They couldn't take these top dogs.
23:41So with that said, they still beat the Celtics in the playoffs, even though they didn't win in the regular season.
23:47I think for confidence sake, Cavs fans are going to use the argument of the Knicks didn't beat regular season teams last year.
23:54And Knicks fans could throw the flip that, oh, you were 15-0, now we beat you.
23:58Things are different here, fellas.
24:00So I think both teams will have some kind of bragging right, getting it done.
24:04But I don't think that either team should put too much stake.
24:08Because they're going to meet again on Christmas, and I think that game on Christmas Day, noon start at the Garden,
24:13could be one of the best regular season games in the NBA this year.
24:16That's the game we're going to look at and say, hey, this one game tells us a lot.
24:20But this tells us, this won't even tell us the rotations.
24:24Because Cavs aren't at full strength.
24:26If Mitch was potentially going to rest, his minutes might be less than we expect.
24:30Maybe that's a Huck-Porty opportunity.
24:32Maybe that's extra Yabusele minutes.
24:33Or maybe that's just going back to last year's starting five with Josh Hart and not going double big.
24:39So that's where I kind of stand for both sides on this game.
24:42Last thing from me, just on keys to victory here, is it the rebounding that you mentioned earlier?
24:47Or is it maybe the depth that could surprise some people that the Cavs do have?
24:53Because while they don't have names, Jalen Tyson and Craig Porter Jr., who you mentioned,
24:58like we know here in Brooklyn, having covered the Nets, Kenny Atkinson excels at player development.
25:02So are they a couple of guys who could actually make an impact on this game
25:06and maybe swing this for Cleveland in terms of the keys to victory?
25:10Sure.
25:11So I got three keys for both sides.
25:13I think if all three things happen on both sides, then I think either one of these teams gets the win.
25:19So for the Cavs, for me, it's all about the threes.
25:23You have to win the three-point battle.
25:25Because if you're not knocking down outside shots, it's going to be very hard to have Allen and Mobley together.
25:29Evan does have his moments as a shooter now, but if they're not knocking him down, you've got the double bigs.
25:35It might be hard to get into the basket for Donovan and for DeAndre Hunter.
25:39I think you have to win the offensive glass, it goes without saying.
25:42Because the Knicks fans all have their, the lights were too bright, ready to go and hit send.
25:48If there's any play, we're assuming Mitch plays, he gets Jared Allen.
25:52You have to win on the offensive glass.
25:54Thirdly, we all remember when Josh Hart did the chain snatch from Donovan a few years ago.
26:02And Josh Hart just owns this matchup.
26:05Josh Hart owns big games, big shots.
26:08So if you can just find a way to keep both Mitch and Hart at bay and find your own motor guy to run with Hart, I think you'll be fine.
26:15On the Knicks side, we talk about their new depths and the likely willingness to go deeper.
26:21I think they need 25 to 30 bench points between Clarkson, Yabusele, Shamit, McBride.
26:26I don't see why that's, that's not going to be doable for them.
26:29Clarkson himself is a 15 a game guy.
26:31He'll get plenty of looks.
26:33I think they need to find cohesion among Cat and Mitch.
26:36I'm sure they've worked a lot on that in practice over the last few weeks.
26:39But Cat was mostly used to a smaller lineup around him, which is why the defense collapsed a lot.
26:44If he has Mitch behind him, he could take some chances at the top of the key.
26:49And I think Jalen needs to score 35.
26:51I think Brunson needs to assert himself as the star of this game.
26:54He cannot let it be a cav.
26:56There's no pressure on him to do so, especially with how he played in the postseason last year.
27:01But imagine how great it would feel for the Knicks' new regime.
27:04Brunson comes in, has a monster game, outplays Mitchell and Garland.
27:08All three guys, or sorry, Garland won't be out.
27:10Outplays Mitchell and Mobley, the former Depoy, another former All-Inner.
27:14NBA guy and establishes himself as the best player on the court with all these All-Stars around him.
27:19That could be huge for the Knicks.
27:20Well, Knicks fans will be happy about that.
27:22A 35-point-plus game from Brunson, that will make them happy.
27:25It'll be an interesting one, Zach, going down at the Garden on Wednesday night.
27:30The Knicks tip off their season.
27:31So do the Cavs at the Garden in the season opener.
27:35It will be a fun one.
27:36That is Zach Weiss.
27:38Check them out across the Cavs podcast.
27:41A really good one for the Cavs fans out there.
27:45Zach, hey, we did this once before.
27:47You talked about it earlier last season.
27:48We did it.
27:49We had you here to do a preview of the Cavs and Knicks breakdown.
27:53We appreciate you, man.
27:54We definitely got to do it again.
27:56Absolutely.
27:56Dexter, Brian, always great talking ball.
27:58Love the work you guys do.
28:00And, man, honestly, can we skip Tuesday?
28:04I'm excited for those games.
28:05I think we just got to skip it and get right to Cavs next.
28:07I don't think any of us can wait two more days.
28:10I don't have a problem with that.
28:11I don't have a problem with that.
28:12I think a lot of fans on both sides would like that to go.
28:16And, listen, I think fans on both sides would like to see these games
28:19be a little bit more competitive than they were last year.
28:21I know I would like to see that.
28:22I'm sure you would like to see that too, Zach.
28:24So hopefully we get some competitive games there as well.
28:29That's Zach Weiss.
28:30As I mentioned, please give him a follow.
28:31Check him out.
28:32Across the Cavs podcast.
28:33That's Brian Fonseca.
28:34I'm Dexter Henry.
28:35We'll catch you next time on NewYork.Games.
28:40And thanks for watching NewYork.Games.
28:43Boob-shakalaka.
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