Although the Cleveland Cavaliers are now 15-0, some people still don’t believe they’re legitimate championship contenders and feel their hot start is at least somewhat of a fluke.
They will have the opportunity to make a major statement to the rest of the basketball world when they visit the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics on Tuesday.
Caris LeVert, Isaac Okoro and Sam Merrill are listed as questionable for Tuesday’s game, while Deam Wade, Emoni Bates and Max Strus will not play, per Evan Dammarell.
Caris LeVert (knee), Isaac Okoro (ankle) and Sam Merrill (ankle) are questionable for the #Cavs against the Boston Celtics and will likely be game-time decisions.
Dean Wade, Emoni Bates and Max Strus are OUT.
— Evan Dammarell (@AmNotEvan) November 18, 2024
Not having LeVert, in particular, would hurt Cleveland, as he is their leading scorer off the bench with an average of 11.8 points a game on 53.4 percent field-goal shooting and 45.8 percent from 3-point range.
Okoro has also been a key piece off the bench and is also shooting a very high percentage from downtown.
While the Cavs have beaten the New York Knicks and the Golden State Warriors so far this season, their schedule has been relatively easy, which has contributed to the suspicion that they aren’t quite as great as their record would suggest.
They will get the opportunity to prove that they’re for real when they face Boston on Tuesday and also on Sunday, Dec. 1.
Boston knocked them out of the second round of last season’s playoffs with ease, and all four of Boston’s wins in that series came by double digits.
At least one win over Jayson Tatum and crew, either this week or on Dec. 1, would force people to consider Cleveland a legitimate candidate to win this season’s Larry O’Brien Trophy.
NEXT: Cavs Are At The Top Of New NBA Power Rankings
