LeBron James makes his long-anticipated return to Quicken Loans Arena and Cleveland, Ohio on Wednesday night. The return of King James to Cleveland will be a reminder to Cavs fans of just how far their team has fallen without him on the roster. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers appear to be headed in the right direction with LeBron leading the way.
The Cleveland Cavaliers come into this game with a 2-13 record, which is the worst record in the NBA. The Cavaliers have been dealing with a ton of injuries this season, and they don’t have a true leader. The Lakers come into this game with a 9-7 record and have won five of their last six games. Los Angeles is just two games in back of the Warriors and Clippers in the Pacific Division. The Lakers are -9.0 over the Cavs in this game.
Cavaliers Roster a Mess
Injuries have plagued the Cavaliers this season, and now they are also dealing with the trade request of JR Smith. Smith will not be in uniform this game, and the Cavaliers his ability to knock down shots. The Cavaliers are shooting just 35 percent from the three-point line this season, and Cleveland is averaging just 103.3 points per game this season.
Veteran center Tristan Thompson has done his best to lead the Cavaliers this season, but it’s been a lost cause. Thompson is averaging a double-double with 10.1 points and 10.5 rebounds so far this season. Jordan Clarkson has provided a huge spark off the bench for the Cavaliers, leading the team with 15.4 points per game. Kevin Love remains out of the lineup with an injury, leaving the Cavaliers without a true superstar.
LeBron Finally Getting Help
LeBron has been playing great basketball, especially of late, and has carried the Lakers back into playoff contention. King James poured a season-high 51 points in the Lakers‘ last game against the Heat and is averaging 28.8 points per game this season. LeBron also leads the team with 7.7 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game. You can almost guarantee that he will put on a show in his return trip to Cleveland in this game.
The biggest reason that the Lakers have started winning games is due to the fact that other players are stepping up around James. JaVale McGee has 2.6 blocks per game this season, and adding Tyson Chandler to the mix helps the Lakers defensively. Rising stars Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram have combined to score 32 points per game in support of James. This Lakers team should continue to get better as the season rolls along.
Lakers Blow Out Helpless Cavs
The Cleveland Cavaliers fired coach Tyronn Lue early in this season, but things haven’t gotten any better since. The Cavs are desperately missing Kevin Love on the floor, and they simply don’t have the talent to win in the NBA. LeBron should get a huge ovation on Wednesday night, and he will give the Cavs a glimpse into their past in this game. Look for the Lakers to blow out the Cavaliers in this game. Bet Los Angeles -9.0 over Cleveland.
