Published on: Jan 14, 2022 9:17 am IST|Updated on: Jan 14, 2022 9:17 am IST
SAS vs CLE Dream11: Here we are again, engaging with the nuances of the league called the NBA. The league has been around for more than 70 years now and has produced athletes that have made their names ring in the basketball world years after their retirement. We have seen the league continue to plug in high-level talent and the ups and downs of various Franchises are what makes the overall scenery complicated. And here we are discussing two such franchises whose fortunes have overturned significantly as the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the San Antonio Spurs.
Cleveland has 24 wins and 18 losses, and that is already more than the number of games they won in the 72-game season, which indicates massive growth. And truly, Cleveland has been a better team on both ends of the floor and their young talent has especially turned it up a notch. Overall, the Cavaliers are slated for a Playoff spot.
The Spurs have not enjoyed a similar level of success and the period since late December has especially taken the toll on this young team. The team has 15 wins and a humungous 26 losses and has been an under 50% win team for all of the season. Still, in terms of development, there have been promising signs. Host: San Antonio Spurs Visitors: Cleveland Cavaliers Match Timing: 15 January, @ 07:30 AM Venue: AT & T Center
Spurs: Tough period COVID-19 outbreak has played a massive role in derailing Spurs’ campaign. The team had a decent 14 wins and 18 losses record before Murray went into the COVID-19 protocols and that is when the Spurs started to lose a lot. When Murray returned, more than half of the starters and crucial bench players were in the protocols, again, completely taking off the steam from the team. And how have they fared since the outbreak? Just one win and eight losses, completely putting them off rhythm. The Spurs have not been a formidable defensive squad all season long and when they missed their major players, they also lost the grip on the offensive end, which has been their strength. Dejounte has scored 20+, had dished 8+ assists, and has been a major force rebounding-wise but other players around him except Poeltl have been inconsistent. The team needs White and McDermott back and the current makeshift unit looks in trouble all game long.
Cavaliers: Can be even better During every game, one area where the Cavs are likely to have an advantage over others is the length of the team. Cavaliers play a peculiar lineup with four big Forwards/Centers, this is unheard of even in previous eras(there might be some but trust me, this has never been the norm). With Garland at the one guard, the team has four bigs in Stevens, Mobley, Markkanen, and Allen in the starting lineup and Kevin Love is a PF who comes off the bench. Thus, there are a lot of rebounders, shot-blockers, and lengthy outstretched arms on the defensive end and that is why the Cavs have been an elite defensive squad all season long. Plus, with their length, there are also plenty of dribble drives and second-chance points. Apart from that, a couple of big shooting Forwards in Markkanen and Love help stretch the floor but yes, I doubt this type of system could have worked without a playmaker like Darius Garland, who is having a wonderful season in all respects. San Antonio Spurs | Cleveland Cavaliers Games: 41| 42 Wins: 15| 24 Defeats: 26| 18
San Antonio Spurs Team News:
Spurs Expected Starting Five Wings: PF: Keita Bates-Diop Middle: C: Jakob Poeltl Guards: SG: Lonnie Walker IV PG: Joshua Primo PG: DeJounte Murray
BENCH MAIN ROTATIONS: Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, Bryn Forbes, Tyler Johnson, Thaddeus Young, Anthony Lamb, Jock Landale, Jaylen Morris, Joe Wisekamp.
Cleveland Cavaliers Team News
Cavaliers Expected Starting Five Forwards: F: LaMar Stevens PF: Lauri Markkanen Middle: C: Jarrett Allen C: Evan Mobley Guard: PG: Darius Garland
BENCH: Kevin Love, Rajon Rondo, Cedi Osman, Dylan Windler, Ed Davis, RJ Nembhard Jr. Kevin Pangos.
Dejounte Murray(SAS) Points: 32 Rebounds: 10 Assists: 11 Steals: 03 Murray has been the scoring, assists, and steals leader for the Spurs this season and he has surely improved as an offensive player. Murray has scored 20 or more, grabbed 7+ rebounds, and 8+ assists a game on a regular basis. Dejounte can be selected as a Star/Pro Player in the Dream 11 NBA Fantasy scenario. Expected Fantasy Points Range: 48-66
Darius Garland(CLE) Points: 11 Rebounds: 10 Assists: 15 Steals: 01 Darius is responsible for keeping the Forward-heavy lineup of the Cavs ticking through his extraordinary passing skills. The guard has seen a dip in scoring but yes 10+ points and 8+ assists production per night can be expected from him. Expected Fantasy Points Range: 37-49
Jarrett Allen(CLE) Points: 12 Rebounds: 07 Assists: 02 Blocks: 01 Jarrett is having perhaps the best season of his life and ever since he has arrived in Cleveland, he has been in top-notch form hitting the prime of his career. The Center has mostly scored in 12-18 points range, grabs 11-18 rebounds, and blocks 1-3 shots regularly. Expected Fantasy Points Range: 28-44
Jakob Poeltl(SAS) Points: 13 Rebounds: 06 Assists: 03 Steals: 02 Blocks: 02 Jakob plays a vital role as the Center of the team and has given the team serviceable scoring, rebounding, and playmaking in the middle. He has scored in the 13-18 points range and has grabbed 6+ rebounds on a regular basis. Expected Fantasy Points Range: 28-39
Keldon Johnson(SAS) Points: 18 Rebounds: 05 Assists: 01 Keldon is a crucial part at the Forward position for the Spurs who has improved in multiple spheres for the team, especially in terms of rebounding. He usually scores 12+ points and grabs 5+ rebounds. Expected Fantasy Points Range: 23-33
Evan Mobley(CLE) Points: 15 Rebounds: 10 Assists: 07 Blocks: 01 Evan Mobley doesn’t look like a rookie and has played like an experienced player so far this season. The big has scored in the 14-18 points range, has grabbed 6-10 rebounds, and has also dished 5 or more assists in the last two games while blocking 1-3 shots a game. Expected Fantasy Points Range: 33-42
SAS vs CLE Dream11 Team
PG: D Murray(SP), B Forbes, L Stevens SG: D Garland(PP) SF: L Markkanen PF: K Bates-Diop, E Mobley C: J Poeltl
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The match is not available on streaming platforms like Voot and JIO TV, while MTV and VH1 are also not going to telecast it. That is why, the best way to keep an eye on all the games is through the annual subscription, where you can get access to all live streams and also full game replays. To get the score and follow the stats, visit the official website of the NBA.