Cavaliers vs. Bucks Game Preview: Kyrie Irving Injury Leaves Cavs Shorthanded In Milwaukee

With the news that Kyrie Irving will miss this road trip with the Cavaliers, their tanking efforts just got much more serious. One might go as far to say that it is on like Donkey Kong. Eight straight losses and tonight the Cavs play a team that, just last week, beat them by 37 points on their home floor. This time, the game will be played in Milwaukee as the Kyrie-less Cavaliers take on the Bucks. Do I hear nine losses in a row? It looks that way.

Song Of The Day: Gimme Shelter - Rolling Stones

Tonight's Overview:

Cleveland Cavaliers (17-34) at Milwaukee Bucks (25-28)

Last time these two teams played, the Bucks walked all over the Cavaliers. It was only last week and it was a old fashioned ass-whooping. The Bucks set up camp in the paint and just scored points all day. They made themselves comfortable, started a family, and raised three kids right under the basket. Once those kids were 8 years old, they started making uncontested layups against the Cavs as well. The final score was 121-84.

Tonight has got to be better than that, right? (The answer to this question is after the jump)

Yeah, that's wrong. It can definitely be worse.

Since the Cavaliers are without Kyrie, they have no semblance of an offense. There is nobody to play point guard and there's nobody who can create their own shot. Antawn Jamison will take lots of shots, but he's going to have no help to get those open looks that he needs. I just don't see how Cleveland is going to manage to score tonight. Will they get to 80 points? Probably not, unless there's a ton of garbage time and the Bucks play their scrubs.

At this point in the season, I think there should be some sort of fan giveaway where the team asks a lucky (?) fan to play point guard each night. Could it really be that much worse than what we're looking at now?

I have to say, I'm impressed with the dedication to tanking. I'm not 100% sure that this is a conscious effort by the organization or if it's just a result of trading away current assets for future ones (the Ramon Sessions trade) and untimely injuries to our best players. Regardless, the Raptors, Nets, Pistons, and Kings ought to be envious of our tanking prowess. Ain't no tank job like a Cleveland tank job 'cause a Cleveland tank job don't stop.

Key Matchup:

My hand vs. the button on the ESPN Lottery Machine

With the Cavaliers sitting in the fourth slot of the lottery right now, it makes for some very fun scenarios when you try out the lottery machine. I just did it now and it had us jumping up to the second pick and grabbing Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. That'd be freaking awesome. So, use the lottery machine and think about those different scenarios for next year while the Cavs are getting blown out in the second half of this game. I know that's what I'll be doing.

Fear The Sword's Fearless Prediction:

No Kyrie, same result. The Bucks win in a blowout, but at least we get some encouraging play out of Tristan Thompson. Bucks win 101-77.

PS: Opening Day for the Tribe is tomorrow. I'm very excited. I love the work that the guys do over at Let's Go Tribe.

What if?