Summer League Game Preview: Cavaliers vs. D-League Select Team

After dropping their first Summer League game on Sunday against the Bobcats, the Cavaliers will be right back at it again today at 8:00 PM Eastern. Dion Waiters, Tyler Zeller, and company will take on the D-League Select team as they try to get their first SL win.

Tonight's Overview:

Cleveland Cavaliers (0-1) vs. D-League Select (1-0)

I know it's the D-League team, but these guys can play. Yesterday, they beat the Wizards by a score of 85-78. The Cavs certainly won't be taking them lightly -- after all, we just lost to the Bobcats without Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. But this is Summer League, not the Eastern Conference Finals -- we're looking for development and potential, not victories.

Dion Waiters had a rough first game, but he didn't look nearly as bad as people are trying to make it sound. He shot just 3 of 11 from the floor, but made smart passes. He took decent shots, but settled a little too much. It seemed like he got a little frustrated because he kept getting called for charges when he drove, but then his jumper wasn't falling when he stepped back. Hopefully he'll have more success today.

Like I said yesterday, I'm looking for Tristan Thompson to assert himself and take control of the low block. He has been working on simple, smooth post moves and hopefully we get to see him use those tonight. Overall, he just needs to play a patient, controlled game. He's got an athleticism advantage against nearly any guy that he's matched up with -- he just needs to use it.

We know that these guys have been practicing with the assumption that Kyrie Irving would be with them. Instead, Donald Sloan is thrown into the starting lineup and it took some time adjust. Hopefully it'll get better as the week goes on.

On the other side, it's a bunch of D-League guys. But they can ball. Keep an eye on Andre Emmett and Mardy Collins.

Fear The Sword's Fearless Prediction:

Cavs win 77-71. Dion Waiters bounces back and drops 21 points. Boom.