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OKC Thunder vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 2019-20 team preview

By Tamberlyn Richardson

OKC Thunder Team Previews: Larry Nance Jr. #22 of the Cleveland Cavaliers goes to the basket (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKC Thunder Team Previews: Larry Nance Jr. #22 of the Cleveland Cavaliers goes to the basket (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder Team Previews
OKC Thunder Team Previews: Cedi Osman #16 of the Cleveland Cavaliers goes to the basket (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The OKC Thunder swept the rebuilding Cleveland Cavaliers last season and enter this season hoping to replicate the feat. Here’s how the team’s matchup.

A year removed from LeBron James exit from Cleveland the Cavaliers continue their full on re-build mode. Unlike the OKC Thunder who managed to translate their superstars’ exits into a draft cupboard full of picks and a young star to feature in the future core the Cavs haven’t quite isolated who is the cornerstone they’ll build around.

Nor is their draft cupboard full, although they have several picks incoming in 2022. However, this season is a different story. For as much as the Cavaliers are saying they are keen to be competitive if they don’t land in the bottom 10 of the NBA they’ll lose both their 2020 first and second-round picks.

While there are developing assets on the Cavaliers even the uncertainty of who is the primary at each position is yet to be determined. Despite finishing in the lower tier and garnering one of the three best shots to nab Zion Williamson the Cavaliers proved why tanking isn’t worthwhile with the new lottery system as they fell to the fifth pick.

With their biggest star Kevin Love back healthy he’s stating how happy he is to be a Cavalier and comfortable staying put. That usually is the type of quote which comes just prior to a trade. Although the Cavaliers aren’t publicly stating as much it seems unreasonable to believe General Manager Koby Altman won’t be actively shopping both Love and Tristan Thompson in an effort to pad Cleveland’s draft cupboard and to aid in the post LeBron era 2.0.

The Basics:

2018-19 Record:

2018-19 Record: 19-63

Playoff/Lottery Seed: last in Central Division, 14th in EC, landed the fifth draft pick

Head Coach:  John Beilein was hired in the offseason

Points per game: Ranked 29th (104.5) | Opponent points per game: Ranked 24th (114.1)

Pace: ranked 29th (96.6)  | Offensive Rating: Ranked 25th (107.7) | Defensive Rating: Ranked 30th (117.6)

Vegas Odds:

Win-Loss: 24.5 games
Odds to NBA Title: +30000
Odds to Win Conference: +15000

* win/loss as per Westgate and Conference/Title odds as per Odds Shark

Last season the Thunder swept the season series with the Cavaliers. Let’s review the changes the Cavaliers made this season with a view of what to expect when the team’s tipoff versus each other in the 2019-20 season.

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