We hope you have a great start to your week. Here are the Cleveland Cavaliers news and links of the day.

The first sip

The schedule was released last Thursday. Tony looked at five of the best games on the schedule. Of course, that means someone has to look at the worst games the schedule makers have presented to us.

Cavs at Toronto Raptors, October 23

For Tony, this was one of the games he was looking forward to. I totally disagree with that.

The Cavaliers have struggled against the Raptors since the end of the LeBronto era. Cleveland has an 8-13 record against Toronto since then. That includes a 2-9 record north of the border.

The Cavs also suffered more than their fair share of injuries against the Raptors, including Darius Garland (eye) on opening night at the start of the 2022-23 season and Jarrett Allen (finger) in March 2022.

The last thing you want is to start your season on a bad note.

Cavs vs. New Orleans Pelicans, November 20

Back-to-back games are always tough. This is especially true when the first leg is an away game against the defending champions, who you lost to in the playoffs. The duel against the Boston Celtics is also their most important group game in the NBA Cup and will be broadcast nationally on television.

The following night against the Pelicans could be a disappointment, no matter what happens against Boston.

Cavs at Dallas Mavericks, January 3

Luka Dončić seems to average a million points per game against the Cavs (but somehow it’s only 30.7). He’s always a real challenge, and playing the Cavaliers on the final leg of a four-game road trip that will see them face the Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers will likely be no exception.

The Cavs won both games against the Mavs last season, two improbable victories. That could happen again. But it’s more likely that this team will enter the game exhausted from a tough road stretch.

Cavs in Detroit, February 5

They know JB Bickerstaff wants his Pistons to get a win or two against his former team. Detroit’s best chance to do that comes tonight. The Cavs play the Celtics at home the night before and will soon head to Michigan.

At least the schedule makers have allowed the Cavs to play against the Celtics at the beginning of their back-to-back games.

Cavs at Sacramento Kings, March 19

The annual MAC Tournament road trip is always difficult, and the toughest game on that stretch will be the game against the Kings on the second night of a back-to-back tournament.

Sacramento is a good team no matter when you play them, but their hectic pace may make them the last team you want to play if you had a game in another city the night before.

Photo by NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images

Random Cavalier of the Day – Luther Rackley

Rackley was part of the first Cavalier team that won only 15 games. He played 74 games as a backup center and averaged 7.6 points per game. Rackley began the next season with the team, but was traded for draft picks in November. In total, he played five seasons in the ABA and NBA.

Rackley spent his post-playing career as a real estate agent, actor and teacher. He died in 2017 at the age of 71.

Links of the day