Cavaliers Face Early Challenge in NBA Schedule

Starting last year's NBA regular season, the Cleveland Cavaliers began their dominant 64-win campaign on fire.

This season, though, the Cavaliers might not have it that easy–– as the first week of Cleveland's schedule could certainly present a few tough matchups.

They'll start the year on the road in Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks, then across town facing the Brooklyn Nets, before they'll then go on to make their home opener happen vs. the Milwaukee Bucks, then it's back on the road against another tough East opponent in the Detroit Pistons.

That's three road games out of the four, and three playoff teams in the Eastern Conference from last season– also gearing up for another appearance this time around, too.

For NBA.com, while the Cavaliers did manage to go on a 15-0 start to begin their previous regular season, while also going 15-1 against those aforementioned teams across last year, seeing how they fare this time around will be worth keeping a keen eye on.

"A year ago, the Cavs tied the NBA’s second-longest win streak to open a season with a franchise-best 15-0 start. Repeating that early success will be a challenge with three of Cleveland’s first four games coming against top-six finishers in the East last season. The Cavs open the season with an NYC doubleheader, facing the Knicks and Nets, before returning for their home opener against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. Cleveland closes its opening week in Detroit against the rising Pistons. A year ago, the Cavs went a combined 15-1 against these four opponents. Can they replicate that success and get off to another strong start?"

The Cavaliers have proven that they can stack up with the likes of anyone across the regular season, and have a balanced attack on both ends that makes it tough for opposing big men to get hot against the towering duo of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, while Donovan Mitchell can carry the load on the other end. Their postseason calamities are one thing, but as a regular-season juggernaut, Cleveland knows their place.