While Klay Thompson's return to Golden State was the most hyped game thus far, the upcoming Cavaliers (15-0) versus Celtics (11-3) clash on Tuesday may be the most significant game of the young NBA season.
That's because the Cavs, tied for the second-best start in NBA history, are trying to move up the ladder to join the 2015-16 Warriors as the only team to get off the gate with at least 16 wins. Those Warriors, of course, went on to notch a record start of 24-0 en route to a 73-9 finish.
After the Cavaliers improved to 15-0 with a win over the Hornets on Sunday, head coach Kenny Atkinson sounded very optimistic when asked about his team's chances to put its undefeated record on the line against the defending champion Celtics.
"Boston Garden — What's better than that?" Atkinson said while expressing excitement about keeping the streak alive in Boston. "It's great for the NBA, right? Everybody is going to be watching, and I know our guys are anxious. I know they remember last year [playoff series loss]. We're going well. They're going well. It's great for the league. Great for our franchise. We're excited."
Atkinson admitted that the game will be "a measuring stick" for his team and "a test" to see if it truly belongs among the best.
"Let's test ourselves with the best and see where we stand," Atkinson stressed.
The intriguing part is that Tuesday's high-profile affair could turn into an old-fashioned shootout. While Joe Mazzulla's Celtics have always been known as gunslingers, the Cavaliers have taken on a completely new identity under Atkinson's leadership.
The team is averaging a league-high 123.7 points per game this season, 11.1 points more than last year's Cavaliers under J.B. Bickerstaff. Impressively, the emphasis on offense and fast-break points hasn't impacted the defense — the Cavs are No. 7 in defensive efficiency.
In fact, the Celtics and Cavaliers are the only teams in the East ranked in the top 10 in both offense and defense thus far. The stakes for Tuesday's clash are even higher since it will be a part of the Emirates NBA Cup. After dropping the first game to the Hawks, the Celtics (0-1) are trying to secure their first points in Group C.
