Dribbles: Cavs Overruled by Kings, and Defense Suddenly a Concern

Random dribbles following the Cavaliers’ 127-120 road loss to the Kings on Wednesday night.

1. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff was right — the Cavaliers were just bad. “There’s no other way (to say it),” Bickerstaff told reporters.

2. For too many stretches, the Cavs resembled a one-man team. And thank heavens for Donovan Mitchell and his 38-point eruption, or it probably would have been a lot worse.

3. Defensively, forget it. Something is going on, and it started the very minute the Cavs hit the West coast. They gave up 64 points to the Lakers in the first half. They gave up 64 to the Clippers. Then they surrendered a whopping 69 to the Kings.

4. Granted, the defense always seems to tighten up. Against a crummy team like the Lakers, one good half of defense is generally enough. Against everyone else … well, you see what happens.

5. After blowing the game against the Clippers, courtesy of LA’s 19-5 run to the close game, the idea is to get the next one. Instead, the Cavs (8-3) came out flat and seemed to seriously lack energy. They were the opposite of sharp, even when they clawed back to take a fourth-quarter lead.

6. But they never got a stop when they needed it down the stretch. Not once. Same thing happened against the Clippers. That’s a little troubling, and something they can’t allow to become a habit.

7. Oh, by the way, they next visit the defending champion and oh-so-explosive Warriors. If they go through stretches like the last three games, it could get ugly real fast.

8. Darius Garland (six points, 1-of-9 shooting) is really laboring. Something is going on there. Maybe his eye is still bugging him, or maybe it’s his knee. Maybe he’s still adjusting to playing alongside Mitchell. Whatever it is, the Cavs really need for him to get it figured out.

9. Mitchell told reporters that Garland wasn’t feeling well. Again, that may be true. Let’s hope he can shake it, because again, the Cavs need him, if not at his best, a lot closer to it.

10. Mitchell on Garland, via The Athletic’s Kelsey Russo: “He was a little under the weather tonight. I don’t know if you all knew that. For him to go out there and fight for us, give us 33 tough minutes … we have the utmost respect for him to go out there when he’s not feeling the best.”

11. Others put up decent numbers, from Caris LeVert (21 points) to Jarrett Allen (20) to Evan Mobley (16). Overall, though, the Cavs were downright sloppy. Former Cavs coach Mike Brown is now with the Kings, and that’s how he has always wanted games to be played. U-G-L-Y. The Cavs fell into his trap.

12. Interestingly, the Cavs crushed the Kings on the boards, 42-24, with LeVert pulling down 10. But the Kings seemed to get every last one that mattered.

13. What really hurt was the turnovers. The Cavs committed 18; the Kings had nine. Yes, that’s Mike Brown basketball for you, and clearly, Cleveland wasn’t ready for it.

14. Bickerstaff also said it wasn’t just one player. This was a teamwide disappointment, and everyone should be held accountable. He included himself in there.

15. It’s hardly panic time for the Cavs. California trips are tough, man. Like really tough. But boy oh boy, they can’t get back home soon enough. For most of the last two games, they’ve looked gassed.

16. That’s not an excuse — because frankly, they really only have looked tired on defense. That’s the one area in which you need to save all your energy. Defense is what wins these games on the road.

17. Again, not a huge deal right now. Nobody in NBA history has gone 80-2 or 79-3. But it’s pretty clear the Cavs need considerably more from their defense on the road, as well more from their bench on the road. They beat the Celtics twice. They should be able to beat the Kings (4-6).

18. Sacramento killed the Cavs from everywhere, with seven players reaching double figures in scoring. Domantas Sabonis (21 points) and Harrison Barnes (20) led the way.