Cavs still getting respect nationally, even if they haven’t earned all of it yet

The Cavaliers are 3-2, have blown a 29-point lead, nearly blown a couple of other games and have yet to win on the road.

And they’re still considered one of the NBA’s nine best teams.

So apparently, the national folks aren’t quite ready to give up on the Cavs. Nor should they be.

In his latest NBA power rankings for Bleacher Report, Andy Bailey has the Cavs at No. 9, the same spot they occupied a week earlier.

That’s probably about right. Maybe even a little low, depending on which version of the Cavs you’re watching.

The one that builds big leads, moves the ball, gets stops and looks downright dominant? That team can beat anybody.

The one that forgets how to defend, turns it over and allows opponents to go on massive runs? Well, we’ve seen enough of that team already.

Bailey, though, sees plenty to like. Particularly when it comes to Evan Mobley.

Through five games, Mobley is averaging 18.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists while shooting a ridiculous 57.1 percent on threes.

Bailey noted that Mobley is making quicker decisions and looking more comfortable offensively. I agree. There’s less hesitation, and when he’s open, he’s shooting. When he’s not, he’s generally finding someone who is.

That’s a pretty nice development for a guy who already happens to be one of the league’s premier defenders.

Meanwhile, Donovan Mitchell is averaging 24.2 points, and James Harden is still getting everyone involved. The Cavs have plenty of offense, and frankly, scoring hasn’t been much of a concern.

The trouble is everything that happens in between.

They blew that enormous lead against the 76ers in the opener, then needed to hang on against the Nets, rally against the Timberwolves and come from behind against the Wizards. Thursday’s 114-111 loss to the Hawks featured another double-digit lead that disappeared.

Basically, watching the Cavs has become an adventure. Sometimes an unnecessary one.

The good news is it’s October. Nobody is handing out trophies, and nobody is going home because of a blown lead in Philadelphia or a bad third quarter in Atlanta.

As I wrote Friday, I actually like quite a bit of what I’ve seen. The Cavs aren’t playing their best basketball, but I’d be more concerned if they were. There’s a long season ahead, and Kenny Atkinson has plenty of time to get everyone on the same page.

Still, being ranked ninth and looking like the ninth-best team are two different things.

The Cavs visit the Bucks on Saturday, with Milwaukee sitting at 1-4. On paper, Cleveland should win. Then again, on paper, the Cavs probably should be 4-1 themselves.

They have the talent to be a championship contender. They have the experience, too.

Now they just need to start playing like it for more than a quarter or two at a time.