Dribbles: Cavs finally make it easy on themselves, and the big men lead the way

Random dribbles following the Cavaliers’ 136-111 road win over the Bucks on Saturday night.

1. This was the type of game the Cavs needed. They came in having played five mostly uneven games, some good and some bad, and finally put together a convincing performance from start to finish.

2. The Bucks aren’t very good right now. The Cavs are expected to contend in the Eastern Conference. This was an opportunity to take care of a struggling opponent, and they did exactly that.

3. It started with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Mobley scored 27 points on 11-of-16 shooting, including three 3-pointers. Allen added 25 points and 11 rebounds, making 12 of his 16 shots. That’s 52 points from the starting frontcourt.

4. It wasn’t by accident. The Cavs made a point of getting the ball to their big men, allowing them to attack inside and dictate how Milwaukee defended. When Mobley and Allen are that involved, the Cavs become awfully difficult to handle.

5. Coach Kenny Atkinson said the approach was part of the morning film session. “We were very intentional about getting them the ball,” he said. Both finished with a team-high 16 shots, and the results were hard to argue with.

6. This is something the Cavs need to remember. Donovan Mitchell and James Harden can create shots whenever necessary, but they don’t have to do everything. The offense is much more balanced when Mobley and Allen are aggressive and their teammates make an effort to find them.

7. Cleveland scored 60 points in the paint and converted 25 of 35 attempts in the restricted area. The Bucks simply couldn’t keep the Cavs away from the basket.

8. The decisive stretch came in the second quarter, when the Cavs outscored Milwaukee 48-21. By early in the fourth, the lead had reached 36 points. There was no need for another late-game adventure.

9. Mitchell finished with 15 points and a team-best plus-31. Harden added 13 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Neither needed to carry the offense. Both did a nice job of getting others involved and allowing the game to come to them.

10. Also worth mentioning was Mario Hezonja, who finished with eight points, 11 rebounds and four assists. He grabbed four offensive boards. Those are the types of contributions that can get overlooked in a blowout, but they help explain why the Cavs were so effective.

11. Rookie Meleek Thomas returned after missing Thursday’s game in Atlanta with a sore foot and scored 13 points. Thomas Bryant added 11, all in the fourth quarter. The Cavs were able to get plenty of players involved, another benefit of building such a comfortable lead.

12. Kel’el Ware led the Bucks with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Tyler Herro added 15, but made just five of his 18 shots. Milwaukee struggled to contain the Cavs’ offense and never recovered from that second-quarter surge.

13. Overall, this was an encouraging performance, particularly after some of the problems the Cavs experienced in their first five games. They controlled the paint, shared the ball and didn’t allow a large lead to become another problem. That’s how a contender should handle a team that’s struggling.

14. The Cavs are 4-2 and return home to face the Thunder on Monday night. Oklahoma City has been dealing with injuries, but it’s still another opportunity for the Cavs to establish some consistency. Six games in, that’s probably the biggest thing they’re looking for.

15. There’s plenty of basketball left, and the Cavs still have plenty to prove. But Saturday was a good example of what this team can look like when Mobley and Allen are involved throughout the game. The Cavs have enough talent to win in different ways. This was one of their better ones.