Dribbles: Little things haunt Cavs yet again in loss to Thunder

CLEVELAND — Random dribbles from the Cavaliers’ 117-112 home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday.

1. How did the Cavs fall to a wildly undermanned Thunder team? Let us count the ways.

2. You can probably start with free throws. The Cavs were a miserable 14-of-24 from the line. They lost by five. It’s not the only reason, but it’s something. “That’s a reason you lose,” coach Kenny Atkinson admitted.

3. Donovan Mitchell (1-of-4) and James Harden (1-of-3) combined to go 2-of-7. This loss wasn’t on them. They did so many other things well. It’s just an example that when it comes to these Cavs, it’s so often the little things that bury them.

4. Then there’s the work on the glass — or lack thereof. The Cavs gave up 15 offensive rebounds against a team that, even when wounded, knows how to score. Basically, if you give a squad with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander an extra chance, well, you’re gonna get burned.

5. I’m not trying to pick on anyone here, but aren’t these the same things we complained about last year? Wasn’t keeping opponents off the offensive glass a point of emphasis at the end of last season? Weren’t the missed free throws making us scratch our heads?

6. And here we are again. What gives, coach?

7. Atkinson on the rebounding problems: “Giving them second chance after second chance, it kind of demoralizes your defense. That’s why everybody’s doing it. Everyone’s crashing (the glass).”

8. Atkinson is right. Teams are crashing more often. That means the Cavs need to be more aware of it than ever. It’s early in the season, but never too early to start. But clearly, they have a ways to go in that department. Again.

9. Gilgeous-Alexander erupted for 43 points. The guy just wiggles himself free for shots and somehow manages to square his shoulders to the basket at the last second. Two points. Not many teams have an answer and the Cavs certainly didn’t. 

10. They don’t have much time to figure it out, either. Their next game is in Oklahoma City (Wednesday night). 

11. Rookie Meleek Thomas got the start for the injured Peyton Watson and actually tied for the team lead in scoring. Both Thomas and Mitchell scored 17. Evan Mobley had 16, Harden and Jarrett Allen had 14 apiece. Mario Hezonja came off the bench for 12.

12. So there was a lot to like offensively. That type of balance usually means a win. Unless, of course, you fail to do the little things. That was the Cavs (4-3) on this night, and again, it’s been the Cavs on too many nights.

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13. The Thunder (5-2) were without starters Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and Cason Wallace, and top reserve Alex Caruso. But it doesn’t matter. They backdoor you to death and have a bunch of guys who can shoot. Oh, and SGA. They’ve done a great job of surrounding their star with guys who can get in space and knock ’em down.

14. Now, I don’t want to be right about this, and it’s still way too early to say I am. But I said after the first preseason game that the Cavs have a good shot at being frustrating this season. Why? Because they aren’t consistent, really, at anything. They don’t consistently defend, they don’t consistently rebound or make free throws, they don’t consistently take care of the ball.

15. It’s a long season, so consistency is hard. I get it. But they have a nice roster. They’re talented and deep and I still believe well-coached. They can be dynamite when they put it all together. The issue is putting it all together for 48 minutes. Or even, like, 35.

16. They’ve implied they know all this and intend to change it. If they do, they’ll really have something. But as Mitchell has said, they can keep talking about it, or they can just go out and do it. Right now, they’re still in the keep-talking-about-it stage.

17. So, yes, the Cavs face the Thunder in OKC on Wednesday. Then they get LeBron James and the 76ers in Cleveland on Friday. After that, it’s the defending champion Knicks at home on Saturday. Yeah. Good luck.

18. Atkinson with the final word: “I like our team. … (But) the NBA’s tough. Every game this year is gonna be a battle. I think we should expect more of this.”

19. And it’s likely to come down to the little things. It sure did on Monday. It undoubtedly will again. It’s fair to wonder if the Cavs can start mastering that area, or if we’re just in for more of the same.