Dribbles: Cavs just need to stay the course until they heal

Random dribbles ahead of the Cavaliers’ road game against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.

1. Well, they always say the NBA season starts on Christmas. Guess what has come and gone?

2. As I’ve written and said repeatedly, the Cavs are in the mix for a top-four playoff seed, despite all the major injuries. They will have to battle on and try to stay in that mix with the injuries to Darius Garland (jaw) and Evan Mobley (knee) keeping them out at least another month.

3. Yes, it’s incredibly early to talk about playoff seeding. The Cavs (17-13) still have 52 games to go. That’s almost twice as many as they’ve played. So tons more can — and will — still happen.

4. Maybe it’s time to give coach J.B. Bickerstaff at least a little credit here. I know fans hate doing that, not just with Bickerstaff, but any coach. But despite not having Mitchell (sick) for the last three games, along with Garland and Mobley, the Cavs have won four of five. 

5. But this is sports, and we blame the coach when things go bad and credit the players when the team wins. I don’t make the rules. That’s what they are, and most people who become coaches know what they’re getting into.

6. Starting Jan. 3, the Cavs will play six straight home games (all the way until Jan. 17). But if there’s one thing we’ve learned about this team this season, it’s that home and road haven’t really mattered all that much. I suspect the Cavs will be better at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse when totally healthy. Should they ever get there.

7. As it stands, I believe the Cavs are in fairly decent shape. That win at Chicago on Saturday was big. And that’s really all the Cavs have to do — just stay over .500 until Garland and Mobley get back by stealing a few here and there. 

8. With the likes of Jarrett Allen, Max Strus, Caris LeVert (when healthy), Sam Merrill (ditto), Isaac Okoro, Dean Wade, Georges Niang, Tristan Thompson and rising rookie Craig Porter Jr., I think the Cavs have enough to make that happen even when the stars are out.

9. I discussed the Cavs at great length, the present and the future earlier Wednesday on 92.3 The Fan. You can listen to the whole interview here. I’m out of town for the holidays, so I will try to squeeze in what coverage I can in the meantime. Thanks as always for following along.

10. Oh, Mitchell and LeVert have been upgraded to questionable for the Mavs game. We have some big Mavs news here, by the way.