Dribbles: Cavs Utilize Efficient Approach In Dismantling Pistons

CLEVELAND — Random dribbles from the Cavaliers’ 113-101 home win over the coach J.B. Bickerstaff and the Detroit Pistons on Friday …

1. It wasn’t always pretty, but it was pretty efficient. That’s basically the story from the Cavs’ second win in two tries of the Kenny Atkinson era.

2. The Cavs hardly dominated, but there was never really a time when you thought they might lose, either. Detroit kept within striking distance for most of the night — but whenever the Pistons got too close, the Cavs went on a little run.

3. As Jarrett Allen said afterward, “None of us cracked 20 (points) tonight, and we still won the game.”

4. Allen went on to describe this year’s group as “selfless,” pointing out how the ball moved and people went out of their way to find the open man.

5. Atkinson agreed. Well, he did for the most part. “We were really sharing the ball — but just to be a coach here, I thought it stuck there a little bit in the second half.”

6. No matter, the second half is when the Cavaliers started to pull away, building the lead to 18 midway through the fourth quarter.

7. The reason for that, though, was primarily defense. In Game 1, the Cavs forced the Toronto Raptors into 19 turnovers. On this night, they forced the Pistons into 22.

8. More Atkinson: “They definitely cut into our rhythm. We couldn’t get any pace going. But I’m proud of the defense.”

9. Offensively, as Allen suggested, the Cavs again received contributions from everywhere. Donovan Mitchell scored 19, though you hardly would have known it. He compiled exactly zero after the first quarter. 

10. Dean Wade also finished 19 and on 7-of-9 shooting (including 5-of-7 on 3-pointers). Wade is filling in for injured starter Max Strus and as Atkinson said, “really broke the game open” with a barrage of threes.

11. Allen went for 17 points on just seven shots (making five), grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds. Evan Mobley scored a fairly quiet 16, and point guards Darius Garland and Ty Jerome tallied 13 apiece.

12. Jerome has offered quite a boost, using craftiness to get into the lane for flip-in shots or to deliver a pass. Wade put it perfectly by joking that Jerome “has the meanest slow step in the game.”

14. Atkinson added: “Ty has been good since we started open gym in September. He obviously has a great IQ.”

15. Yeah, obviously. So far, you could say that about nearly everyone. All five starters scored at least 13 with, again, no one going for more than 19. That’s balance and the type of teamwork that Atkinson has been talking about since his first press conference.

16. Yes, Bickerstaff returned and was in the visiting locker room after just being in the home locker room for five-plus years. But he insisted beforehand he didn’t sense much difference. “This is just what we do,” he said. “Other than taking a bus to get here … it’s just a basketball game.”

17. Bickerstaff received a fairly lukewarm reception from fans during a tribute video on the Jumbotron. “I think it should’ve been all praise for him,” Allen said while listing Bickerstaff’s accomplishments in Cleveland. “Last year, it was a rocky ending, as some people say. But he gave everything to this team and people should applaud him for that.”

18. Bickerstaff was the nicest coach I’ve covered and definitely the most personable. And I’ve been around since we filed our stories via chisel and granite. I talked extensively about him on the latest Hoops Wire Live.

19. Atkinson also offered high praise for Bickerstaff. “He really built a great foundation here,” Atkinson said. He later added that “Detroit (0-2) is a better team than last year.” That much is obvious.

20. The Cavs also shared a tribute video for team founder and first owner Nick Mileti, who passed away in August. Mileti attended John Adams High and he is the very reason why the Cavs share that school’s wine and gold color scheme.

21. After this game, it was off to Washington, where the Cavs will face the rebuilding Wizards in an early back-to-back. That’s followed by a visit to the Knicks. After that, the Cavs return home to face none other than LeBron James and the Lakers (Wednesday). To show you how times have changed, that game isn’t even nationally televised.

22. There was something else I wanted to say, but luckily for you, I cannot remember. So we’ll end this here. Just know that for the Cavs, it’s been so far, so very good. They are sharing the ball, finding their footing, and taking care of business.