Pregame Dribbles: Cavs Lookin’ To Keep On Cookin’, With Hawks Waiting In Wings

November 27, 2024

CLEVELAND — Random dribbles ahead of the Cavaliers’ home date with the Atlanta Hawks on Thanksgiving eve (7 p.m. EST). …

1. Busy, busy day for all involved. People are getting their turkeys ready. I have a TV show to tape and a few other random radio appearances. Then finally … a game.

2. And hey, who’s having more fun than the Cavaliers (17-1) right now? In the NBA, the answer is no one. At least, not record-wise or when it comes to teamwide belief and just a general sense of feeling good.

3. The Cavs have a decent stretch of home games remaining here. They do have to face Atlanta on the road on Friday (2:30 p.m. tipoff), but other than that, they can try to keep doing their cooking at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

4. The Celtics are in town on Sunday, and we all know who gave the Cavs their one loss. By a basket. In Boston. After shooting something like 80% on 3-pointers in the first half. Then the Celtics had to hang on for dear life.

5. Anyway, I’m getting way, way ahead of myself here. The Cavs cannot overlook Trae Young and the Hawks (7-11). They’ve been wildly inconsistent, but they also managed to beat Boston in Boston. And without Young.

6. So the Hawks are dangerous. They know they need a win. They have playoff dreams. Beating the Cavs would make a team feel good about itself. They know that. I’m assuming the Cavs know it too.

7. During this run, the Cavs have shown great pride and along with the likes of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen (and so much more), refusing to lose can take you places.

8. I always say stars can take over games but it’s the role players who have to keep you in position to have a chance. And so far, Ty Jerome has been NBA Role Player MVP.

9. Basically, if the Cavs keep doing what they’ve been doing, they should be able to sweep their two-game set with Atlanta. But man, it won’t be easy. I can assure you the Hawks are a lot better than their record.

10. You can’t look ahead, ever, in the NBA. But since I’m just a mediocre sportswriter, I’m gonna do it anyway. After the two against the Hawks, then the Celtics, the Cavs get the woeful Washington Wizards at home on Tuesday, then the Denver Nuggets at home a week from Thursday. So make that four of the next five at the Rock.

11. So, this is all set up to be another good stretch. All the Cavaliers need to do is take advantage. So far, that’s what they’ve done all season. Talk to you during and after the game.