Dribbles: Cavs Stick To Theme Of Season, Shoot Down Sixers In Another All-Around Showing

December 21, 2024

CLEVELAND — Random dribbles from the Cavaliers’ 126-99 home rout of the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday. …

1. Two home games, two nights, two convincing victories. These are just your 2024-25 Cavaliers. It’s what they do.

2. What isn’t always the same is who leads the team in scoring. On this night, it was Darius Garland, who scored 13 of his 26 points in the third quarter. And he did it on just 11 shots overall.

3. He made nine of them, including a sizzling 6-of-7 on 3-pointers. But ask coach Kenny Atkinson, and he will tell you there’s still room for growth.

4. Atkinson on Garland: “I think he can go higher (in 3-point attempts). He could’ve taken two or three more tonight.”

5. But just like everyone on this team, Garland forced nothing. Take Donovan Mitchell, for instance. He scored 19 points in the first half, helping the Cavs overcome an 11-point deficit to take an 11-point halftime lead (66-55). And 19 points is where he finished.

6. That’s not because Mitchell was bad in the final two quarters. It’s because he realized there was no need to overdo it or strive for his own numbers. He stayed within the team concept.

7. That, too, is this year’s Cavs. “Playing together, playing fast, sharing the ball,” was how Ty Jerome (11 points) described it. “Nobody has an agenda.”

8. Oh, and how about Evan Mobley? He erupted for 22 points on 10-of-14 shooting with a game-high 13 rebounds. But what most people will remember is his massive third-quarter dunk in traffic. It brought the crowd (and the guys on the bench) to their feet. Atkinson called it “Dr. J-like.”

9. Another example of how things have just been a smash hit as the Cavs (25-4) continue to hold down the NBA’s best record. They also continue to tie the 2008-09 team for the best start in franchise history.

10. In case you’re wondering, the Cavs can set a new mark by winning each of their next two. They host the Utah Jazz on Monday, before hitting the road for the Denver Nuggets on Friday.

11. Georges Niang (13 points), Caris LeVert (12) and Sam Merrill came off the bench to provide a boost when things were clunky in the first. And you guessed it — yet another theme to the season. The reserves have been a big part of this early success. Like, real big.

12. Atkinson on what the bench brought: “We started turning them over a little bit and got some easy (baskets). I think that was the switch.”

13. The coach also credited the team’s overall composure. Basically, no one gets anxious when things aren’t perfect. “It starts with Donovan, his composure,” Atkinson said. “Georges is really the only one who gets riled up. Everyone else is calm. It’s a characteristic of this team.”

14. Mobley said it all started in training camp, maybe even before that. “I feel like we built great habits and have been sticking to them,” he said.

16. Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers (9-17) with a game-high 27 points. Paul George was held to just 11. That’s another story of the season. The Cavs tend to let one opposing player go off. But just one. All others tend to struggle.

17. Philadelphia was again without injury-riddled superstar Joel Embiid. He is on the sideline more than the court most of the time. This year seems worse than most — and that’s hard to do. Remember when we all had Philly pegged as a top-three team in the Eastern Conference?

18. Instead, it’s the Cavs who have emerged as the Beasts of the East. And beyond hiring Atkinson, they made no moves of note. “I think it speaks of continuity, of keeping the same roster together,” Atkinson said. “These guys know each other so well. It’s really their connection.”

19. Merrill exited the game at halftime with a bruised hip. Atkinson indicated it’s no big deal. “I think he’s gonna be fine,” Atkinson said. “He was a little banged up before the game. He gave it a try. It’s nothing long-term, I don’t think.”

20. Max Strus, of course, sat out as part of his injury management. He is expected to play against the Jazz.

21. The Cavaliers were 53.3 shooting for the game — marking the 17th time this season they’ve hit at least 50 percent from the field. In three of the games they didn’t, they still shot 49 percent. My goodness.

22. Final word from Atkinson: “Collective spirit again. … I like how we handled the back-to-back. Seriously, maturely, and took care of business.”