Random dribbles following the Cavaliers’ riveting 123-116 road win over the defending champion Boston Celtics on Friday. …
1. It was just a regular-season game at the end of February, but the Cavaliers really showed something here.
2. Namely, you’d better not get mouthy on social media just because they’re down 25-3.
3. The Cavs kept fighting, scrapping, and chipping away. Suddenly, they only trailed by 10 at halftime.
4. Then they went down by 17 in the third quarter. Social media went nuts again.
5. But these are this year’s Cavs. The narrative — or occasional lack thereof — has not mattered one iota to them.
6. They are connected. They are a team in the truest sense. They can kill you in any number of ways.
7. All of that and more was on display as they departed Boston with a seven-point win and a nine-game winning streak.
8. It’s not necessarily that the Cavs (49-10), beat the Celtics. It’s how they did it. They had every reason to fold and move on to the next. After that deficit, the world would’ve been just fine if that had been the outcome.
9. Last season, that’s probably what would’ve happened. This season, the Cavs simply are on another level. “We just stuck together,” forward Evan Mobley told reporters in Boston. “That’s the biggest thing.”
10. Mobley was a monster in the fourth quarter. Donovan Mitchell was a monster all night. And the bench flat-out embarrassed Boston’s reserves.
11. Still, down 25-3 to start the game? And you manage to win? Now that’s was is called a Cavalanche. “When you believe in yourself, you can do anything,” Mobley said.
12. And Cavs Nation offered a hearty amen.
13. The defending champion Celtics (42-18) were acting high and mighty. Star forward Jayson Tatum dominated early, often. At one point, he walked down the court after a made basket and not-so-politely suggested that the Cavs should just go home. We kind of believed him.
14. But Tatum ate those words. He probably knows now that these aren’t the same old Cavs. Or the same old everyday opponent of any kind.
15. Meanwhile, Mitchell, Mobley, Darius Garland and the rest of the Cavs kept quiet and just went about their business. They toughened up defensively. They started making shots. The Celtics finally missed a few … and then a few more. You could actually see them starting to tighten up.
16. Basically, Boston gave an inch. And that’s all these Cavs ever need.
17. But coach Kenny Atkinson preaches the idea of being “humble in victory.” He was quick to point out that the Celtics were missing starters Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday — two big absences, for sure. “By no means does this mean we’re over the mountaintop,” Atkinson said. “But I do like getting the win.”
18. As usual, the contributions were endless. Mitchell erupted for 41 points on 13-of-26 shooting. Garland scored 20 and passed for a team-high seven assists. Mobley finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds. De’Andre Hunter came off the bench to add 12 and five, respectively. That’s three All-Stars and their new key addition.
19. Hunter also made a major impact defensively. That’s why the Cavs got him — to help defend players such as Tatum and fellow star wing Jaylen Brown. And it was Hunter’s outstretched arm that tipped Tatum’s final desperation 3-pointer. Airball.
20. Atkinson credited many things, including the leadership of Mitchell. “Never gets too high or too low,” he said, adding that the Cavaliers displayed great composure throughout. “They trust the message. They trust each other.”
21. And how good was the bench? How about a 33-6 onslaught of a scoring advantage? Ty Jerome (eight points) was a plus-34. That means the Cavs outscored Boston by a massive 34 points when he was on the court. Sam Merrill was a plus-22, Hunter a plus-21. Goodness gracious.
22. In other words, so many peiople did so many things that don’t show up on the stat sheet. Jerome, Merrill, Dean Wade, Max Strus, Isaac Okoro and Jarrett Allen (10 points, 4-of-4 shooting). All were remarkably vital.
23. All were also needed, as Tatum went hogwild to the tune of 46 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists. But at the end, the Cavs made those numbers feel incredibly empty.
24. Mitchell on the comeback: “Everything that could’ve possibly went wrong went wrong. We had nowhere to go but up from there … But even when we got the lead, it was about still being consistent.”
25. The Cavs did indeed take a six-point lead late. Then the Celtics tied it at 114-all. They scored just once more. That should give you an idea what Atkinson means when he speaks of “composure.”
26. When asked how the Cavs did it, Mitchell just sort of shrugged. “We’re good,” he said. … This is what we play for. We looked at it like, ‘We got punched in the mouth. How do we repond to that?'”
27. The Cavaliers’ response was perhaps the greatest story in a season full of great stories. If they face the Celtics again this season, it will be in the playoffs.
28. The Cavs believe they can win. Maybe now a lot of other people will believe it, too. Either way, these Cavaliers do not care. They’re just fine with doing their proving on the court, and man oh man, everyone sure got a sample of that on Friday night.
- Box Score | Cavs 123, Celtics 116
- More Cavaliers | All coverage from Hoops Wire
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I found it interesting that Atkinson gave Tatum high praise for his basketball integrity as he obviously didn’t see the arrogant crap he pulled in the first quarter. Nice comeback by the Cavs and props to Atkinson for using multiple line-ups to get them back in the game. I don’t believe the outcome would been different had Porzingis and Holiday played. I just think Cavs are a better team. 🏀👊🏻😎