CLEVELAND — Random dribbles from the Cavaliers’ 126-114 home victory over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday. …
1. Ladies and gentlemen, your Cleveland Cavaliers are the first NBA team to hit 20 wins this season. They’ve done it in only 23 tries.
2. Now, in the long run, no … it doesn’t really mean a whole lot. But they always say to live in the moment, and in this moment, the Cavs are doing a whole lot right.
3. In the event you don’t feel like doing the math, Cleveland is 20-3. Last year, the Cavs didn’t hit 20 wins until Jan. 5 — or 35 games into the season. The last teams to start 20-3? The Bucks and Lakers, who both did it in 2019-20.
4. That also happened to be the same season in which Kenny Atkinson was fired as coach of the Brooklyn Nets. Clearly, that decision has become the Cavs’ gain, as it’s hard to remember a time when things looked so incredibly efficient in Cleveland.
5. A shining example of that efficiency was this very game. Four Cavs scored at least 20 points — and they shot 50 percent from the field, including a sizzling 45.8 percent on 3-pointers (19-of-39).
6. Or how about this — they’re the only team shooting 50 percent from the field, and the only team shooting 40 percent on threes, for the season.
7. Donovan Mitchell led the way with 28 points. Darius Garland scored 24. Caris LeVert sprung to life with 21 off the bench. And Evan Mobley had 20.
8. The only question now is whether the Cavs can keep this up for an entire season. “You never know where each guy is gonna be,” Mitchell said of the offense and resulting marksmanship. “It’s tough to guard. We hang our hat on that.”
9. Added LeVert: “I think we’re playing for each other, getting great looks. We believe in each other,” so yes, he thinks the Cavs are truly an elite shooting team — and should remain that way.
10. Of course, all this talk about offense and truth is, the Cavs’ decision to buckle down defensively in the third quarter is really what gave them separation. The Nuggets (11-9) were scoring too easily and too quickly. They were outpacing the Cavs for much of the first half. Cleveland led just 66-62 at the intermission.
11. So if you ask Atkinson, credit for this victory largely goes to the Cavs stepping it up defensively in the third. Before that, they seemed to be just trying to outscore Denver. But there are other explanations for the win, too.
12. Just ask Atkinson. “I felt like we wore them down with our depth. We have great depth, we have incredible balance. … It’s a pleasure to coach a group like this.”
13. It’s a pleasure to watch as well. Unless, of course, you’re rooting for the other guys.
14. Jarrett Allen scored eight points and grabbed 15 rebounds, pretty good for someone who had to spend the majority of the night tangling with Nuggets star Nikola Jokic. Allen, Mitchell and LeVert each finished with six assists.
15. Here’s something else that’s not necessarily a shocker: Jokic finished with a triple-double (27 points, a remarkable 20 rebounds, and 11 assists). Still, he wasn’t nearly as impactful in the second half — and that’s the result of the teamwide defensive effort of which Atkinson spoke.
16. Michael Porter Jr. added 24 points and Jamal Murray had 19, but beyond that, the Cavs held the Nuggets in check.
17. Denver will likely be a Western Conference contender again, but man, something has to be done about that bench (or lack thereof). Russell Westbrook is their best reserve and he’s been on his last legs for about four years.
18. Meanwhile, Cavs wing Isaac Okoro exited the game at halftime with a left hip contusion. Atkinson indicated it’s nothing serious and it probably shouldn’t cost Okoro any games.
19. Shooting, teamwork, hustle, defensive adjustments. The Cavs had it all this game and have displayed all of it for the vast majority of the early season.
20. Mostly, they’ve been creating the type of open looks that can really take you places if you knock down the shots. And the numbers say that these Cavaliers are doing exactly that. “That’s the name of the game right now,” Mitchell said. “Pace and space.”
- Box Score | Cavs 126, Nuggets 114
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Great win. They actually dominated the game more than the score showed. Stupid turnovers and poor shot selection allowed Denver almost back in the game. I’m nitpicking here. Allen needs to quit turning down those 10 ft shots. He was open all night. Donovan needs to be smarter with the ball and his shot selection imo.
Right on Target, Brett, in your nitpicking. It seems they have SOME difficulty playing with a lead AND simultaneously continuing a decent shot selection that got them there; allowing the opposition to seemingly do a real comeback when it’s really just a brief Cav letdown/inattention to detail.
This is what adversely affects YOUR Number 20 above,Sam, which WAS: ref the LOOKS that can really take you places,, IF YOU KNOCK DOWN THE SHOTS.
Overall they’re really doing GREAT – the improvements needed are in those times when those little letdowns… Recognizing it early & time outs/or just slowing the pace a moment to get under control.
Yeah, it’s nitpicking, but those are the differences between Great teams & Champs. Champs could be in the offing for this group if they can clean that up, stay healthy & get Strus back too. They appear to be able to be taking the whole league, with very few exceptions… Boston, OKC, (ATL?)–but can it last. Hope so.