Dribbles: Cavs Offer Preseason Glimpse Of Potentially Positive Things To Come

October 8, 2024

CLEVELAND — Random dribbles from the Cavaliers’ 116-112 preseason home loss to the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday. …

1. You try not to get too sucked into a preseason game, but you really had to like what you saw from the Cavaliers’ starters in the first quarter. They delivered everything that they promised all last week at training camp.

2. The ball moved, the players passed and cut, the entire unit played with great pace and Evan Mobley (19 points in 19 minutes) was dyn-o-mite.

3. Things were just sharp, crisp, and you could tell right away the Cavs benefitted from being familiar with one another. They just seemed entirely comfortable out there. This, they say, is the Kenny Atkinson way.

4. Now, before we get too over-the-top here, it’s important to note the starters (minus the injured Max Strus) weren’t as good in the third quarter. They seemed to be freelancing it a little bit and a little out of rhythm. But that seemed like nothing more than what veterans often do at this time of year. They can sometimes treat the preseason for what it is — a scrimmage.

5. Atkinson strongly indicated he was pleased with what he saw. “We want to get a lot of reps with that group (the starters),” he said. “I thought that first half we really good. Then the second half we were maybe a little, um, not focused.”

6. The Cavs finished just 10-of-48 on 3-pointers, but Atkinson didn’t seem to have a problem with that, either. He was more pleased with the fact that 48 threes were taken. “That’s a good number for us,” he said.

7. As for all the misses, Atkinson chalked it up to “training camp legs, which is normal” for this time of year.

8. Darius Garland played with confidence and poise, finishing with 13 points and five assists. It was the type of showing the Cavs are hoping to get from him regularly this year. Donovan Mitchell scored 12 and Jarrett Allen finished with seven points and six rebounds.

9. Each of the Core Four played 19 minutes. Strus played just nine before exiting with a hip contusion. It’s not expected to be anything serious. Atkinson said he didn’t have an update on Strus immediately after the game.

10. Based on this game, the Cavs’ second five will be Caris LeVert (11 points), Dean Wade, Isaac Okoro, Ty Jerome and Tristan Thompson. Sam Merrill and Georges Niang were also in that mix. So that’s highly likely your top 12 entering the season.

11. The first play of the game was run for Mobley and he delivered. I suspect Atkinson got the job to help bring Mobley to another offensively, and the big man was indeed aggressive in looking for his shot — while forcing nothing.

12. Mobley on the night: “Felt like we had a good first half overall, everyone was on the same page. This was just reflective of the way it’s been all training camp.”

13. The game came down to the final shot, a highly challenged three that was heaved by Craig Porter Jr. at the top of the key with about a second left. The Cavs trailed 114-112 at the time. Atkinson didn’t fault Porter, but admitted that wasn’t the designed play. “Someone should have cut to the basket there,” Atkinson said, adding that the Cavs were trying to do everyone a favor and avoid preseason overtime.

14. You had to like what you saw from two-way big man JT Thor, who finished with seven points, five boards and one nasty dunk in 12 minutes. Rookie Jaylon Tyson (eight points, seven rebounds) also had his moments.

15. Every time something went wrong with the Cavaliers, I just sat there and thought, “Well, at least they’re not the Bulls.” How Zach LaVine is still with Chicago is beyond me. Both sides have sought a trade for about a full calendar year now.

16. Alright, we’ve reached the point where I’m just writing because I don’t how to shut up. So we’ll end here. The Cavs will be back in preseason action on Thursday vs. the Pacers. That game is also at home. See you there.