Pregame Dribbles: Cavs Aim To Keep Drinking From Undefeated Cup With Home Date vs. Bulls

CLEVELAND — Random dribbles ahead of the Cavaliers’ home game against the Chicago Bulls on Friday …

1. Through the first three weeks of the season, I’ve had more family and friends want to talk about the Cavaliers than at any other time since I started doing this.

2. And to give you an idea of how long I’ve been doing it, well, just know that I used to file my stories via chisel and granite. Not really, but it sometimes feels like it.

3. Anyway, the point here is that the Cavs are all the talk, the NBA’s best early-season surprise. At least locally. As we talked about on the latest Full Court Cleveland show (also starring ex-Cav Daniel Gibson), the national networks still seem to barely notice the Cavs at 13-0. 

4. But whatever. 

5. As far as locally, the Cavs are getting all the headlines, and boy oh boy, do they ever deserve them. Things haven’t always been pretty. But the end results have been glorious.

6. When it comes to the Cavs, everyone deserves credit. The core four of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen have surpassed expectations. And expectations were fairly lofty.

7. There are games where some guys don’t have it. That is going to happen. It will happen more. But so far with these Cavs, there’s always at least one other person stepping up at winning time. Sometimes two or three. 

8. Last time against the Bulls (on Monday), it was the entire bench.

9. I also heard Shaquille O’Neal say on TNT that coach Kenny Atkinson has little to do with the Cavs’ hot start. Or worse, he may have even said Atkinson has “nothing” to do with it.

10. I love Shaq. He’s always polite and even personable during the times I’ve interviewed him. But come on man. He is speaking like a man who doesn’t watch or even know much about this team.

11. It’s true that the coach can only implement a system. It’s up to the players to bring it to life. But I believe the coach has implemented a philosophy and fight that we haven’t seen in Cleveland pro basketball since the days of coach Lenny Wilkens, with Brad Daugherty, Larry Nance, Mark Price and the rest.

12. And that’s no disrespect to the coaches that came before Atkinson. But we’ve never seen a start like this in Cleveland, and only five other times since the NBA was founded (1946).

13. So whatever.

The national media has barely moved a muscle that the #Cavs are 13-0. #LetEmKnow

"You're talking about a team that's one of six teams in the history of the NBA who has done this. You'd think they'd get more love nationally."

– @AmicoHoops pic.twitter.com/RW5DtY3tor

— Full Court Cleveland (@FullCourtCLE) November 15, 2024

14. Anyway, back to what actually matters. Tonight marks the Cavs’ first game in this season’s NBA Cup. That means you’ll get to see the cool court. It also means the Cavaliers will have to stay ready, because this is likely the only thing somewhat meaningful the Bulls can win this season.

15. For the record, along with 13-0, the Cavs lead the league in points per game (121.8 ppg.), field goal percentage (.518 FG%) and 3-point percentage (.412 3FG%). With their sharp ball movement, deep bench and outside shooting, Atkinson has turned them into the 2015-16 Warriors. Only without the blown 3-1 lead.

16. You’re welcome.

17. Alright, that’s it for now. I’m thrilled that the Cavs’ record start has coincided with my offseason decision to be at every home game. Sadly, I will miss tonight as I had no luck finding a babysitter. But when I told Booby Gibson that, he reminded me that there’s a long way to go.

18. That said, I’ll still be covering the game almost as if I were there and will post some Dribbles after. I also posted the latest Full Court Cleveland, in its entirety, below. You can also watch it on FanDuel Sports Network Cleveland an hour before the Cavaliers Live pregame show on Friday and Sunday, and I think a few other days.