Pregame Dribbles: Cavaliers vs. Lakers

CLEVELAND — Random dribbles ahead of the Cavaliers’ home game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. …

1. The Cavs are coming off a great win at New York; the Lakers off a tough loss (their first of the season) at Phoenix. So you know LeBron James will be extra motivated.

1. As if he really needs any motivation to play well in Cleveland. 

3. Along with that, James went just 3-of-14 from the field for his worst shooting performance in 17 years, back when he was with (you guessed it) the home team. But LeBron was still LeBron, as he hit a clutch 3-pointer against the Suns to pull the Lakers within one late in the game.

4. But believe it or not, this game is more about the Cavs than it is about the greatest player of this generation. The Cavs are the story because they’ve made themselves that way. 

5. Cleveland has been moving the ball, getting after it defensively and showing a great deal of belief. It all sounds so simple and there’s very little flash to it. But it works and when it’s all clicking, watch out.

6. That is what we’ve learned through the first four games. Donovan Mitchell is going to do his thing, we all knew that. But if the Cavs were going to go places, everyone else had to raise their play. Darius Garland has done that. Same with Evan Mobley. Jarrett Allen was the second-best player on the team at the end of last season (when healthy) — and even he has been better.

7. The bench bunch, by and large, has been better, too. Caris LeVert, Sam Merrill, Dean Wade (who’s starting) and Georges Niang. Ty Jerome didn’t get many minutes vs. the Knicks, but he’s been good when he plays. Isaac Okoro continues to do the little things and make hustle plays. Everyone seems comfortable in their role.

8. Basically, the Cavs have been tons of fun under Kenny Atkinson. They play with a little bit of an edge and have a little bit of swagger. In that sense, they’re sort of a reflection of their coach.

9. It’s been eight years since James lifted the Cavs to their lone championship. Fans will forever be grateful. But I think most are over these LeBron return games. And I don’t mean that disrespectfully. It’s just that these games used to be a big deal. Now, they’re not even on national TV.

10. A big reason for that is because Cleveland fans can focus on their own team and aren’t worried about what LeBron and the Lakers are doing. The Cavs are the better program and they’re the better team. Win or lose this game, that’s really where they stand. In two years, trust me, you’d rather be rooting for the Cavaliers than the Lakers. That’s true this year, too.

11. Finally, it will be interesting to see who starts off defending LeBron (I’m going with Wade) and who starts off on Anthony Davis, the Lakers’ best player and a true NBA MVP candidate. While Davis is great, the key is containing James. Without LeBron, the Lakers just look like Davis’ old Pelicans teams.

12. Interestingly, the Cavs and Lakers are two teams that didn’t make any significant moves this offseason, opting instead to bring all their key players back.

The best start in Cavs franchise history was 8-0 in 1976-77. The leading scorers that season were Campy Russell (pictured), Austin Carr, Bingo Smith and Jim Chones, respectively. pic.twitter.com/yWR1fxiqHh

— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) October 30, 2024