Cavs’ Takedown of LeBron, Lakers Shows Who’s Truly on Rise Now

Right now, the Cavaliers are showing they can beat you in any number of ways.

And these days, it doesn’t even matter if you have LeBron James on your team.

The Cavs proved that again on Sunday, when they suffocated James and the Lakers in the second half en route to a fairly uneventful and easy 114-100 road win.

It’s true that there was little drama after halftime, with the game’s final four minutes resembling little more than glorified garbage time.

For the Cavs, Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland returned after missing Friday’s win in Detroit, and not surprisingly, were the catalysts on this day.

These days, Mitchell is probably better than James, and without question is the player who fits best with this modern version of the footloose and drama-free Cavs. He entered the game averaging 31.7 points and finished with 33, on 10-of-17 shooting no less.

Basically, when all else fails, the Cavs turn to Mitchell. And the man simply takes over. Just like You Know Who used to do in Cleveland.

“It’s almost like you go to the park with your big brother kind of feel,” Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said of Mitchell, via Bally Sports. “You’re going up against older guys, but you know your brother is there, he’s got your back. So it gives you that confidence that you can go out and do more.

“As soon as he got to Cleveland, all he wanted to do was be a good teammate and be a part of the group.”

As for Garland, he is the ultimate 1-A, or even sometimes just the “1,” as you’d be hard-pressed to find a better backcourt in the entire NBA. Garland went for 24 points, and like his running-mate, tends to make the right play at every turn.

Jarrett Allen added 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Caris LeVert scored 12, including a couple of big buckets in the fourth quarter.

But that was just the offense — and while it counted for a lot, it wasn’t the main reason the Cavs were able to overcome a 12-point deficit in the first half, then run away with an otherwise close game.

The biggest factor was, again, their continued reliability at the other end. Starting with the third quarter, the Cavs aggressively challenged every Lakers shot, by bending their knees, shuffling their feet, stepping in passing lanes … you name it.

Allen compiled two steals and two blocks. Evan Mobley recorded two steals and a swat. And in one of the game’s main turning points, Dean Wade picked off a Russell Westbrook pass, then dribbled all the way down to the other end for an easy dunk. It was Wade’s only basket, but boy oh boy, was it big.

In the end, the Cavs (8-1) had recorded their first win over a James-led team since March 29, 2011, back when he was still in his first season with the Heat. He of course returned several years later, leading the franchise to its first and only championship.

From that team, only Kevin Love (nine points) remains. Now, Love is paired with what appears to be greatness once again.

But this is a different group, with a very distinct feel. The main difference now, of course, is that LeBron can only watch it happen from afar. While his Lakers (2-7) slide further down basketball’s sewer, the Cavs seem headed back toward very good things.

“They seem like they just want to play ball,” James said, via Kyle Goon of the LA Daily News.

Beating LeBron in his own house is just one small example of that.

Granted, James led the Lakers with 27 points and seven boards, showing that he still has plenty left as he approaches the age of 38. He just happens to be on a team that looks very much like it’s headed back to Nowheresville.

And without a doubt, that appears to be the very opposite of where these Cavs are going.

Surprise, Coach! ?✨ #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/Az8JzWhCLx

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) November 6, 2022