Random dribbles from the Cavaliers’ statement of a 115-99 home win over the Bucks on Wednesday.
1. For the first quarter, the Bucks looked like the defending champs. For the next three, the Cavs did. What a game. What a win. What a team Cleveland has become.
2. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff: “We take challenges. We don’t run from anybody, we don’t back down.”
3. Ladies and gentlemen, meet your 2021-22 Cavaliers. They have already reached 30 victories on the season, and have won eight of nine, including three in a row.
4. By the way, Vegas had the Cavs at 27 wins entering the year. Some doofus named Amico had them at about 25.
5. The Bucks started 6-of-9 on 3-pointers in taking an early lead. They went 3-of-23 on threes the rest of the way. As Cavs legend and radio analyst Jim Chones said, that’s important, because you don’t get buckets if you don’t get stops first.
6. You also have to like how the Cavs (30-19) are regularly holding teams below 100. When they do that, they generally win. So as impressed as we all are with the flow offensively, defense beats champions.
7. Oh, and about the offense. Remember how we’ve talked about everyone playing a role from time to time? Yeah, that’s still the case. This time, Kevin Love came off the bench to score 25 points and grab nine rebounds — and in just 27 minutes to boot.
8. Or how about Cedi Osman? He also came off the bench, scoring 23 points and burying 6-of-14 threes in the process. Like Love, Osman brought some serious energy into the game.
9. Overall, the Cavs reserves outscored the Bucks by a whopping 57-15. You read that right. FIFTY-SEVEN to 15.
10. The starters weren’t too shabby, either. Darius Garland went for 19 points and eight assists. Evan Mobley scored 16. Jarrett Allen had 10 points and 10 rebounds after a one-game absence. Dean Wade also scored 10, including a couple of threes that kept the Cavs’ momentum going.
11. All of it prompted Love to repeat something he said after last game. “We’re the ultimate share-the-wealth team,” he told Serena Winters of Bally Sports Ohio.
12. Bickerstaff agreed. “Again, the most impressive thing of it is, it seems to be somebody different every time,” he said.
13. With the win, the Cavs overtook the Bucks for fourth place in the East. But hang on … it gets better. After the Nets lost to the Nuggets, the Cavs actually moved into THIRD.
14. Raise your hand if you thought the Cavs would have 30 wins and be in third place in the East at any point this season. Truth is, they’ve done it before they even hit 50 games.
15. Former guard Greg Anthony on NBA TV: “This team not only has a great roster, but they have a great role recognition. … Their size, their athleticism, their intensity. They play to their strengths. They’re also fun to watch.”
16. Mobley also joined NBA TV, where he was asked about being Rookie of the Year frontrunner. “Means a lot, Rookie of the Year is a great award,” he said. “(But) I’m not really focused on awards yet, I’m just focused on making our team better.”
17. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks (30-20) with 26 points. Bobby Portis scored 22 and Khris Middleton had 21. But on this night, the Bucks were staring at a young, hungry and suddenly rising team. Just like Milwaukee has been over the past several years.
18. Finally, yes, the Cavs are still talking trade ahead of the Feb. 10 trade deadline. You can check out the latest about that on Hoops Wire right here.
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Love those ‘Dribbles’! Keep ’em COMING !
1. Any update on Markkanen’s potential return ?
2. Also, What is your belief on: is it really being TOO optimistic on thinking Sexton could REALLY get any return minutes in an early Playoff round??
3. I noticed on your last info, that Buddy Hield had dropped out of your Cav’s trade discussion.
I’ve been tempted for about a month to comment on some of your trade info’s reports, particularly about the Cav’s NEED for better/consistant 3point shooting, especially in battles with teams like, Bulls, Heat, (of course Warriors, Suns) Given last nights outlandishly good shooting it would appear that Cav’s DO have potential good 3 pt shooters, but NOT yet with nighty consistentcy. It’s a different Cav every night it seems, which IS GOOD showing it can be done by several….But a shooter that can MOST nights give the consistency needed and others by random still help out as they are NOW.
Buddy Hield seems to (yes he’s older) be a candidate for that ??? Would he be better than Levert, or others they’re looking at ?
Thanks
The way CEDI & LOVE went off last night, & the progress Markkanen has made, Okoro did for a few games before covid, Windler, Wade & Stevens too, I wouldn’t want to move those for someone not a fit. So it’s hard to shake up too much of what’s already very good even to pick up a really really good fit, but they DO need more consistency in the 3 pt, & last nights display showed what nailing your 3’s can do.