Dribbles: Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland Mesh Well In Cavs Debut

Random dribbles on the Cavaliers’ 113-112 road loss to the 76ers in the preseason opener …

1. First observation: Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland look like they will work well together. No issues were expected there and none are on the horizon, it seems. Just the opposite.

2. Mitchell (16 points) actually looked like the perfect complement for Garland (12 points) — again, as expected. Last season, Garland needed a reliable backcourt running mate to help carry the load. This year, he has more than someone who’s reliable. He has a three-time All-Star in Mitchell.

3. But don’t take my word for it. Just listen to coach J.B. Bickerstaff. “I thought it was pretty seamless the way they played together, the way that the ball moved and everybody got involved,” he told reporters.

4. That is indeed a big key to the Cavs’ success. They won last year by being a team in the truest sense. It was nice to see they still believe in that approach.

5. Yes, Caris LeVert got the start at small forward. The job is highly likely his to lose, several sources told Hoops Wire. Last week, sources said that LeVert had the “inside track” on the job entering camp. You can read those Dribbles here as evidence.

6. I’ve heard people say that if LeVert starts, the Cavs won’t “have enough basketballs to go around.” That means they have too many scorers in the starting lineup. But that’s not at all true in this case.

7. For starters, LeVert has always been an underrated facilitator. He fits the rally cry of keeping the ball moving. Also, Jarrett Allen does many things well — but the Cavs aren’t relying on him to score a lot. He will get his points, yes. But it doesn’t take him many shots to do it. 

8. Translation: Bickerstaff believes LeVert has the skills that make him a natural fit in the starting lineup, even once Evan Mobley (ankle) returns. That’s not to say the job is LeVert’s, period, end of discussion. It just means if he does end up landing it, there will be zero reason for concern.

9. As for the big picture, Bickerstaff reiterated that really only one thing matters. “As long as we play in the same style we want to play, where it isn’t just based on one guy, but it’s based on the team, I think it’s gonna work out well for us,” he said.

10. It was one preseason game, but these Cavs seem every bit as connected as they were last season. And that is with Mitchell. In fact, Mitchell admitted that things went better “than I anticipated.”

11. Garland on the evening: “Ball was moving. A lot of guys had open shots. Going to help a lot when me and Donovan are on the floor. Having another guy on the floor like him is super cool, just relaxing. Just let the game flow. It was easy. It was fun. Everybody got involved.”

12. So that’s that. Preseason game No. 1 is in the books. The Cavs should only get more comfortable from here. That means this should only become even more fun for the Cavs and their fans.

• BOX SCORE: 76ers 113, Cavs 112