Dribbles: Ricky Rubio Comes Back, and So Do Cavs to Win

Random dribbles following the Cavaliers’ gutsy 119-113 road win over the Trail Blazers on Thursday. …

1. Everyone was waiting for Ricky Rubio to play again, and he delivered. And it only took all of 10 minutes to show what he still has to offer.

2. In those 10 minutes, Rubio played with poise, kept the ball moving, and hit a couple of 2-pointers. Remember last season, when the Cavs so often looked like a better team with Rubio on the floor? Well, they looked that way again in his season debut.

3. Rubio finished with nine points on 3-of-5 shooting, including 2-of-4 on threes. He also grabbed three rebounds — and with Rubio in the game, the Cavs outscored the Blazers by six.

4. For most players and teams, those numbers would mean little. But when you consider Rubio has been away for 13 months, that was really something. 

5. It’s easy to see why coach J.B. Bickerstaff may have been tempted to keep Rubio out there longer. But after 10 minutes, trainer Steve Spiro informed Bickerstaff that Rubio’s time was up.

6. Bickerstaff on Rubio’s season debut: “I thought he was awesome. You watch all the work that he put in to bring himself back … and then he helps us make a run. That’s who he is and his teammates loved it.”

7. As for the Cavs overall, the Cavs seemed like no matter what they did, they just couldn’t get over the hump. They sure couldn’t stop Blazers star Damian Lillard, either, as he rang up 50 points. But then came the late fourth quarter, and it was anything but Dame Time.

8. Instead, it was the time to shine for the likes of Donovan Mitchell (26 points), Darius Garland (20 points, 10 assists), and Evan Mobley (17 points, eight rebounds, one massive block). Mitchell scored 10 in the fourth, Mobley had nine, and Garland eight — as those three combined to score 27 of the Cavs’ 32 points in the final 12 minutes.

9. Leading the way for most of the rest of the game was no less than Jarrett Allen, who tied his season-high with 24 points, many via lobs from his teammates in the first half. Allen also pulled down 10 boards and tied his season-high with six assists.

10. It was a quiet double-double for Allen, but let there be no doubt, he was a massive factor.

11. Translation: This was a teamwide effort in the truest sense, and for a long stretch in the fourth, the Cavs (27-16) looked like the team everyone suspects they can become. They’re a team with loads of talent that’s extremely good when they put it all together.

12. Yes, Caris LeVert struggled again offensively, but deserves credit for keeping Lillard in check in the final moments. Lillard really wanted to shoot a three and LeVert simply would not allow it. It was an underrated showing, as LeVert didn’t pout because the shots weren’t dropping. He simply just worked his tail off at the other end.

13. Overall, this was a good win for the Cavs. I just kept sitting there thinking, “They’re better than this opponent.” But I kept wondering if they were gonna get it together long enough to prove it. It took a while, but eventually, the answer was yes.

14. Not to be forgotten in all the hoopla surrounding Mitchell, Garland, Allen, Mobley, and Rubio was the performance of Isaac Okoro. All he did was finish 4-of-4 shooting for 11 points, adding several key hustle plays. Without question, he has been playing better and making a difference lately.

15. Not surprisingly, Rubio was given the Cavs’ celebrated Junkyard Dog chain after the game.

16. More Bickerstaff on Rubio: “He’s calming, he’s steadying, he makes everybody better, he’s got courage. He made those two big (threes) for us to help us continue a run and bring us back in the game. You just see how he helps everybody and how he organizes and puts guys in the right place, and helps simplify the game for everyone.”

17. Jerami Grant added 17 points for the Blazers (19-22), and Anfernee Simons scored 15. This is a team that looks like it’s still a player away after a strong start to the year.

Ricky Rubio with his first bucket of the season!

Welcome back, @rickyrubio9 ? pic.twitter.com/95Zx4AIGWO

— NBA (@NBA) January 13, 2023