Dribbles: Well, that was easy, as Cavs put on clinic in walloping Wizards

CLEVELAND — Random dribbles from the Cavaliers’ 140-101 rout of the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.

1. That, friends, is what’s known as a massive blowout. Every team could use one of those, but the Cavs really needed it. This is what you’re supposed to do against the Wizards at home. Handle your business, have some fun, win convincingly.

2. Cavs center Jarrett Allen: “I feel like this was the type of basketball we wanted to play when we’re healthy. We’re finding our rhythm right now.”

3. The first half featured more than a dozen lead changes. At one point, the Wizards even led by five. How did that turn into a 39-point blowout?

4. I asked Cavs guard Max Strus. “Defense,” he said. “It’s just a matter of time for us to lock in.”

5. Strus’ offense didn’t hurt, either. He sort of smirked when he was asked about his recent shooting struggles. “Knew that (question) was coming,” he said.

6. But Strus could afford to laugh it off because if there was a slump, he buried it on this night — finishing with a team-high 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting. That included 6-of-8 on 3-pointers.

7. Thankfully for the Cavs (19-15), Strus was especially hot in the first half because everyone else was sort of …well, just OK. He scored 21 in those first 24 minutes. 

8. After that, it was garbage time, and looked much more like a pickup run at the YMCA than an NBA game. The Wizards (6-27) are terrible, yes. But the Cavs had something to do with that. They woke up.

9. Donovan Mitchell finished with 22 points and hit two big threes in about a minute to close the first half, which the Cavs finished on a 12-2 run. Again, that about did it.

10. Caris LeVert was brilliant off the bench with 21 points and Allen was magnificent in the middle — with 17 points, 19 big rebounds and seven assists, tying his season high.

11. Along with all that, Georges Niang tallied 15 points with eight boards, Sam Merrill scored 11 with a season-high six assists, and Isaac Okoro scored nine on 4-of-4 shooting. Interestingly, Dean Wade made the Cavs’ first basket of the night, then only took two more shots.

12. Basically, when you play the Wizards, it can be stats galore.

13. Want some equally good news, Cavs fans? Washington is again the opponent on Friday.

14. The Cavs are now 12-2 against teams that are under .500 (Portland and Toronto were the two losses). Their next two opponents (Wizards and San Antonio) are a combined 11-55. Both games are at home.

15. Anyway, not to be forgotten in this one: Tristan Thompson‘s seven points and nine rebounds, and Craig Porter Jr.’s eight points on 4-of-5 shooting.

16. The Cavs are taking more threes and that’s by design, coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. He’s been digging into the analytics, and it’s one way to help them overcome the injuries to Darius Garland and Evan Mobley. Cleveland went 20-of-42 from beyond the arc on Wednesday.

17. Kyle Kuzma scored 16 to lead the Wizards, and you have to wonder how long before he asks for a trade. I know if I were him, it probably would’ve happened in, like, November.

18. I do feel bad for the Wizards, and particularly Cleveland native Michael Winger, Washington’s president of basketball operations. But he’s in his first season in charge and this is all part of the plan. The idea is to hit rock bottom and build it back up. They got the first part right.

19. By the way, Winger is not only from Cleveland but once worked as the Cavs’ salary-cap expert. It’s good that he has that background. The Wizards will need it.

20. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about my website, it is this: Write about the Wizards, and nobody will read. So I’m going to end this here. The Cavs are now just a half-game back of the Heat, Pacers and Magic, who sit in a three-way tie for fourth in the East.

21. Finally, I joined Kenny Roda of WHBC to discuss the Cavs’ season so far and (drumroll please) those Mitchell trade rumors. You can listen to the full interview right here on my Facebook page.