Random dribbles following the Cavaliers’ 136-106 hammer job of a highway win over the Toronto Raptors to open the season on Wednesday. …
1. It’s protected to say the Kenny Atkinson period is off to a rousing begin.
2. After form of slogging by the primary quarter and discovering their footing, the Cavs actually turned it on. The ball was shifting, the pictures began dropping and the protection was as staunch as we remembered it from final season.
3. The Cavs led 33-32 after 12 minutes. By the center of the third quarter, they had been up 28 and it was time to empty the bench. Atkinson didn’t try this — however he may’ve.
4. In abstract, Evan Mobley, Donovan Mitchell, Caris LeVert and the Cavs had been merely dominant for almost all of the ultimate three quarters. Everybody performed so effectively that it’s arduous to concentrate on only one man.
5. And that’s form of the concept behind this 12 months’s Cavs.
6. However we’re going to start out with Mobley, anyway. It wasn’t simply that he scored a game-high 25 factors on 9-of-14 taking pictures, to go along with eight rebounds and three blocks. It was how he did it.
7. Mainly, Mobley simply appeared so comfy, so positive of himself, so assured and so decided to dominate. The end result was his greatest opener as a professional.
8. Mitchell went for 21 factors on 7-of-14 taking pictures and LeVert was dynamite, scoring 19 in 21 minutes — burying his first eight pictures. He missed the ninth, and even that was simply barely, because it rolled across the rim and popped out.
9. However wait, there actually is extra. Ty Jerome got here off the bench for his first full recreation in Cavs uniform and scored 14 factors on 6-of-7 from the ground. Each Jerome and starter Darius Garland (seven factors, six assists) did a implausible job of controlling the tempo, getting within the paint, and scoring or organising teammates. Jerome additionally completed with six assists.
10. Granted, the Raptors had been shorthanded and aren’t presupposed to be all that good even when wholesome. However profitable an opener on the highway within the NBA is commonly a tall, tall process. Particularly in Toronto, the place the group is relentless and bodily play is the secret. After that first quarter, the Cavs didn’t flinch.
11. Mobley to FanDuel Sports activities Cleveland on the message despatched: “We’re here. We’re ready to go very far this year. That’s the main focus.”
12. Dean Wade (5 factors, eight boards) began rather than the injured Max Strus and delivered some sturdy protection, tons of hustle and compelled nothing. It actually helps when guys perceive their roles. Jarrett Allen added 14 factors on 5-of-7 taking pictures, which implies Allen is identical as he ever was.
13. 13 Cavaliers performed in all and each final one in every of them scored. Together with LeVert, Georges Niang (11 factors, 4-of-5 taking pictures) and Sam Merrill (seven factors) had been the primary off the bench.
14. All offseason, followers requested what wanted to occur for the Cavs to take the following steps. My reply was all the time the identical — Mobley has to change into extra environment friendly offensively and the bench has to get it finished on the highway. There are 81 video games left, sure. However each of these issues occurred within the first.
15. In the meantime, it’s prone to be a tricky 12 months for our associates up north. The Raptors had been already with out the injured RJ Barrett, Bruce Brown and Kelly Olynyk — then misplaced Immanuel Quickley to a again contusion within the second quarter. You recognize it’s certain to be a protracted night time when your main scorers are Chris Boucher (18 factors) and Gradey Dick (16).
16. The Cavaliers performed with the identical power on protection, difficult practically each shot and throwing Toronto right into a tizzy close to the basket. Raptors star Scottie Barnes was held to only 9 factors on 3-of-14 taking pictures.
17. Subsequent up: You guessed it, the house opener. That takes place Friday towards former coach J.B. Bickerstaff and his Detroit Pistons. They blew an eight-point lead at residence towards the Pacers to open the season, dropping 115-109. Tipoff is 7:30 p.m.
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