Random dribbles from the Cavaliers’ 120-109 house win over the Orlando Magic on Friday. …
1. It wasn’t all the time fairly. Removed from it. However that’s simply life towards the Magic. They wish to muck up the sport.
2. But the Cavs nonetheless led many of the evening by double digits, main by as many as 22 factors and profitable by 11.
3. And hey, what are you aware? The Cavs didn’t even hit 130-plus factors or shoot 60 p.c from the sector (50.6 p.c, to be precise). So make it 6-and-oh-so-good as they head to Milwaukee for the second evening of one other back-to-back.
4. For the sixth time this season, the contributions got here from in every single place. Darius Garland scored 25 on 8-of-16 taking pictures. Donovan Mitchell once more regarded like Michael Jordan within the first quarter, ending with 22 factors. Evan Mobley scored 14 factors and grabbed 12 rebounds, and Caris LeVert went for 13 factors and 7 assists off the bench.
5. However these are simply numbers, they usually don’t inform the entire story. Possibly not even half.
6. Prime Instance No. 1: Mobley was the one starter on the ground close to the tip of the third quarter — together with LeVert, Sam Merrill, Ty Jerome, and Georges Niang. The Magic made a little bit run. Coach Kenny Atkinson caught with that group, anyway.
7. It paid off, because the Cavs elevated the result in 17 by the beginning of the fourth. Afterward, Atkinson spent a number of time speaking about “belief.” As in, it’s not all the time straightforward for a coach to imagine within the bench. However this coach clearly couldn’t have been happier with how the bench delivered. Clearly.
8. Atkinson on that very matter: “A part of my job is to maintain that belief. The tendency is to say, ‘Oh man, (the opponent) made a little bit run,’ and then you definitely sub in your starters.” Typically, although, you simply should protect these starters and have religion that the bench can get it finished.
9. Isaac Okoro (9 factors, infinite hustle) was undoubtedly among the many the reason why. Similar with LeVert and Jerome (additionally 9). Mainly, the Cavs have been getting this finished as a group within the truest sense of the phrase.”It’s a complete group effort, it’s a gaggle factor,” Mitchell mentioned.
10. The Magic are a bodily group, and on just a few events, sure, they acquired the Cavs to bend. However the Cavs by no means broke, and also you by no means acquired the sense they have been ever in any actual hazard.
11. That is simply enjoyable, isn’t it? Solely twice earlier than (2016-17 and 1976-77) have the Cavs began 6-0.
12. Garland on being unbeaten: “The vibe is fairly immaculate proper now, all people is feeling good. But it surely’s 82 video games. We’re simply taking it day-to-day.”
13. With 4:00 minutes, the Cavaliers led 111-95. On the time, Mitchell, Garland, Jarrett Allen and Mobley have been within the recreation. Atkinson subbed all of them out — with Okoro, Jerome, Merrill, Tristan Thompson and two-way man Luke Travers checking in to complete the job.
14. Travers put collectively a formidable 4 minutes, hitting a 3-pointer, making a few nifty passes and swatting a shot into subsequent week. “He performed his tail off,” Atkinson mentioned. “I really like discovering new gamers. He’s 6-foot-8, can actually go. He was enjoyable to observe tonight.”
15. Allen took simply three photographs and scored however two factors. However he did seize 11 rebounds. Orlando (3-3) is an enormous group, even with out injured star Paolo Banchero. “Their technique was to remove that lob (to Allen),” Atkinson mentioned. “However that didn’t have an effect on him on the defensive finish. He’s gotten off to an amazing begin.”
16. The Magic acquired a game-high 28 factors from Jalen Suggs, a bodily guard who simply makes profitable performs. Franz Wagner and rookie Tristan Da Silva added 17 apiece. They performed the Cavs higher than anybody however the Knicks, and that recreation was in Madison Sq. Backyard. Briefly, Orlando will once more be extremely harmful as soon as Banchero will get again.
17. So it’s off to Milwaukee, the place the Cavaliers face a struggling Bucks group that has plans for rivalry. They get the Bucks once more on Monday in Cleveland. If the Cavs win each, they may have tied the 1976-77 group — led by Campy Russell, Austin Carr and Jim Chones — for the perfect begin in franchise historical past.
18. Mitchell with the ultimate phrase: “The most important factor is resiliency, for us to proceed to be who we’re all through.”
