Can this Cavs team show up more often? It wasn’t perfect, it wasn’t always pretty, but it was much more along the lines how everyone expected this team to play. They had five players in doubt digits, competed (more) on defense, and the starting backcourt had 61 points, 15 assists and 4 turnovers. More of that please.
Starting out, you thought it might be another one of those quarters. We’ve talked about the Cavs sluggish defensive starts, and being near the bottom of the league in first quarter defense. The Magic scored 10 of their first 12 points in the paint. It looked that way, and then things turned around. While the Magic were getting in the paint, the Cavs were pretty active and attentive defensively.
But what really turned the tides is the Cavs got hot from deep. They were much more active on the offensive end, including pushing the ball early. Max Strus got hot, Donovan Mitchell was on, and they put up 37 points in the 1Q. They ended up with 7 1Q 3s versus 0 for the Magic. That was the difference early.
Donovan Mitchell… hopefully back? It’s been a bit of a bumpy ride the last 10 or so games, as he’s shot 41% from the field and 29.5% from 3 – not ideal. Tonight, you couldn’t tell he was slumping. Mitchell’s shot was hitting which really opened up the rest of his game. At one point he had 10 points in 78 minutes.
Give the Magic credit: They could have folded being down double digits in the first half but they kept attacking. Despite 0 1H 3’s, and 9 for the Cavs, they hung around in the second quarter by getting to the free throw line. This really changed the pace of the game, after the Cavs had established a good 1Q rhythm. The Magic finish the 1H with a 23-9 free throw advantage, and both Cavs bigs were in foul trouble early.
Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen both had an early 3 fouls yet no Tristan Thompson. JB Bickerstaff has been coaching with a playoff rotation of late with a tight 7-8 guys. He only ran 8 guys out there in the 1H, and eventually gave Thompson some minutes in the 2H. Mobley, Garland and Mitchell all played 37+ minutes on the night.
Caris LeVert was out tonight, and Ty Jerome still doesn’t have a return date but is there a reason to run Mitchell and Garland out for 77 minutes when CRAIG! Porter Jr has produced when provided with opportunities?
Paolo Banchero was challenging the Cavs defenders all night. He’s got such a unique combination of skill, strength, and fluidity that it makes it tough for forwards/bigs to deal with him. Bickerstaff did end up putting Thompson on him which worked in the few short minutes he went with it. Thompson has provided some value against bigs that have a unique combination of strength and quickness.
The Magic never really went away. They never held a lead, didn’t hit a 3 until 5 minutes into the third quarter, and the Cavs at one point lead by 23. They kept pounding the paint (were +10 on the night), and kept the Cavs in foul trouble (37 FTA, 3 Cavs with 5 fouls). Their attack got the Cavs in some lulls, slowing down the game and mucking it up a bit.
The Cavs have had a problem of holding onto leads. It’s seemed like their attentiveness wanes at times getting them into trouble. But credit to them tonight as they bent but never broke.
A key stretch happened in the 3Q. Mitchell hit a 3 followed by a good Georges Niang versus Banchero defensive effort (with no foul!) that lead to a Niang rebound and transition 3. The Magic were pushing the Cavs and it pushed the Cavs lead from 8 to 14 quickly with a big momentum shift.
My fun Niang and Strus stat: The Cavs are now 7-3 when they both make 2+ 3pters each. Shooting matters, and the Cavs hit 14 3s on the night. The Mavericks lead the league in 15.9 3PM per game.
Niang and Strus really have been good culture fits for this team. Both bring the shooting the Cavs desperately needed, but Niang has a bit of nasty off the bench and Strus seems to be the quiet leader of this team.
Credit to Darius Garland who had one of his cleanest games on the season. He had 9 assists and 0 turnovers (!). Garland was really good in the paint: Correctly deciphering floater or pass and not creating too many difficult passing angles that could lead to deflections/turnovers. Garland was on point (no pun) all night and it was fun to watch.
Allen had a bit of a weird night. He was in foul trouble early, only played a handful of minutes in the 2H and then walked off the bench after a 5th foul. He later returned but after an early post-game exit just a few games ago, it’s something worth watching.
Statline of the night: Okoro had 0 points on 4 shots, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal and yet was a +16.
Up next: The Cavs travel to Miami on Friday for a 8PM game.
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