Who are these guys? John Michael and Austin Carr uttered that sentiment, and most of the United Center fans were likely thinking the same thing. “These guys” were 7 rostered players, and 3 two-way players. The Cavs were down their four highest scoring players, and top four minute getters, and somehow they stopped the Bulls three game win streak.
The Cavs somehow came out with 32 first quarter points. They came out putting up three-point shots early and often and it didn’t stop all night. 16 of their first 25 shots were from three. They finished the game with 51% of their shots being 3PA.
Jarrett Allen came out strong from the gates and had one of his best games as a Cavalier. 10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists to start, and he finished with 19 points (on 9 shots, 10 FTA), 17 rebounds, 7 assist, 1 steal and 1 block. Without Allen, I’m not sure where they’d be. Heck at this pace, Damian James would have stepped in and had a 20-20 game of his own with the back-end roster production they’ve gotten of late.
With only Isaac Okoro and CRAIG! Porter Jr being the primary ball-handlers, the ball was moving consistently – if the Cavs were going to score and get open looks it was going to be moving the ball and moving bodies. Allen had 4 1Q assists, and Max Strus and CRAIG had 3 of their own.
The Cavs finished with 28 assists. This was their 11th highest assist total on the year. Of the top-11 highest assist total games, all the last 5 games are within that list. With less iso play, and more free-flowing offense has ensued.
When the Cavs weren’t hitting 3’s, they were looking for someone to create offense. They were trying to find their way on non-three-point attempts. More on that later.
With the lack of available ball-handlers, JB Bickerstaff had to throw out some interesting lineups. One included Tristan Thompson and Damian James sharing the court together, and the other featured no point guard with Max Strus, Dean Wade and Georges Niang on the perimeter. The latter was a struggle. With no Okoro or CRAIG! on the court, the Cavs went into the net negative. Bickerstaff didn’t have a lot of choices, but the Bulls took advantage of no competent initiators on the court.
John Michael made a timely in-game observation. He noted that once CRAIG! comes back in the game, the team seems to settle down. When CRAIG! took a 2Q break, the Bulls went on a 9-1 run. As soon as he re-entered, the Cavs went on a 10-0 run on their own.
The Cavs had gathered some momentum and extended their lead to double digits in the 2Q however the Bulls quickly closed the quarter with a 13-3 run of their own to get within 1 at half time.
After the Cavs had struggled defensively the last few games, the first half was more of the same. But tonight was a tale of two halves. The Bulls went from 50% FG% at half to 43.8% at game’s end. The Cavs held them to 39 points in the 2H after allowing 56 in the 1H. The Cavs also really punished the Bulls inside with a +19 rebound advantage on the night, and went from -8 points in the paint at half to +2 by game’s end.
MAX. STRUS.
After a truly horrendous display of officiating that relied on Bickerstaff challenging the offensive foul call on the Strus poster to get it right, the Bulls went on a 7-0 run to take the lead midway through the third quarter.
The third quarter was a wrestling match with both teams trying to get a little momentum to take control of the game. There were some back of forth possessions with neither team able to take hold. After the game was tied 69-69, the Cavs ended the 3Q on a 13-3 run, and started the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run. This would be the be the Cavs largest lead (+17) on the night.
The pesky Bulls wouldn’t go away and strung together a 10-run themselves. But, then Chicago native Mr. Strus took over with a 10-run himself to really put the game out of reach.
Taking the pin out of the cap of the Cavs looking for a director thought. Every time the Cavs needed a play, needed a shot, or needed to be reorganized, enter CRAIG!. He was the one that held this team together when they needed someone to, and was able to get the shots they needed when they needed. I have to keep being reminded he’s an undrafted free agent.
Okoro struggled to shoot the ball (0-5 on 3’s), and the Bulls were tempting him to shoot all night. Despite that, he was aggressive in attacking the basket as evidenced by his 7 FTAs.
Strus, Allen and CRAIG! combined for 22 assists. The highest combined total for Evan Mobley, Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland on the year is 21 assists.
Emoni Bates got some first half minutes and proceeded to make a three-pointer within one offensive possession. As is the case with Bickerstaff, he didn’t trust the rookie with any second half minutes.
Damian James ended up with a +16 in 11 minutes and had 5 fouls. Quite the night, and encapsulates what a unprecedented night it was.
Up next: Cavs will have a Christmas break. They travel to Dallas to take on the Mavericks on Wednesday at 8:30PM (ET).
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