Draymond agrees: Cavs’ ball movement is ‘Warriors-esque’

The Cavs exploded for 37 points in the fourth quarter of their 144-126 win over the Bulls Friday night, and they score more points per game than any other team in the NBA.

When the Golden State Warriors came to town on Nov. 8, the Cavaliers put up an 83-spot in the first half.

You don’t have to remind Draymond Green about that Cavalanche.

“I think these Cleveland Cavaliers are serious, and I’m gonna tell you why I think they’re serious,” Green said on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis.” “That ball humming so crazy … my head was spinning they was moving that ball so fast.”

Green emphasized: “They moving the ball so crazy.”

Green heaped praise on coach Kenny Atkinson – who spent the previous three seasons as an assistant with the Warriors – and the “mindset” Atkinson has brought to Cleveland.

“You see it in Darius Garland,” Green asserted. “Darius Garland is playing at an all-star level – an NBA-starter all-star level.”

Green also called out Evan Mobley: “The way Evan Mobley is playing is what you thought Evan Mobley would be coming out of college.”

That game left an indelible impression on Green’s co-host as well. Davis said the Cavs’ collective energy level has taken a quantum leap this year. He also marveled at the team’s depth.

The Cavaliers are a “dangerous” matchup for any team, Davis explained, because they have so many “offensive weapons.”

“They got breakdown players, they got shooters, they got guys who can play iso one-on-one,” Davis said.

They also have a plethora of players who can hit clutch shots, Davis added.

In his postgame comments Friday night, Atkinson attributed the crisp ball movement and free-flowing offense to the team’s chemistry and balanced mix of scorers and “connectors.”

Atkinson said he got a kick out of Green’s comments.

“He was just really impressed how we ping the ball around,” Atkinson told reporters. “How we drive, kick, swing; we get it out of pick-and-roll; we get it out of fast-break situations. It’s Warriors-esque – it’s really that type of ball movement. It’s beautiful to watch.”

I should note that when Green recorded his podcast, he insisted that Boston is the team to beat in the NBA. But that didn’t stop him from lavishing superlatives on the undefeated Cavs.

“I think this team – they got something there,” Green said. “ … I’m telling you, I like that team.”