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Cavaliers’ Bigs Upstage Wembanyama, Spurs Buckle

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Rookie of the Year frontrunner Victor Wembanyama has been the talk of the NBA since San Antonio drafted him with the No. 1 overall pick last June.

For the most part, Wembanyama has lived up to the hype, averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds per game in his rookie campaign. The 7-foot-4 Frenchman leads the NBA in blocks – which you’d expect – but his skill set goes much deeper than that. He can run the floor like a guard, he can make 3-point shots and his passing acumen is off the charts.

All the hype seemed to add some extra juice for Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. The recently reunited Cavaliers frontcourt was dominant in a 117-101 Cavs win in San Antonio.

In just his third game back from knee surgery, Mobley had 28 points and 10 rebounds, and took a page out of Wembanyama’s playbook by connecting on all three of his 3-point attempts.

Allen had 26 points and 16 rebounds in what is turning into a career year for the affable center.

Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 31 points.

There wasn’t much intrigue in this one – that is, until Mitchell and San Antonio’s Zach Collins were ejected with 54.7 seconds left in the game.

Mitchell took umbrage to Collins elbowing him in the face on a moving screen, and went after the San Antonio center. Although Mitchell was merely standing up for himself, both players received Flagrant 2 penalties and were ejected.

While San Antonio fell to 10-40 with the loss to the Cavs, Wembanyama kept the home fans entertained with some high-flying dunks.

Donovan Mitchell

It’s Official: January Was Donovan Mitchell Month

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Fresh off a 45-point performance in which he willed the Cavaliers to a win over Detroit, Donovan Mitchell received some well-earned accolades.

Prior to tipoff against Memphis on Feb. 1, the NBA announced that Donovan Mitchell will be an Eastern Conference reserve for the 2024 All-Star game. He joins Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Maxey and four others as reserves. (Frankly, Mitchell should be a starter, but we’ll leave that for another post.)

Earlier in the day, the NBA announced that Mitchell had been named the NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month for January.

Mitchell averaged 28.6 points, 7.6 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game in January, leading the Cavaliers to an 11-2 record. He also posted three double-doubles, his most in a single month of his NBA career.

Giving Mitchell the nod was a no-brainer.

No other player in the league finished the month of January with averages of at least 25 points, five rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Speaking of steals – an underrated part of his game – Mitchell is second in the NBA with just under two steals per game, behind only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Amazingly, this is only the second time that Mitchell has won the monthly honor, and his first time as a Cavalier.

Mitchell closed out the month with 45 points, six rebounds, eight assists and two steals against a Pistons squad that’s been playing better in recent weeks.

“You’ve got a guy who’s a closer,” J.B. Bickerstaff said of Mitchell after the Pistons game. “You’ve got a guy who you feel like when the game is on the line, you have him and they don’t – and that’s going to give you an opportunity to win.

“And we’ve seen it before, but every time you watch it, you marvel at it because of his ability to do it in the big moments, and when it was needed.”

January Highlights

Where to begin?

Among Eastern Conference leaders, Mitchell ranked second in steals per game, third in plus/minus (+195), fourth in points per game and sixth in assists per game.

Mitchell had at least one steal in 12 of Cleveland’s 13 outings, including eight multi-steal games in January (tied for second-most in the East).

He scored 20 points or more 11 times, including five games of at least 30 points and two 40-point performances. Mitchell and Joel Embiid were the only two players in the East to have multiple games scoring more than 40 points.

Mitchell’s eight games with at least four triples were tied for the second-most in the NBA.

In the Cavaliers’ Jan. 11 win over Brooklyn in Paris, Mitchell exploded for 45 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and four steals, becoming the fifth player in NBA history to reach those totals in a single game and first NBA player to do so since 1994.

In Cleveland’s 40-point win over Milwaukee on Jan. 17, Mitchell tallied his 11,000th career point and became the fastest player in league history to accumulate 11,000 points and 1,200 three-pointers made (443 games), as well as just the fourth NBA player since 1973-1974 to finish with at least 30 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals in 26 minutes or less.

Bickerstaff said Mitchell stepped up in a big way as Darius Garland and Evan Mobley recovered from their respective injuries.

“The Player of the Month I think was a need thing. He knew that he needed to do just a little bit more because of the bodies that were down,” Bickerstaff said. “He took on the role of the lead ball handler, the lead creator, and he was doing the job to help everybody tick up where we needed them to tick up, and on both ends of the floor, he was contributing. But I think the most impressive thing is in the moment when you needed him most, he found a way to dig down and go out and get it done, and it was infectious throughout the team, and that’s leadership for us.”

A Perennial All-Star

 The 73rd NBA All-Star Game, scheduled for Feb. 18 in Indianapolis, will be Mitchell’s fifth All-Star appearance and his second as a Cleveland Cavalier.

For the season (as of Feb. 2), Mitchell is averaging 28.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.9 steals per game.

Mitchell’s scoring average is superior to both Eastern Conference starting guards, Tyrese Haliburton (23 points) and Damian Lillard (25.1 points). Mitchell also holds the statistical edge in rebounds and steals.

The seventh-year guard from Louisville is one of just two NBA players this season averaging at least 25 points, five rebounds, five assists and 1.5 steals – the other being Gilgeous-Alexander.

Mitchell told Bally Sports Ohio’s Serena Winters that he got the news from his mom during the pre-game shootaround in Memphis.

“It’s a blessing. God is good,” Mitchell told Winters. “I wouldn’t be here without my teammates – both awards – I wouldn’t be able to be in this position without the trust of my teammates, this organization, so I’m very grateful. All the hard work you put in at the end of the day comes to fruition, so God is good. I’m very thankful.”

Evan Mobley

Evan Mobley’s silver-linings playbook

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Evan Mobley is a winner.

Everywhere Mobley has played, the guy has left a trail of success. In his lone collegiate season at USC in 2020-2021, Mobley led the Trojans to their first NCAA Elite Eight appearance since 2001.

Mobley won gold medals with USA Basketball at the 2019 FIBA U-19 World Cup and 2018 FIBA U-17 World Cup. And it’s no coincidence that the Cavaliers haven’t had a losing season since they selected Mobley with the third overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft.

But as much as the Cavs cherish his “versatility, athleticism and physical gifts” – as Cavaliers GM Koby Altman said of Mobley on draft night – you could argue that his mindset is the X factor that makes him a truly special player.

Heading into the 2023-2024 season, the 6-11 power forward seemed poise to take another step in his development, and Mobley was averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds before the Cavs shut him down in early December.

On Dec. 16, Mobley underwent arthroscopic surgery at the Cleveland Clinic to repair his left knee.

Doctors gave him a recovery timetable of six to eight weeks. Mobley did everything in his power to make it six.

“He found a silver lining it, and I think that helped him recover more quickly,” Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters. “He didn’t use it as a moment to hang his head. It was interesting because he just went to the work and [focused on] how you get better.

“He was supposed to be on crutches for a certain amount of days but he didn’t want to do it, so he did what he had to do to get off the crutches early. Everything he did was extremely purposeful and with a positive attitude.”

The soft-spoken Mobley is my favorite kind of NBA player. He’s a quiet storm. He doesn’t say much on or off the court, but he doesn’t have to. His actions speak volumes.

Talking to reporters after the Cavs knocked off the L.A. Clippers on Jan. 29 – Mobley’s first action since Dec. 6 – the quiet storm didn’t offer much in the way of soundbites. Mobley said he viewed the layoff as a “benefit in disguise” – an opportunity to get better in every facet of his game.

“I was just trying to think about it in a positive way,” Mobley told reporters. “I took it as an opportunity, and I tried to get back as fast as possible and join the team.”

Mobley Will ‘Fit in Perfectly’

The Cavs were 15-7 without him, and had won nine of their last 10 games before Mobley rejoined the team against the Clippers. Still, it didn’t take long for Mobley to demonstrate how he’ll assimilate into the Cavs’ new-look, high-octane offense.

Mobley was active on both ends of the floor from the get-go. It only took him 26 seconds to get his first offensive rebound. Late in the first quarter, Mitchell found Mobley on a high-flying alley-oop dunk.

Then, with 8:21 left in the second, Mobley grabbed the rebound off a James Harden miss, galloped down the court and finished with an unassisted tomahawk jam that gave the Cavs a 36-35 lead.

“He’s going to fit in perfectly with what coach Bickerstaff has implemented in a wide-open offense,” Brad Daugherty said earlier in the Bally Sports telecast. “ … He’s in great shape, he’s ready – he’s going to be a huge addition to this basketball team.”

I couldn’t agree more.

Top 5 Cavs Wins

Ranking the top 5 most satisfying Cavs wins of 2023-2024

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After the Cavaliers exacted some revenge on Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks on Jan. 26 – an utterly satisfying win for Cavs fans – I thought it would be fun to look back at the most satisfying wins of the 2023-2024 season so far. The way the Cavs are playing, this list should keep growing.

 

5. Cavs 118, Clippers 108

Jan. 29, 2024

Anytime you can beat presumptive Hall of Famers Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, James Harden and Russell Westbrook on the same night, that’s inherently satisfying. But the context made this win even sweeter.

As Bally Sports play-by-play man John Michael said prior to tipoff, “This ballgame is rich with storylines.” The Los Angeles Clippers headed into this matchup as the hottest team in the NBA, riding a five-game winning streak that included an absolute thrashing of Boston at TD Garden – only the second time this season that the Celtics have lost on their home floor. The Clippers were 16-4 since Dec. 16, the best mark in the NBA. The Cavs were 9-1 in their previous 10 games, and back at home after closing out a four-game roadtrip with a signature win in Milwaukee on Jan. 26.

Donovan Mitchell turned in a Donovan Mitchell-esque performance, leading the Cavs with 28 points and 12, count ’em, 12 assists. Jarrett Allen extended his fro-nomenal, franchise-best double-double streak to 15 games, with 20 points and 17 rebounds. Isaac Okoro fired up the home crowd with 17 points – all in the first half – connecting on three of four 3-point attempts.

But the richest storyline was Evan Mobley, who returned to the lineup after missing 22 games due to knee surgery. Mobley shook off a bit of rust to add 10 points and nine rebounds, including several high-flying dunks. With Mobley’s return, the Cavs seem to have an embarrassment of riches. And with the win over the red-hot Clippers, the Cavs served notice to the rest of the league that they mean business.

Satisfying? Heck yes.

 

4. Cavs 115, Warriors 104

Nov. 5, 2023

This one was about exorcising demons.

After a back-and-forth first quarter, the Cavs pulled ahead late in the second – on the shoulders of Mitchell (who finished with 31 points and seven assists) and Darius Garland (24 points and seven assists) ­– and never looked back. Evan Mobley hauled in 16 rebounds, while Strus chipped in 15 points.

With the win, the Cavaliers snapped a 16-game losing streak against the Warriors, which included 12 regular-season and four playoff losses. I know the Warriors aren’t the team they used to be, but this one was satisfying nonetheless.

The icing on the proverbial cake: A week later, the Cavs notched the season sweep with a 118-110 win in San Francisco.

 

3. Cavs 95, Knicks 89

Nov. 1, 2023

This was the second night of a home-and-home back-to-back against the Cavs’ archnemesis, at Madison Square Garden.

On the previous night, the Knicks cruised to an easy victory in Cleveland, taking full advantage of the fact that Garland, Allen and LeVert were out. LeVert, however, returned to action in this one, and made a big impact with 19 points, six rebounds and five assists off the bench.

But the real story of the game was the Cavs’ defense. The Cavs held the Knickerbockers to 34.8% shooting from the field and 16.7% from 3-point range. After the game, Bickerstaff told reporters: “We showed our true grit.”

 

2. Cavs 112, Bucks 100

Jan. 26, 2024

Facing Milwaukee for the second time in three nights at Fiserv Forum, the Cavaliers had their work cut out for them after Giannis Antetokounmpo dominated in a 126-116 Bucks win on Jan. 24, snapping the Cavs’ eight-game winning streak.

The Cavs responded with a much better gameplan in the second matchup, and played with the kind of hustle, energy and intensity that has sustained them since losing Garland and Mobley in mid-December. They played with poise and cool, calm confidence, while the Bucks expended a lot of energy whining about the officiating (which made the win that much more satisfying).

Bobby Portis Jr. repeatedly slamming a basketball into his forehead after missing a contested layup – priceless.

The Bucks led 57-54 at halftime, and extended their lead to 63-57 with 10:51 left in the third. Then the Cavs went on a 17-2 run, punctuated by back-to-back 3-pointers from Dean Wade. Mitchell led all scorers with 32 points, and Allen was brilliant, posting his 14th straight double-double.

The Cavs flipped the script by out-hustling and out-muscling the Bucks, who were clearly fatigued in the second half. After Giannis gave the Cavs a thorough rogering two nights prior, this was an eminently satisfying win.

 

1. Cavs 122, Sixers 119 (OT)

Nov. 22, 2023

Let’s set the stage for this one.

Donovan Mitchell, Isaac Okoro and Caris LeVert were out. Philly was 10-3 heading into the game; the Cavs were above .500 for the first time since opening night. Due to the in-season tournament, the court at Wells Fargo Center was unsightly. Just awful to look at.

Darius Garland (32 points, eight assists) was sensational, slicing through Philly’s defense like a warm knife through butter. Jarrett Allen (26 points, 13 rebounds) was sublime. Max Strus logged a team-high 44 minutes and posted a 20/5/6 stat line.

Craig Porter Jr. – with 12 points and nine assists off the bench – was nothing short of a revelation.

The Cavs were up 65-53 at halftime, but you just knew that lead wasn’t gonna stick. The Sixers fought back as expected, leading to a wild final three minutes of regulation play – and overtime. The rest is history, because we know the Cavs are money in overtime.

Delicious Moments

  • A plethora of alley-oops from Garland to Mobley and Allen
  • With the shot clock expiring, Garland’s desperation heave and 3-point bank shot to put the Cavs up 106-104 with 1:41 left in regulation
  • Craig Porter Jr. driving into the chest of foul-riddled Joel Embiid with 54 seconds left in OT, hanging in midair and scoring to put the Cavs up 118-116

 

Ty Jerome

Ty Jerome Out Indefinitely After Ankle Surgery

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Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on Jan. 23 to treat a right-ankle impingement, the team said.

The 6-5 guard played in the first two games of the season for the Cavs, chipping in two points in the opening-night win at Brooklyn and two points against Oklahoma City on Oct. 27. The fifth-year guard from the University of Virginia has been anchoring the team’s injury report ever since.

“Recent imaging at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health, in addition to repeated evaluation and rehabilitation by the Cavaliers medical staff, confirmed that surgery was the best course of action to heal the affected area,” the Cavaliers said in a statement. “Jerome will be out indefinitely and his return to basketball activities will be updated as appropriate.”

Cleveland signed Jerome to a two-year, $5 million deal this past July, outbidding the Warriors, who tried to make him a restricted free agent. In his first and only season with Golden State in 2022-2023, Jerome averaged 6.9 points and three assists in 18 minutes off the bench. Jerome shot 48.8% from the field and 39% from 3-point range last season.

With Jerome out indefinitely and Ricky Rubio retired, it will be interesting to see what the Cavs do to add more depth at the point-guard position.

Giannis

What’s the Gameplan After Giannis Bulldozed the Cavs?

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Wednesday’s night “showdown” with the Milwaukee Bucks unfolded just about the way I expected it to unfold.

To be clear, I did not expect the Cavs to win that game.

After a 40-point loss on Jan. 17 in Cleveland, you knew the Bucks would be loaded for bear on their home court, with Giannis back in the lineup. And they were.

To add to the perfect storm, emotions were running high after Milwaukee fired Adrian Griffin on Tuesday.

Blech.

The Greek Freak (are we still calling him that?) was absolutely dominant, bulldozing to the basket regardless of how many hapless Cavs defenders had the misfortune to guard him. His final stat line: 35 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists.

As well as Jarrett Allen has been playing – and he was terrific Wednesday night, all things considered – the Cavs really missed Evan Mobley. It was encouraging to see footage of him running sprints prior to tipoff. Giannis and Brook Lopez might be the best frontcourt in the NBA, and Dean Wade was no match for either of them.

So what’s the next move for the Cavaliers?

For starters, I think they need to treat Friday night’s rematch as a must-win game. They need to approach it with the same intensity that they had in their overtime win in Philadelphia.

A win Friday night would even the season series with Milwaukee. But more importantly, it would be a statement win. Let’s face it: Even as the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Cavs aren’t a top-tier team. They have a lot of talent, but they have yet to prove that they can hang with the Bostons and Milwaukees of the NBA (the aforementioned win over the 76ers being one of the few exceptions). And they’re a combined 0-4 against Oklahoma City and Indiana this season.

Find a way to win.

What Happened to Craig Porter Jr.?

Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of personnel moves that J.B. Bickerstaff can make to shake things up Friday night. Mobley and Darius Garland are out; Tristan Thompson is serving a 25-game suspension; and Ty Jerome is sidelined with the worst ankle sprain in human history.

What about Craig Porter Jr.?

Inexplicably, Porter logged just one minute of playing time Wednesday night, and many fans on social media have wondered why Porter has fallen out of J.B.’s rotation over the past few games. Count me among them.

Porter is an unflappable rookie who can score, rebound and defend. Would Porter have changed the outcome of Monday night’s game? Probably not. But he might have provided a much-needed spark off the bench – especially considering that Caris LeVert has been dealing with wrist soreness and doesn’t appear to be 100%.

Also – and I can’t believe I’m saying this – how about giving Damian Jones more minutes? Jones chipped in five points in 10 high-energy minutes off the bench. Against the Bucks’ formidable frontcourt, it might even make sense to pair Jones with Allen for a few minutes to see what happens.

thompson suspended

Tristan Thompson Receives 25-Game Suspension for Violating NBA Anti-Drug Policy

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Say it ain’t so, Double T.

The NBA on Tuesday announced that Tristan Thompson must serve a 25-game suspension for violating the league’s anti-drug program.

Thompson tested positive for ibutamoren and SARM LGD-4033, according to the NBA.

Ibutamoren is a growth hormone, and the alien-sounding SARM LGD-4033 is “used by bodybuilders and weightlifters for muscle enhancement,” according to the Associated Press.

This is a tough pill to swallow (unlike ibutamoren and SARM LGD-4033, apparently).

In his second stint with the Cavs – he was part of the franchise’s first and only NBA championship in 2016 – Thompson has played a bigger role than most people probably assumed he would. With Evan Mobley sidelined since mid-December, Thompson has stabilized the Cavs’ frontcourt, providing quality minutes off the bench as a tenacious paint patroller.

At 32, Double T is in the prime of his life. (I’d trade a kidney and a first-round draft pick to be that young again.) But in basketball years, I guess he’s getting a bit long in the tooth. Still, it sure seemed like he was defying father time.

Now we know why.

I suppose Damian Jones is the logical choice to fill Double T’s shoes, which is a booby prize if there ever was one. Jones has seemed about as unplayable as Robin Lopez was last year. I’d love to be wrong on this one, but some players are journeymen for a reason.

Don’t count out Pete Nance, whom the Cavaliers recently signed to a 10-day contract. The 6-11 Nance is an Akron, Ohio, native and he’s a Nance, which immediately endears him to many Cavs faithful. It would be easy to root for a guy like that if the Cavs give him an opportunity.

Thompson Must Be an Idiot

Double T coming back to Cleveland and thriving as a perpetual pest in the post had all the makings of a feel-good story, especially with the team playing so well in recent weeks. This is the team that drafted him, and this is where spent most of this career – including some lean times during the pre- and post-LeBron years.

Maybe the pressure to perform at peak, vintage Double T energy was too great. Or maybe he wasn’t aware that his personal trainer was slipping banned substances into his shamrock shake.

At the end of the day, it was a costly mistake – for the Cavs and Thompson. This is a 25-game suspension without pay. More importantly, the Cavs are in the thick of a hotly contested Eastern Conference playoff race, and Thompson’s steadying presence and veteran leadership will be missed.

Cavs Orlando Magic

Sam Merrill Unleashes a Torrent of 3’s on Upstart Magic

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The Orlando Magic came into Monday night’s matchup with the Cavs feeling pretty good about themselves.

With their season-opening starting lineup back together for the first time in 2 ½ months, the Magic eviscerated Miami the night before. They were playing at home against a team they’re chasing in the Eastern Conference standings – a Cavs team that they bested 104-94 on Dec. 11.

“Any time they play the Cavaliers, they see themselves as parallel in talent and ability,” Cavs legend Brad Daugherty said on the Bally Sports Ohio telecast. “And this is the litmus test.”

The Cavs quickly turned that confidence into self-doubt.

By the time Sam Merrill entered the game with 6:00 left in the first quarter, the Cavs already had built a comfortable lead. It only took Merrill 4 seconds to hit his first 3-pointer.

He hit his second 3-pointer with 2:10 left to make it 30-16 Cavaliers.

Fast-forward to the second quarter. With 8:51 left, Merrill drained his fifth 3-pointer to make it 48-27 Cavs. He was 5-for-5 from 3-point range at that point.

Merrill finished with 26 points in 31 minutes off the bench.

I can’t get enough of that guy.

Another Fast Start

The Cavs sprinted to a 52-27 lead with 8:08 left in the second quarter, en route to a season-high 72 points at halftime. Yes, the Magic were on the tail end of a back-to-back. But fast starts have been a hallmark of the Cavs’ NBA-best eight-game winning streak.

“In the past, those fast starts would kind of deteriorate,” Daugherty observed. “But this Cavaliers team has figured out a way to maintain and sustain throughout 48 minutes of basketball. It’s been just an absolute treat to watch as a Cavs fan.”

Cry Me a River

Orlando jumped out of the gate as one of the hottest teams in the NBA. The Magic were 13-5 at the end of November, before the injury bug reared its ugly head.

Center Wendell Carter Jr. missed 26 games, point guard Markelle Fultz missed 31 games and Franz Wagner missed eight games with an ankle sprain.

With Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, Caris LeVert and Ty Jerome on the bench Monday night, the Magic will get little sympathy from Cavs fans.

Fro-mentous Achievement

Jarrett Allen set a franchise record with his 12th consecutive double-double, logging 14 points and 11 rebounds in the victory over Orlando.

Cavs Bucks

Cavs Defense Keeps Hawks Grounded, Bucks Loom on the Horizon

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On a brisk Saturday night in Hot-lanta, a monthlong reprieve in the schedule came full circle for the Cavs.

Flashback to early December (caution – the following content might be painful for some fans). The Cavs were 13-9 and recovering from a slow start to the 2023-2024 season. They were riding a three-game winning streak that included quality wins over Orlando (Dec. 6) and Miami (Dec. 8).

Then came the no-good very-bad really-very-bad week.

It started on Monday, Dec. 11, with a 104-94 loss to the upstart Magic, and went from bad to worse with their fateful trip to Boston. On Dec. 15 – the day after Darius Garland fractured his jaw in a crash with Kristaps Porzingis – the Cavs announced that Garland and Evan Mobley would miss a significant chunk of playing time.

But then the basketball gods took mercy on the hard-luck Cavaliers, with a favorable stretch of schedule that was just what the doctor ordered for a team that was nothing short of shellshocked.

It all started with a 127-119 win over Atlanta that tipped off a three-game homestand. Since that Dec. 16 win over the Hawks, the Cavs are 11-3, which is the best record in the NBA over that timeframe.

Make that 12-3 since Dec. 16.

With the Cavs’ easy 116-95 victory on Jan. 20 in Atlanta, they also own the NBA’s longest current winning streak at seven.

What a difference a newfound identity and a compassionate schedule make.

Playing Washington twice in the same week – at home – was karmic repayment for the Boston debacle, in my opinion. Playing Chicago twice – nice.

Playing the Hawks on the second night of a back-to-back (for them) – we’ll take it.

The soft patch in the schedule came at the perfect time, giving the Cavs a nice opportunity to recalibrate and try to rebuild their fro-mentum. They’ve done both, and then some.

They’re doing it the right way – with hustle and defense – and lead the NBA in rebounds, defensive rating and several other categories since Dec. 16.

As Brad Daugherty says early and often on recent Bally Sports telecasts, “It’s been fun to watch.” It’s about to get real, though.

Tough Test Ahead

The Cavs’ four-game roadtrip continues with a trip to Orlando on Monday and then to Milwaukee, for two games in three nights against the Bucks.

The Magic will be on the second night of a back-to-back, so the Cavs have that going for them. Which is nice.

Assuming Giannis is back in the lineup, the Bucks will be out for blood Wednesday night, after the Cavs’ 40-point win in Cleveland. But maybe, just maybe, the Cavs could eek out a Friday-night win at Fiserv Forum in Mee-lee-wah-kay, which is Algonquin for “the Good Land.” That would be fun to watch.

High Praise for Double T

Tristan Thompson isn’t going to stuff the stat sheet on most nights, but he did generate four points, three rebounds and two assists in his first six minutes of action Saturday night in Atlanta. He finished with six points and five rebounds in 14 minutes off the bench.

When the Cavs signed Thompson in the offseason, it was an immediate upgrade over Robin Lopez. But for some of us – who maybe didn’t realize Thompson still played in the NBA – we didn’t know what the Cavs were getting beyond that.

Thompson has exceeded expectations, consistently flashing vintage Double T and being just a pest in the paint.

“He’s so hard to box out,“ Daugherty said on the Bally Sports telecast. “Offensively he’s just a nightmare because he will not stand still. … He’s excellent; one of the best offensive rebounders I’ve seen.”

Fro-nomenal

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Jarrett Allen’s franchise-record-tying 11th consecutive double-double. Allen had 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Worth noting that Allen set the tone in the Dec. 16 win over Atlanta with a fro-nomenal 25 points and 14 rebounds that night.

G Wagon

G-Wagon Finds Another Gear, Cavs Rout Giannis-Less Bucks

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At full strength, the Milwaukee Bucks should’ve been the ultimate heat check for the Cavaliers.

The Cavs were riding a five-game winning streak. Sans Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, the Cavs were 10-3 since Dec. 16, showcasing a new identity – predicated on passing, defense and a nightly barrage of 3-pointers – in the face of two devastating injuries.

But alas, the Cavs didn’t play the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.

With Giannis Antetokounmpo nursing a banged-up shoulder ­– and sporting a business-casual look on the bench – the Bucks who visited Rocket Mortgage Field House on Jan. 17 were a sad shell of the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Without their superstar, the Bucks, um, looked like deer in the headlights. (Sorry – needed to get that out of my system.)

The Cavs pounced, racing to a 22-2 lead midway through the first quarter. And when the Bucks started showing some signs of life toward the end of the first frame, Georges Niang took a souped-up “G-Wagon” out of the garage.

Niang came into the Bucks game averaging 9 points a game off the Cavs’ bench. While Niang is a streaky 3-and-D guy – when he misses, he really misses – he brings a much-needed burst of tenacity and attitude to an otherwise mild-mannered Cavs bunch.

Against the emasculated Bucks, G-Wagon was hitting on all cylinders.

Niang finished with a career-high 33 points on a ridiculous 13-of-14 from the field. He made five of his six 3-point attempts.

With Niang – who looks more like a stationwagon than a souped-up hot rod – there’s more to his game than meets the eye. Yes, the 6-foot-7 Niang is a career 39.8% 3-point shooter, according to ESPN. But he is deceptively crafty in the paint, with the ability to periodically create his own shot and score in a variety of ways.

His entire portfolio was on display Wednesday night, and it was  a lot of fun to watch.

With G-Wagon behind the wheel, the Cavs cruised to a 40-point win over the G-League version of the Bucks. A win is a win, and the Cavs will take it.

Big picture: The Cavs won their sixth straight, and, as of Jan. 20, are the No. 4 seed in a hypercompetitive Eastern Conference. The Knicks, the Heat and the Pacers are breathing down their necks, and I don’t see any of those teams going away anytime soon.

So, whether they’re playing the woebegone Wizards, the sadsack Spurs or the G-League version of the Bucks, the Cavs need to keep stacking up wins in these winnable games.

Because there’s a real heat check on the horizon.

After traveling to Orlando on Jan. 22, the Cavs will be in Milwaukee for two games on Jan. 24 and Jan. 26. And assuming Giannis is back in the lineup, you can be sure the Bucks will be loaded for bear.

Fro-mentum

While G-Wagon gets the headline in the Jan. 17 win over Milwaukee, it shouldn’t diminish the importance of stellar performances from Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen.

Mitchell chipped in 31 points and continues to make a strong case for an all-star bid. Same goes for Jarrett Allen, who notched his 10th consecutive double-double with 21 points and 13 rebounds.

As Lou Brown would say, “There could be two or three potential all-stars on this team.”

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