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JB Bickerstaff

Bickerstaff’s comments on Cavs’ depth ring hollow after double-overtime loss in Chicago

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The Cavaliers just completed their second of seven back-to-back matchups in the 29 games on the post-All-Star-break schedule.

They’re 1-3 in those back-to-backs so far.

After the Cavs’ 132-123 loss in double overtime at Chicago, I’ve been thinking back to some comments that coach J.B. Bickerstaff made in a Feb. 21 press conference.

The topic: depth.

“I think it’s important to just continue to focus on our depth,” Bickerstaff told reporters, when asked about the seven back-to-backs on the schedule. “Being able to go 10, 11 men deep gives us an opportunity to not kill anybody.

“Obviously, you’re gonna play and do what you gotta do to win the games. But understanding how you manage first halves versus second halves where you don’t have to just put a ton of pressure on one guy to play a ton of minutes because of the depth that we have – that’s been our message to our guys is embrace the depth, embrace the opportunities for your teammates to be successful, and at the end of the day that’s all that matters.”

The Cavs showcased their newfound depth in the six weeks or so that Evan Mobley and Darius Garland were out of the lineup.

When Bickerstaff was forced to turn to his bench, guys like Sam Merrill, Craig Porter Jr. and even Damian Jones got playing time, and they seized the opportunity, for the most part. Tristan Thompson was a big part of the equation as well.

It seemed like depth was becoming a strength of this team. And Bickerstaff – who favors tight, playoff-style rotations throughout the season – sure seemed like he was beginning to see the light, based on his comments.

To be fair, nine- and 10-man rotations are the norm in the NBA. Still, with a brutal schedule on the docket – including five games in seven days twice – you’d think this would be the perfect time to mix things up and capitalize on the Cavs’ depth.

Evidently not.

The Feb. 28 double-overtime loss in Chicago is a great example. On the second night of a back-to-back, Bickerstaff employed a nine-man rotation. (Bulls coach Billy Donovan used a 10-man rotation.)

Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland each played 44 minutes. The previously minutes-restricted Evan Mobley played 42 minutes. Caris LeVert – who had a terrific game – logged 39 minutes off the bench.

Merrill played zero minutes.

Porter played zero minutes.

On a night when the Bulls outrebounded the Cavs 74-39 – and Jarrett Allen’s legs looked heavy – the 6-10 Jones played zero minutes. Jones has provided a spark in the few opportunities that he’s had this season.

In the previous night’s win over Dallas, Bickerstaff employed a nine-man rotation as well, opting not to use Merrill or Porter.

And let’s be honest: Some guys had zero chance of playing.

Barring a rash of injuries or illnesses, the 6-11 Pete Nance will never play a single minute of meaningful (non-garbage-time) NBA basketball.

Same goes for Sharife Cooper and Zhaire Smith.

Isaiah Mobley has played a total of 14 minutes this season – all garbage time. The 6-8 Mobley has good size and a strong pedigree, but many fans speculate that he’s only on the roster to keep his brother happy. We may never get to find out one way or the other.

Again, this is not unique to Bickerstaff. Tight rotations are an NBA paradigm. Coaches are focused on maintaining continuity and chemistry, and that comes with guys being on the court together on a regular basis.

Still, when it seems obvious that starters and regular rotation players are on wobbly legs, it’s tempting for fans like me to wonder why coaches are so stubborn with their rotations.

Cavs 76ers

Sixers Outhustle Cavaliers, Snap 9-Game Winning Streak

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If ever there was a “trap” game, this was it.

Heading into Monday night’s home matchup against Philadelphia, the Cavaliers were riding a nine-game winning streak – the longest active streak in the NBA at the time. Some of those wins were so non-competitive that they looked more like a Harlem Globetrotters game than a legitimate NBA contest.

Meanwhile, the 76ers have been reeling in the absence of reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid, who had surgery performed on his left knee earlier this month. While the Sixers’ lengthy injury report included Tobias Harris, Robert Covington and Nicolas Batum, they recently added prolific sharpshooter Buddy Hield and Cameron Payne via trades.

Other than Tyrese Maxey, this was a Philadelphia starting-lineup configuration that the Cavs hadn’t faced before.

The warning signs were there.

“These are the games you cannot take lightly,” Serena Winters of Bally Sports declared just prior to tipoff.

Brad Daugherty put it this way: “The problem when you play against a team that’s not at full strength is they’re gonna be a little freeer than you are. So they’re gonna take some tough shots; they’re gonna take a lot of shots. You don’t want to get lulled into doing that. You want to be disciplined, take advantage of your offense. Execute – that’s what’s gotten you here.”

The execution wasn’t quite there from the opening tip for the Cavs, who stumbled on their first possession and trailed 34-33 after the first quarter. Particularly troublesome was the fact that the 76ers shot 67% from the field in the first frame, matching the Cavs with 20 points in the paint.

Without Embiid, the Sixers took a page out of the Cavaliers’ playbook, playing aggressive defense, attacking the basket, gobbling up 50/50 balls, firing away from 3-point range and playing with an overall sense of urgency – a formula that served the Cavs well when Darius Garland and Evan Mobley were out.

The Sixers led throughout the second quarter and went up 66-62 at halftime. Philadelphia had the edge in paint points, 36-30, and shot 59% from the field.

“Give them credit – they’re attacking our paint,” Cavs assistant coach Luke Walton told Winters at the start of the third quarter. “The surprise for us [is] we’re an elite defensive team, and we don’t let people do that to us. We gotta play with much more physicality in the second half and really just get back to doing defensively what we’ve done so well all season long.”

Shortly after Walton’s comments, Sixers backup center Paul Reed started off the third quarter with an easy layup. Reed scored in the paint again on the Sixers’ next possession to make it 70-62 Philadelphia.

The 76ers continued to score effortlessly in the paint until a disgruntled J.B. Bickerstaff called a timeout with 9:14 left in the third.

The Cavs responded by ratcheting up their defense and getting some baskets in transition, taking a 77-76 lead with 7:00 left in the third. The 76ers weren’t fazed.

Still, the Cavaliers fought hard, taking a 92-91 lead on a Jarrett Allen dunk at the end of the third quarter. Considering that the Cavs had a 33-2 record when leading after three quarters, it looked like they had a good shot to extend their winning streak to 10.

The Cavs extended their lead to 94-91 early in the fourth, but the Sixers didn’t wilt. Maxey, who finished with 22 points, and Kelly Oubre Jr. (24 points) showcased their jumpshots all night.

Hield’s layup put the 76ers up 106-102 with 5:40 left in the game. Hield, who finished with 24 points, nailed a 3-pointer on the Sixers’ next possession – and then another to make it 113-104 with 4:28 remaining.

The Cavs trailed 115-107 with 3:17 left.

Somehow, the Cavs had a chance to win it. Donovan Mitchell, who led all scorers with 36 points, intercepted an errant inbounds pass with 53.4 seconds left and drove to the basket, scoring on a floating bank shot. Hield fouled out on the play, and Mitchell converted the free throw to make it 120-116.

On the next 76ers possession, the Cavaliers finally got a stop. After Max Strus and Garland missed 3-point attempts, Mitchell coolly drained a 3-pointer to make it 120-119 with 14 seconds left.

The Cavs had a chance to win at the buzzer, but Garland – who is still trying to find his rhythm after missing six weeks due to a fractured jaw – missed a 3-point shot as time expired. Philadelphia prevailed, 123-121.

Dean Wade was out with an illness, and the Cavs certainly missed his dogged defense. Georges Niang and Sam Merrill played, but both reserved were held scoreless.

Mitchell, the Eastern Conference Player of the Week, wasn’t making any excuses.

“I don’t mean to say this in a harsh way, but we kind of deserved to lose this game just based off of how we started,” Donovan Mitchell told reporters after the game. “We came out as if one, they were gonna lay down and let us just continue to do what we do, but I think also we just didn’t put forth [the effort], especially defensively. Offensively, we got what we wanted. But [defensively] we didn’t come out the right way, and the basketball gods don’t reward you for that.”

Mitchell added that there’s no reason to panic. However, with the addition of Hield, it sure looks like the 76ers are going to be dangerous if and when Embiid returns this season.

Donovan Mitchell

Report: Lakers’ List of Offseason Targets Includes Donovan Mitchell

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While the Los Angeles Lakers were quiet at the NBA trade deadline, there’s some chatter that the team has aspirations to land another star this summer to pair with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

With three first-round draft picks in their quiver, the Lakers believe they have enough ammunition to make a splash in the offseason.

Donovan Mitchell is the latest name to be linked to the Lakers’ wish list.

Citing The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, CBS Sports is reporting that Kyrie Irving, Trae Young and Mitchell are potential targets for the Lakers.

This isn’t the first time that Irving has been mentioned as a potential target, and Los Angeles reportedly was in hot pursuit of Young’s backcourt partner, Dejounte Murrary, in recent weeks.

However, this is the first I’ve heard about their interest in Mitchell, who currently ranks fourth in the NBA with 28.5 points per game. January’s Eastern Conference Player of the Month ranks third in the NBA in steals.

As much as it would pain Cavaliers fans to see Mitchell go to the Knicks, it would be just as horrifying to see him playing alongside LeBron and AD. However, it seems unlikely at this point.

“If Mitchell was available, either because Cleveland wants to trade him or he asked to be dealt elsewhere, the New York Knicks would likely be the most aggressive team to land him, as they tried to get him when he asked out of Utah,” Jasmyn Wimbish wrote for CBS Sports. “The Knicks have been making incredibly savvy moves recently, are the No. 4 team in the East and are armed with draft picks to facilitate a trade of that magnitude. So the Lakers would have to put their best package out there if they want to contend with a team like the Knicks or the 76ers who can also put together a strong package to land a third star.”

The Cavaliers have expressed zero interest in trading Mitchell, and understandably so. They gave up a king’s ransom for Mitchell in 2022, trading Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, Collin Sexton, three unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps for the 6-3 shooting guard. And they’re the hottest team in the NBA right now with Mitchell leading the way.

Mitchell signed a max extension with Utah during the 2020 offseason. The 27-year-old could become a free agent at the end of the 2024-2025 season or exercise his player option for 2025-2026. The national media seems to think it’s a foregone conclusion that he’ll be long gone by 2025.

Photo by Erik Drost/Wikimedia Commons

Cavs Nets Ben Simmons

Ben Simmons Poked the Bear, Which Didn’t End Well for the Nets

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The Brooklyn Nets are sick and tired of losing to the Cavaliers.

That much is clear every time Nic Claxton scores (which is rare) and then proceeds to glare at any Cavs players in his orbit. Claxton’s menacing looks were enough to rile up Tristan Thompson in Paris, but it didn’t change the outcome of that game – a Cavs blowout.

Early in the third quarter of the Cavs’ 118-95 win over the Nets on Feb. 8, Ben Simmons decided it was his turn to poke the bear.

The Cavs were up 59-51 at halftime. On their first possession, Max Strus drove to the basket and dished to Evan Mobley down low. Former Kansas standout Jalen Wilson – making his first NBA start – fouled Mobley. Nothing out of the ordinary there.

But away from the ball, Ben Simmons and Jarrett Allen were tangled up as they jockeyed for position to the left of the basket. Then Simmons shoved Allen to the floor.

The usually mild-mannered Allen sprang to his feet and charged at Simmons, shoving him in the chest before Donovan Mitchell restrained him.

Some confusion ensued.

When the dust settled, the officials – who reviewed Simmons’ initial shove as a “hostile act” – whistled Allen and Simmons for offsetting technical fouls. Because of Wilson’s foul, Mobley got two free throws, and canned both.

NBA crew chief Kevin Scott, who had a direct line of sight, immediately slapped Simmons with a T. But in my opinion, Simmons deserved a flagrant foul for the shove, which could have resulted in a serious injury to Allen.

The Cavaliers, who came into the game riding a seven-game winning streak, retaliated the right way. They clamped down on defense, blocked shots, prowled the passing lanes and attacked the basket en route to a 21-0 run to open the third quarter.

“That is how you take the hope away,” the always-quotable Cavaliers legend Austin Carr said during the Bally Sports telecast.

Cam Thomas scored the first Nets’ first points of the second half when he made a pullup jump shot with 6:39 left in the third.

After the game, Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said Allen’s reaction to the Simmons shove fired up the rest of the team.

“The guys love it,” Bickerstaff said. “They love to see the fire that burns within Jarrett, and it takes a lot to get him to that point. Jarrett is kind of to himself and all those things, mild-mannered, but … he’s gonna stand up for himself, he’s gonna stand up for his teammates, and his teammates know that, and they trust him and believe in him, and they’ve got his back too.”

The shorthanded Nets had their work cut out for them from the beginning. They were without Royce O’Neale and Spencer Dinwiddie – both traded – and newly acquired veteran Dennis Schroder was in street clothes. A fairly lengthy injury list included Cameron Johnson (13.9 points per game) and backup big Day’Ron Sharpe.

That said, the Cavs did not look like a team that was on the second leg of a back-to-back.

Donovan Mitchell set the tone early with 13 first-quarter points, including three triples. It marked the 13th time this season that Mitchell has scored 10 or more points in the first frame.

Dean Wade splashed three 3-pointers in the first half.

Overall, the Cavs shot 54% from the field, and the NBA’s No. 2-ranked defense held the Nets to 40% shooting. They finished with a 48-34 edge in rebounding.

Other than The Shove, Simmons was quiet with six points in 19 minutes and a plus/minus rating of minus 26.

Mitchell was outstanding, leading all scorers with 27 points.

The two-headed monster of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley combined for 28 points and 22 rebounds. Both players had double-doubles.

It’s Raining Triples

The Cavs were 15-of-37 from 3-point range.

The streaky Georges Niang warmed up the G-Wagon after a bit of a cold stretch, going 3-for-6 from 3-point range and chipping in 13 points.

Sam Merrill added nine points – all triples – and Isaac Okoro was 2-of-3 from 3-point range.

“I thought we got great looks,” Bickerstaff said after the game. “And to clarify it also, we’re not out here just jacking threes. What we’re looking for are quality shots and quality threes that are created by one another. I think in the first half we had 17 assists on our 22 field goals – that’s what we’re aiming to do. We’re trying to see how many layups, how many threes can we generate for one another, because we want to get the right ones and continue to play the game selflessly.”

Washington Wizards

Mitchell, Mobley Power Cavs to an Ugly Win in Washington

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The Cavaliers didn’t bring their “A” game, but they still got the “W” in the nation’s capital.

Cleveland opened a three-game roadtrip with a 114-106 win over the Wizards, who gave the Cavs everything they could handle for three quarters before the Cavs finally pulled away.

It was 27-27 after one quarter, and 57-57 at halftime.

“Give them credit,” Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said of the Wizards. “They competed their tails off, played the game the right way, defended us extremely well, moved the ball offensively, so give them credit. But it was great to see our guys just figure out a way and come up with one.”

Donovan Mitchell did what he does, leading the Cavaliers with 40 points and eight rebounds. Evan Mobley chipped in 22 points on a hyper-efficient 9-of-10 from the field, and snagged eight rebounds. Showcasing a new dimension to his game since returning from knee surgery, Mobley was 2-of-2 from 3-point range.

With the win, the Cavs extended their NBA-best winning streak to seven games. They’re 20-4 since Dec. 16, and currently hold the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference standings. The Celtics beat Atlanta to maintain a five-game lead over Cleveland in the conference standings, while the fading 76ers fell to Golden State, looking lost without Joel Embiid. Milwaukee and New York were idle.

Fun fact: Kyle Kuzma, who had 28 points, would look dapper in a Cavs uniform.

Cavs Kings

Cavs Cruise to Win Over Kings, Leapfrog Bucks in Eastern Conference

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“The game of the night in the NBA is right here in downtown Cleveland,” Bally Sports play-by-play man John Michael declared prior to tipoff of the Cavaliers’ Feb. 5 matchup with the surging Sacramento Kings.

Heading into the game, the Kings had won six of their last seven, and were 5-1 on a seven-game roadtrip that concluded at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

Meanwhile, the Cavs had won 13 of their last 14 games and 18 of their last 22 games, and were riding an eight-game home winning streak.

The first quarter seemed to portend a Monday-night shootout.

There were 14 first-quarter lead changes. The Cavs were 8 of 12 from 3-point range in the first period, while the Kings hit six 3-pointers. The Cavs led 39-34 after the first.

From that point on, it was clear that the Kings lacked the necessary firepower to hang with the Wine & Gold. That’s saying a lot, considering Sacramento had the top-ranked offense in the NBA last season, and the highest offensive rating in the history of the NBA.

The Cavs took a 74-59 lead at halftime, on the shoulders of Donovan Mitchell’s 19 first-half points. Max Strus chipped in nine points in the first half – all coming from 3-pointers.

The 74-point explosion was the Cavaliers’ highest first-half scoring output of the 2023-2024 season. At the break, the Cavs already had made 13 of 22 3-point attempts.

The onslaught continued in the second half.

Strus canned three more triples, finishing with 22 points and five rebounds. He was a scorching 6 of 10 from 3-point range.

The Kings cut the Cavs’ lead to 10 early in the fourth quarter. But the Cavs responded by reloading. With 10:07 left in the game, Evan Mobley overpowered a double-team in the paint to make it 108-96 Cavs. After the Cavaliers got a defensive stop, Dean Wade canned a 3-pointer on the next Cavs possession to make it 111-96.

The second of back-to-back triples from Caris LeVert made it 117-101 with 8:17 left to play.

Mitchell finished with a game-high 29 points.

Caris LeVert turned in another strong performance off the Cavaliers’ bench. The gluten-free LeVert had 17 points, six rebounds and seven assists.

Jarrett Allen had 19 points on a George Gervin-like 8 of 10 from the field. Evan Mobley finished with 11 points and 14 rebounds in his fourth game back from knee surgery.

Ultimately, the Cavaliers had seven players in double figures, including 11 each from Darius Garland and Isaac Okoro.

“When you get that many guys in double figures, that means the ball is moving at a rapid pace,” Austin Carr said on the Bally Sports telecast.

The Cavs were a torrid 23 of 41 from 3-point range. It was their 16th straight game with 12 or more 3-pointers – a franchise record.

The Cavaliers seem to be taking a huge step forward as a title contender. They’ve been handling their business against sub-.500 teams throughout the season. But lately, they’ve been getting the job done against some of the top teams in league, notching quality wins over Milwaukee, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Kings in recent weeks.

“I’m starting to feel a calmness about this team that I didn’t feel last year at this time,” Carr remarked. “They were jittery last year. Now this team plays with a confidence and a calmness that I didn’t see last season.”

With the 136-110 win over Sacramento, the Cavaliers vaulted into the No. 2 spot in the Eastern Conference standings on a percentage basis.

Cavs Spurs

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.”

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

 

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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