Cleveland Sports Forum

LeBron James insists he’s still chasing titles with Lakers; Cavs finally in pursuit without him
Joe Vardon and Jason Lloyd
Dec 7, 2022



CLEVELAND — Darius Garland was wearing a towel and shower shoes as he walked over to the Cavaliers’ stereo system and punched in Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas” for the locker room.

Within seconds, Garland, who is just 22, was singing with Isaac Okoro, 21, in such perfect harmony, it wasn’t immediately clear there was a recording backing them up.

Kevin Love, 34, with the sides of his hair getting grayer all the time, is the last remaining player in that room from Cleveland’s 2016 title team. He shook his head and laughed at the youth and exuberance on display from his 20-something teammates during the sing-along. He’d just put down his phone, after a text exchange with the past.

It was last Friday night, the Cavs had just pounded the Philadelphia 76ers, and Love’s old teammate LeBron James had just passed Magic Johnson for sixth all-time in assists in the Lakers’ win at Milwaukee. On that text chain with Love was not only LeBron, but others from that ’16 championship, retired players such as Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye, and not-retired-but-not-in-the-NBA-either players such as Tristan Thompson.

“We talk every day,” Love said.

Love’s thoughts quickly turned to the game that was looming the following Tuesday in Cleveland — James’ return to town with the Lakers. Since LeBron left town in the summer of 2018, Love said the Cavs had a track record of getting too caught up in the energy and buzz and nostalgia that is so palpable any time LeBron returns. Their 0-3 record against the Lakers in the building they used to call “The Q,” with LeBron wearing purple and gold, was a testament to that.

After spending the first three seasons as the NBA’s worst team following James’ departure for L.A., the Cavs stunned the league last season by climbing to as high as second in the Eastern Conference, before injuries and youth caught up and they died in the Play-In Tournament.

This season, the Cavs are the best home team in the NBA, and in comparison to last season’s group, are not only a year older and better, but also added Donovan Mitchell. Still, Love was wondering if LeBron’s in-the-building vibe would shake his team again.

“This will be a test for us, to see if we’ve grown up,” Love said.

Well, they passed. Mitchell lit up the Lakers for 43 points, Jarrett Allen returned from a lower-back injury to score 24 points and add 11 rebounds, and the Cavs won 116-102. The Lakers played most of the game without Anthony Davis, their current best player, who left after the first quarter with a fever that topped 101 degrees.

This is the second time this season the Cavs have defeated L.A., and this one hit differently. It happened on a night the organization, and 20,000 screaming fans, serenaded LeBron with a video tribute and standing ovation, again, in the first quarter of a game in which he’d finish with 21 points and two rebounds shy of his career-high 19.
go-deeper

GO DEEPER

LeBron set a 'standard' in Cleveland, and Donovan Mitchell can't wait to reach it

This is James’ fifth season with the Lakers, and come June, it will have been seven years since that unforgettable Game 7 in Oakland. It’s been celebrated countless times, including over the last half decade since he left Cleveland and won another ring for the Lakers in the NBA bubble, but the Cavs and the people who live here brought up their title with him again anyway, because, that’s how special he is and how much that time meant to the organization and its legions of fans.

That was the ghost the new Cavs finally shooed away.

“It’s difficult to follow in the footsteps of someone who is arguably the greatest at anything,” Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “You know as a player — even you see that, you know that — you feel that when you’re walking around the community and you see everybody in the jerseys and those types of things. It’s not easy, and the only way to do it is, in a team setting, get to where that person has gotten and accomplish those things.”

Cleveland is now 11-1 at home and in third place in the East. The Cavs own the second-best defense in the NBA. Mitchell is the league’s seventh-ranked scorer at 25.8 points per game. Allen and Garland are under contract for years to come, and both coming off All-Star campaigns. Evan Mobley could wind up as their best player.

Given last season’s collapse, a maturity that has developed in Koby Altman’s front office, and the sobriety Bickerstaff brings to the picture, as the son of a coach himself, the Cavs aren’t ready to say they are contenders today. But they also know it’s a label they’re close to earning.

All by themselves. Without LeBron.

For 20 years, the Cavaliers’ plan revolved around James. The year before he was draft-eligible, they heaved overboard their top three leading scorers in lopsided deals for essentially water bottles and practice jerseys just to be lousy enough to perhaps have the chance at drafting him.

After they won the 2003 draft lottery, it became a fire drill to rebuild the roster and win a championship before his contract expired. When that was unsuccessful, they spent his four years in Miami scheming to lure him back. Once he returned, the race for a championship frantically resumed, culminating in the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history.

James was 33 when he left again in 2018. He could no longer serve as the carrot or focal point for his hometown team. The Cavs, for the first time in two decades, had to find their way out of the forest.

They have.

This season marks the first time James and the Cavaliers could both be playoff contenders apart from one another. LeBron has won titles while the Cavs were rebuilding. Last season, the Lakers were floundering while the Cavs were fighting for the playoffs before ultimately settling in the Play-In Tournament.

The Mitchell trade makes the Cavs viable contenders in the East, while the Lakers had won three straight and eight of 10 before Tuesday following a dreadful start that left them buried in the standings. There is optimism in Los Angeles following Davis’ recent tear that the Lakers can climb back into the race in the West.

James had the opportunity to return to Cleveland as a free agent this summer. He acknowledged during All-Star weekend here in February that he hadn’t closed the door on the idea of another return, but he instead elected to stay with the Lakers despite the fact they finished 33-49 last season and James missed the playoffs for the second time in his four years there.

The season after the Cavs’ 2016 championship, James was furious after a particularly bad loss at New Orleans. He skewered the entire franchise after the game, calling the roster “top-heavy” and questioning whether ownership and the front office still had the same desire to win.

“It would be different if I wasn’t still in championship mode,” James said that night as he fixed his collar before departing the arena. “But I’m still playing at an incredibly high level.”

James turns 38 in three weeks, yet he’s still playing at an incredibly high level as his 25.8 points, 9.1 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game show. He voluntarily returned to a team that finished 16 games below .500 last season and is without much trade capital. The Russell Westbrook saga has been a disaster and sapped the Lakers of much-needed draft picks and cap space. The pathways for improvement in Los Angeles remain narrow.

All of which begs the questions: Is LeBron still in championship mode? Or is he content to ride out the last years of his career filming Hollywood commercials and cashing checks?

As he dressed in the visitors’ locker room in the arena he knows so well, and the Lakers sitting in 13th place in the West, James emphatically insisted Tuesday he is still playing for rings.

“I’m still playing at an extremely high level,” he said. “I’m not out there to f—- around. What would I do that for? Me and (Tom) Brady. We’re the same people. We out there for championships.”

The Lakers are finally playing the way James envisioned when they traded a war chest of draft picks to New Orleans in exchange for Davis. For the first time in his career, James was content to defer when Davis arrived and not be the focal point of a franchise. That never really transpired.

James was the dominant force in guiding the Lakers to a championship in the NBA bubble. Davis has battled injuries the last two years (as has James), and the 2-10 start to this season under rookie coach Darvin Ham left James’ decision to remain with Los Angeles look suspect.

Davis is averaging career highs in scoring, rebounding and shooting percentage, among other categories. He averaged 35.3 points, 15.6 rebounds and 2.9 blocks while shooting 65 percent over the previous 10 games to breathe life back into a franchise that looked unsalvageable just 2 1/2 weeks ago.

The Lakers have been better, too, since Dennis Schröder showed up. Moving Westbrook to the bench may not make anyone comfortable when it comes to locker-room vibes, but he’s performed admirably in his new role and has especially clicked with Davis while James rests.

League-wide, executives expect the Lakers to do something that brightens their outlook a little more. Maybe they swing a massive trade involving Westbrook, or something smaller to build around this new, perhaps imperfect union of Davis as the alpha male, LeBron as the most celebrated wingman in history and the former MVP Westbrook coming off the bench.

Is that what championship mode looks like nowadays for James?

The irony of it all — Westbrook’s $47 million salary comes off the books in L.A. after this season. The Lakers should have a much better chance to retool around Davis and James for one last great push next season. The Cavs will be more experienced and perhaps a top contender in the East.

Twenty years later, the Cavs are standing on their own. LeBron might have one last run left, too. Championship mode comes in all forms.

(Photo of LeBron James and Cedi Osman: Jason Miller / Getty Images)

Like to see some road wins again, otherwise they are a good but not contending team

Cavs mailbag: Is Darius Garland OK? Could the Cavs trade for Cam Reddish?

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 10: Darius Garland #10 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates with teammates during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on December 10, 2022 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio.
By Kelsey Russo


Welcome to the latest edition of the Cleveland Cavaliers mailbag! It’s been a minute since I’ve taken questions, and with the Cavs wrapping up their two-game road trip in Texas, it’s a good time to check in with the fan base.

The Cavs currently sit third in the Eastern Conference with an 18-11 record after a 112-111 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday and a 105-90 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday. The Cavs return home for a six-game slate at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, where they are currently 12-2 in their home arena.

Thanks to all those that sent in questions over the last few days. I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season. Let’s jump in.

How concerned are you about the heavy minutes the starters are playing? Donovan Mitchell, for example, is at an all-time high and has already missed games due to soreness. — David C.

I’m not overly concerned because of the conditioning work the Cavs put in during training camp and preseason. They did the beep test and ran more during camp. There was an emphasis on old-school sprints that they hadn’t done as much in the past.

Conditioning was a point of emphasis that the guys talked about noticing during camp. It had a purpose and a long-term benefit, in order for them to play at their strength longer and harder than their opponents. Being able to do so gives them an edge. It’s supposed to help through the fatigue and not allow fatigue to be an excuse. That’s what they believe in the locker room, and they see it translating in certain games.

Coach J.B. Bickerstaff also tends to keep his rotations around 10 players, which isn’t necessarily new, as he did last season. That number allows guys to get set in a routine and know the rotations. Now, as the Cavs have dealt with injuries and such, rotations have changed and provided opportunities for certain guys. Still, on the flip side, it also can mean more minutes for starters, depending on availability.

It’s a long season, and guys will deal with minor injuries and such throughout. But after seeing how Mitchell responded following the time he missed with the leg soreness, especially in his 34-point performance against the Mavs on Wednesday, it leads me not to be concerned about the heavy minutes.

Is there a realistic scenario where the Cavs would trade Kevin Love? His expiring is a nice asset but would that take away a key veteran presence and affect the culture in the locker room? — Evan L. 

Not that I see at the moment for a couple of reasons. First, the Cavs are just $2.5 million away from the luxury-tax line, which makes taking on another big contract in a trade for Love’s contract — which is worth $28.9 million this season — difficult without an obvious match.

Aside from the numbers, yes, it would take away a really important veteran for this young team. Love established himself in this role last season when he began coming off the bench and playing fewer minutes. His role not only allowed him to stay relatively healthy but also enabled him to contribute highly in those minutes. Love provides a necessary steady veteran presence to the second unit — especially when he played alongside fellow veteran Ricky Rubio last season.

Love’s leadership, wisdom and experience in the league are undeniably valuable for a growing young group. As the Cavs look to take the next step to the playoffs, Love’s playoff knowledge and his trips to the NBA Finals will be important for this group.

Do you think the Cavs make a trade or two to acquire a 3-D wing (like maybe Cam Reddish?) or a backup center (maybe Mo Bamba) before the deadline? — Michael C.

Here’s the thing: finding an available 3-and-D wing that makes sense is extremely difficult. When teams either draft, sign or somehow acquire, they tend to hold onto those guys when possible. The wing is one of the most sought-after positions in the league. So the price for a two-way wing who can shoot is usually pretty high. On top of that, the Cavs’ trade assets are pretty limited after some of their recent moves, including the trade for Mitchell back in September.

Now, I’m not going to say this isn’t out of the question. There are just different factors to consider: the price of the player’s contract, who the Cavs would send out in a trade, how much of an upgrade that player would be and their fit, as well as their salary with how close the Cavs are to the luxury-tax line. We’ll monitor this as we get closer to the trade deadline and how the season progresses.

Is something wrong with DG? — Chuck Y.

I don’t necessarily think so. Darius Garland is averaging 21 points per game this season, shooting 42.3 percent from the first and 38.4 percent from 3. His field goal percentage is slightly down from the last two seasons, but his 3-point percentage is in line with the previous season. He’s also averaging 7.8 assists per game, a little down from last season, and 3.3 turnovers.

So I think it’s a bit of a combination of things. First, he has another scoring threat in his backcourt partner Mitchell. Early on, the two wanted to help one another and play together, that they were being a bit too unselfish. Now, as a duo, they are being more aggressive. Opposing teams are also finding ways to eliminate Garland on the offensive end, which means that Garland has to make a play and get off the ball.

I asked Bickerstaff about Garland’s decision-making up to this point in the season before the Cavs faced the Thunder on Dec. 10, and I thought his response was interesting.

“I think he’s gotten better,” Bickerstaff said. “Again, some of the turnover nights end up being some of our spacing issues, where we don’t give him enough room. I think that’s something offensively that we continue to work on, is how we get to our spots to create enough room for those guys who are paint attackers to get to their spots and then getting them their outlets. But he reads the game well. He’s got a really good, just natural feel for the game. He understands defenses. He understands where his outlets are. He understands how to attack and when to attack. So, we just try to put them in position and then space around him properly, so he has the opportunities.”

What is with the team clapping and enthusiasm around the defensive 3 seconds? I get it they’re preaching a certain style of D, but they’re giving up free points. Would love some perspective there. — Alec.

It’s a great question. After the Cavs’ 113-85 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Nov. 30, where the Cavs were called for three defensive 3-second violations, Bickerstaff said there was some incentive behind it.

“It’s one of those things where you go back, and you look at the history of time, and the teams and how many defensive three seconds teams get versus how many baskets they take away,” Bickerstaff said at the time. “So I’ve been for two years now telling guys that we would like to see more of them.”

Now, on that night, in particular, it was a bit exaggerated, and they were called for three. Garland offered a bit more of an explanation following that same game.

“That’s what our bigs are supposed to do is stay in the paint,” Garland said. “Officials don’t call it, and when they do call it, there’s a 50-50 chance they make the free throw. It’s a win-win in our favor.”

Are there plans to get (Evan) Mobley more involved in creating offense? He seems to thrive with a touch at the high post early in the possession. — Nathan D.

The Cavs know the importance of getting Mobley involved in their offense. There is also a belief in Mobley’s ability to create his own offense.

“The ball in his hands is a good thing,” Bickerstaff said in November.

Mobley has shown in switches how he can take advantage of mismatches, and it’s something the Cavs want to continue tapping into. Part of it is figuring out how to do so schematically against each opponent with the different challenges they present. They’ve been working to pinpoint where the attack button is, but it’s a process they collectively work through.

“Evan being at his best obviously makes us the best team that we’re gonna be,” Bickerstaff said in November. “… How when Evan is off the ball, seeing when Evan is involved, like all those things are adjustments that we’re watching and learning and trying to continue to improve on. But when the ball is in his hands, we’re all confident that good things are gonna happen. And his mindset is, how do I make my team better? Because he can pass and he can read defenses, so those are all things that we’re working with and working on.”

The Nets are back, veteran and talented. The young Cavs have plenty of time to learn before they get to the playoffs. Looked great against Milwaukee. They beat Boston twice early. Terrible matchup with Toronto. Simmons did a defensive job on Mitchell although Garland took up the slack! with 46

Are NBA fans the craziest?

A Larry Bird Fan That Was Sentenced To 30 Years In Prison Asked For An Extra 3 Years To Match The Celtics Legend's Number 33 Divij Kulkarni 24 mins ago A man that went to prison after being given a 30-year sentence requested that it be extended by 3 years so he could honor Larry Bird's No. 33 jersey.

I love it!

Larry Bird, John Havlicek, Bill Russell, and Bob Cousy were my all-time favorite Celtics.

Grew up with Havlicek and the Niekro Brothers.
John used to get us tickets for a lot of the OSU games.
He introduced us to Jerry Lucas, Mel Nowell, Larry Siegfried, Joe Roberts, and Bobby Knight.
(Trivia: An injury to Dick Furry got Havlicek inserted into that first game, and he started thereafter.)
Met Bill Jobko (line backer for the Rams & Vikings) through Phil.
Joe and I were in the same grades 1 thru 8.
Joe played for the Cubs in little league. I was a Red Sock.
I went to the seminary for a couple of years (freshman and sophomore years).
Joe went to Bridgeport High School.
When I left the seminary, I spent two years across the river, Wheeling Central Catholic HS (Junior and Senior years).
I pitched. Went to state twice.
Central was an awesome school in every sense of the word.
Great learning institution and fantastic sport teams especially football and basketball.
Pitched against Joe once while we were in high school.
Might remember Bobby Douglas. Not the football player. The olympic wrestler and olympic coach.
Havlicek, Joe and Phil Niekro, Jobko, Douglas, and old timer Johnny Blanik (before my time - Phillies & Cardinals) all went to Bridgeport High.
We were all from Bridgeport/Lansing area.
They say that the success was due to the coal dust and copper water
I had to work for a living

By Jason Lloyd
Dec 30, 2022
47

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We have just enough time left for a mammoth year-end mailbag. Here’s Part 2 on the Cavs and Guardians (read Part 1 on the Browns). Have a safe and Happy New Year!

(Editor’s note: Submitted questions have been edited for clarity and length.)

Will Koby Altman’s agressiveness continue into this trading season? What is the over/under on him acquiring a 3 who can hit a 3-pointer? The Athletic readers know it’ll be tough since the Cavs lack first-round picks, but we’re crossing our fingers for some magic. Will anyone who hits the buyout market consider coming to Cleveland? — Matthew S.

You’re right on a couple of points: The Cavs could use an upgrade at the 3 and they need more shooting. Ideally, it’s the same player. But you’re also correct in that the Cavs are about out-of-trade ammo regarding a significant upgrade. There’s also one other matter worth monitoring closely: the luxury tax.

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The Cavs are about $2.5 million below the tax line and seem intent on avoiding the tax this season. I’ve written about this at length. Once you start the repeat offender tax clock, there’s no going back. Given the youth on this roster, kicking that can down the road as long as possible isn’t a bad thing unless it’s a significant piece that drastically changes your position in the Eastern Conference and as a championship team this season. That seems unlikely to me.

Last I heard, the payout for non-taxpaying teams is around $17 million. If you’re Cavs ownership, would you rather add another piece, push yourself into the tax and start your repeat offender clock this year or stay where you are and cash a check next summer for $17 million of (primarily) Steve Ballmer, Joe Tsai and Joe Lacob’s money? That’s an easy decision.

Of course, there is a middle ground to add another small piece and stay below the tax. That’s always possible. But it’s probably not the dramatic, impact piece fans are expecting. In terms of buyout candidates, it’s far too early to know who won’t get moved at the deadline. More importantly, the Cavs have only been a buyout destination when LeBron was here. I’m not sure they will be a destination again until they do something significant in the playoffs.

You covered Kyrie Irving at the start of his career and he was always a little mercurial, but he appeared to have moments of joy on the court. Now he seems angry, joyless and antagonistic. Was he always the way he is now? If not, what changed? Are the people around him part of the problem? — Chris O.

I haven’t been around Kyrie in four years so I can’t speak to where he’s at mentally. I see a different person than the kid who arrived here over a decade ago. He always was a bit … different. He was difficult at times to get along with. Even his teammates struggled with him. There were days when he’d walk into the gym and not talk to anyone. Not even his teammates. They just sort of grew accustomed to it and worked around it. Those traits have sort of become exacerbated in recent years.

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I was never close to him. I was with him longer than any media member in his career, but I don’t think I knew him any better than guys who were only around him for a year or two. That’s the way he wanted it so that’s how it was. I have wondered about the people around him at times, yes, but I don’t think they have made him who he is today. He did that on his own, both good and bad.

Are the Cavs getting Evan Mobley enough offensive touches to continue making his development a top priority? Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell can get a decent shot on most possessions, but we need to keep Mobley involved. — Evan B.

I agree with you and it’s a mild concern of mine. Nothing huge yet, but I’m on record that Mobley will be the best of all of them. For that to happen, however, he needs the ball. Playing with two ball-dominant guards can make that difficult (think Kevin Love trying to get oxygen alongside Kyrie and LeBron). Love at least was an All-Star and a veteran and it was still a massive adjustment for him. Mobley is a young kid still trying to find his way.

I’d like to see the Cavs run a few more actions to get Mobley more involved early. Jarrett Allen can get his numbers just by being active around the basket. You don’t necessarily have to run plays for him. Allen is good enough to get his within the flow of the offense. There are times I’d like to see getting Mobley involved become more of a priority. Ultimately, I think he’s a special player.

At what point do the Cavs determine the team slot occupied by Dylan Windler is too valuable for Windler to be unable to play? What is it, Year 3? — Joe V.

It’s so disappointing because Windler theoretically should be able to provide the type of shooting they need. But he’s 26 now, the same age as Donovan Mitchell, and he’s played a total of 81 games because of all the injuries. He’s only guaranteed through the end of the season. Given all the injuries, it wouldn’t be a shock if they moved on after the season.

Cavs are looking great and have had some good games against top-level competition. But, also they’ve had some wild clunkers. I am not concerned with the short bench. I don’t know when that became the standard, like 100 pitches for starters in baseball. Aside from that, is there anything we are missing in the rotation that would be essential come playoff time? Can J.B. Bickerstaff get us there? — Thomas S.

They’d like another shooter. I’d like to see them try and upgrade the 3 spot. As I wrote in an earlier response, ideally that is the same person. I’m just not sure the cap situation and their thin trade assets will allow that to happen. I think they’re probably close to a finished product for this season at least. As for Bickerstaff, I hope he’s the guy. Like this young roster, he still has to prove he can do it in the playoffs.

What do you think will happen to Kevin Love, Caris LeVert and Cedi Osman? The first two are unrestricted free agents this summer and Osman is only under contract until 2024. — Chris L.

There is mutual interest between the Cavs and Love for him to finish his career in Cleveland. He’d have to take a massive pay cut, which he is open to doing. I hope both sides can agree on a number because it would be cool to see. Of those three, I think LeVert is most likely to move on after the season.

Six Cavs predictions for 2023: Mobley makes the All-Star leap, Kevin Love re-signs and more

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 21: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers rebounds the ball during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on December 21, 2022 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Lauren Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images)
By Kelsey Russo


The Cleveland Cavaliers have experienced a successful first 36 games of the 2022-23 NBA season. They posted a 22-14 record and are sitting fourth in the Eastern Conference as of Dec. 30.

The blockbuster trade for Donovan Mitchell in September has proven its worth. Mitchell’s presence on the court and in the locker room has elevated Cleveland’s play, all while they continue to build on the defensive foundation laid by last year’s team. The Cavaliers have also struggled at times; they have dropped three games in a row, their second losing run this season.

As we close out 2022 and head into 2023, let’s make some predictions for the second half of the season. Last year, I went 2-for-7 on my predictions, which is not great. Hopefully, my percentage will be better this year. Remember, this is intended to be fun! Have a safe and Happy New Year!
Donovan Mitchell will be named an All-Star starter 

Mitchell has been named to the All-Star Game three times in his first six years and should earn his fourth nomination after his career-best start with the Cavs this season. Mitchell is averaging a career-high 28.4 points per game, shooting career highs at 48.8 percent from the field and 41.9 percent from 3.

While Mitchell will have already made his much-awaited return to Utah on Jan. 10, coming back to Salt Lake City as an All-Star starter will be a memorable occasion for him.
Evan Mobley will be named a first-time All-Star

Many continue to believe that Mobley should have been the Rookie of the Year last year instead of Toronto’s Scottie Barnes. They also believe that Mobley is the player that will take Cleveland to the next level.

Through 36 games, Mobley is averaging 14.5 points and 8.9 rebounds per game while shooting 55.7 percent from the field. There have been moments and certain fourth quarters throughout this season where Mobley has been the best player for Cleveland, whether he’s made his biggest impact grabbing critical offensive rebounds, setting up a teammate with an assist or nailing a 3 like this one against the Orlando Magic.

“It’s an extremely unique situation for a guy of his age, and even last year, to come in and impact winning the way that he does,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said earlier this month. “He does not care about stats; he does not care about numbers and averages and all the petty shit that some guys get caught up in. The only thing he cares about is helping his team win.”

Because of these factors, Mobley will be named a first-time All-Star. His all-around, diverse impact on a nightly basis has helped the Cavs surge up the East standings, and coaches will notice that and vote him in to represent Cleveland in the All-Star game.
The Cavs will not make a major move before the trade deadline

I could see a smaller move by the time the trade deadline rolls around on Feb. 9. But the Cavs won’t be able to make any major changes to their roster.

With their frontcourt and backcourt pretty set in stone, Cleveland could look to make a change at small forward. They also need more shooting. But finding these qualities this season will be difficult for the Cavs because they don’t have first-round picks available to attach in a trade. They’re also close to the luxury tax, sitting just $2.5 million below the line.

With those factors in mind, the Cavs could make a small roster move, but nothing major that will significantly impact their season. Instead, I predict the Cavs ride out the season with their current roster, relying on the play of their young guys and the star power of Mitchell, Mobley, Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen.
The Cavs will end the season with a winning road record 

After losing to the Indiana Pacers Thursday night, the Cavs are just 6-10 on the road, a sharp contrast to their 16-4 record at home. That means they’ll need to win 15 of their final 25 road contests to achieve a .500 record away from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

Coach J.B. Bickerstaff recently said the Cavaliers must figure out how to finish games on the road and stick to their style of basketball. The players know it, too. Jarrett Allen acknowledged how important it is to get it right on the road.

“It’s big,” Allen said recently. “We have aspirations to be in the playoffs. Half, or more than half, of our games could be on the road in the playoffs. So it’s something that we’d rather figure out now, than have to worry about when the time comes.”

As the calendar flips to 2023 and the Cavs go on a five-game road trip to the Western Conference in early January, they will begin to figure out their road struggles and come away with victories. They will learn how to start games out with a strong defensive presence, play their brand of basketball from there and close out games in fourth quarters.
The Cavs will make it to the second round of the playoffs

The Cavs currently sit fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 22-14 record, but have looked like one of the top teams in the league. FiveThirtyEight’s RAPTOR and ELO models each project the Cavaliers to finish with a 47-35 record, good for fifth in the East, with a 90 and 89 percent chance of making the playoffs, respectively. FiveThirtyEight also projects Cleveland to finish fifth in the East.

Through the first three months of the season, the Cavs have flashed moments of looking like a playoff-ready team. They’ve used their defensive identity to dominate on that end of the floor, and Mitchell’s presence in the backcourt has brought a level of shot-making they lacked last season.

In order for Cleveland to be successful in the playoffs, the Cavs will also rely on the playoff experience of Mitchell and Kevin Love, as well as Allen and Caris LeVert, to a lesser extent. Garland and Mobley, the two young stars who have yet to reach the playoffs, will gain the necessary experience and take another step forward.
Kevin Love will re-sign with the Cavs this summer

Love is in the final year of his four-year, $120 million contract, so he will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. I predict he will re-sign with Cleveland to finish out his career as a member of the Cavs.

As The Athletic’s Jason Lloyd recently wrote, there is mutual interest in this outcome between the Cavs and Love. Love has excelled since accepting a role change last season to come off the bench and play fewer minutes. He’s stayed healthy, only missing games due to time in health and safety protocols, and provided a veteran spark for the second unit. He played with a level of joy he hadn’t shown since LeBron James left in 2018, and has frequently referenced how much he loves playing with this young core over the past season and a half.

Nice game by Mitchell last night

The track at Flamingo Park in South Beach is always two or three degrees hotter than the other tracks in Miami. And in the heat of Friday afternoons in the summer it's usually deserted -- an uncomfortable place to be.

But for eight weeks this summer, there was Donovan Mitchell. Running endless sprints. Mitchell, his trainer David Alexander and a jug of water. Six sprints of 50 meters. Then five of 100 meters. Three at 200 meters. And then, at the end, two lung-busting 400s, the most grueling of them all on a surface that was usually around 100 degrees.

During overtime Monday night in Cleveland, Mitchell grabbed a loose ball and, in his 48th minute of game action, was still faster than everyone on the floor as he raced toward one of his 22 baskets. As he put the final touches on an iconic game, he was simply stronger and quicker than anyone left on his Cleveland Cavaliers team or the Chicago Bulls.
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Mitchell's 71 points, 13 of them in an epic overtime session, were the most points scored by a single player in nearly 17 years, since Kobe Bryant's unforgettable 81 against the Toronto Raptors in 2006. There was a seemingly endless line of records left in Mitchell's wake en route to the 143-134 overtime win, but one seemed more relevant than all the others.

The 99 points Mitchell created -- he was the first player in history to have 70 points and 10 assists in a game -- were the second most ever behind the night Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in 1962, per ESPN Stats & Information research. Chamberlain also had two assists that game, meaning his mark of 104 will stand.

Living in the same stratosphere as Chamberlain is akin to breaking a LeBron James record in Cleveland, which Mitchell did in the greatest scoring performance in Cavaliers team history. And Chamberlain didn't perfectly miss a free throw, get the rebound and execute a near-miracle three-point play with three seconds left to force overtime.

Cavaliers have the NBA’s top defense, and it’s an identity they relish

Jan 4, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) makes a diving save of the ball in the third quarter Phoenix Suns at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
By Kelsey Russo
Jan 4, 2023

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers pride themselves on the defensive end of the floor.

It’s been their established identity as a defensive-minded team, especially over the last two seasons under coach J.B. Bickerstaff. It’s also manifested itself on the court and through the symbol of the Junkyard Dog Chain. Even as there has been an offensive explosion as of late, the Cavs are continuously going against the grain and focusing on their defense.

“It means the most, like, defense wins championships,” Donovan Mitchell said. “But at the end of the day, you got to put the ball in the bucket, too. But if we’re able to hold — and we’ve held some good teams to some tough nights — and that’s what’s going to be our identity.”

Mitchell has noticed that whether or not the Cavs are having offensive success, their defense doesn’t drastically change. He sees that as a sign of a team that’s trying to grow.

It proved that once again Wednesday against the Phoenix Suns, as Cleveland held the Suns to under 100 points. Though the Cavs struggled offensively, missing their first 14 3-point attempts, scoring 15 points in the first quarter and only 33 points in the first half, Cleveland relied on getting stops to beat Phoenix, 90-88.

Caris LeVert saw a level of maturity in their defense Wednesday night as they worked through not having a flow offensively. When the offense is flowing, it’s easier to play defense. But as the Cavs struggled to make shots, they still displayed a high level of effort defensively. They forced two shot-clock violations in the first quarter, had nine steals and forced Phoenix into 15 turnovers. It wasn’t pretty. But it was gritty.

This type of game serves as preparation for what could come later in the regular season and into the postseason.


“I think we take pride in these types of games because we know in the playoffs it’s not gonna be pretty,” LeVert said. “It’s gonna be more of a half-court game. It’s not gonna be just up-and-down, and you’re gonna have to get kinda gritty stops. A 10-foot game winner, catch-and-shoot, like, you don’t see stuff like that regularly. So I think wins like that are good for just us internally, knowing we can win that way.”

Wednesday’s game against the Suns was the 12th time this season that the Cavs held an opponent under 100 points. Almost halfway through the regular season, the Cavs have the best defensive rating in the league at 108.5 points per 100 possessions.

Bickerstaff had a conversation with the Cavs last week about their defense, reminding them of their defensive rating and the importance of taking pride on the defensive end no matter what happens offensively. It was a conversation they took to heart.

Bickerstaff has seen how they’ve embraced that identity this season through their commitment, scrap, grit and mental toughness. It’s helped them persevere through games such as on Wednesday night. Kevin Love has noticed the same.

“Yeah, I just think that we know our concepts,” Love said. “Everybody’s super locked in to start the game. And when things aren’t going well, as you saw tonight and offensively, we’ve really let that be our identity and allow us a chance to win every game or pretty much every game that we play.”

They have conversations about focusing on their defense. They remind one another of the importance of getting to the next stop.

“For sure, and we talked about that tonight,” Love said. “After quarters, halftime, down the stretch, we were just like, ‘All right,’ because it’s right there. It’s coming. If we just keep doing what we’re supposed to on the defensive end, we can pull out a win here. So again, we give ourselves a chance. We were banking on our defense to get us there.”

When the Cavs evaluate how well they played defensively, there are certain factors they look at and watch, Bickerstaff said. They focus on whether they dictated what they were willing to live with on the defensive end. They have a shot profile they are willing to live with. Are they contesting 3s, and what is the contest rate of those 3s? How did they protect the paint? Did they play physically enough? Did they foul too much?

But they also look at the numbers. The Cavs’ staff has certain personnel whose responsibility is to look at numbers and trends. They’ll look at defensive field goal percentage, defensive 3-point field goal percentage, points in the paint and contest rate. There’s a balance in the eye test and the analytics.

The Cavs are second in the league in opponent points in the paint, allowing an average of 45.4. Only the Miami Heat are above the Cavs at 44.5. According to NBA.com, the Cavs are eighth in opponent field goal percentage at 46.1 percent. They are 23rd in opponent 3-point field goal percentage at 36.3 percent.

The Cavs know how to play to their strengths and rely on the defense. They have Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, who use their height and length to protect the paint and rim. They have defense-minded guys in Isaac Okoro and Lamar Stevens, who play with scrappiness and are willing to take defensive challenges. Love has a willingness to take charges — he leads the league in charges drawn with 16, or 0.53 per game. In their backcourt, Mitchell, LeVert and Darius Garland have shown their willingness and effort to guard. Then they have other rotation players, like Raul Neto and Cedi Osman, who can come in and serve as a spark. Neto won the Junkyard Dog Chain for his efforts on both ends of the floor against the Suns.

“I feel like it’s very tough to be the best defense nowadays,” Mobley said. “Every team has multiple guys that are super good and super talented. Just hang our hats on our defense every night. I feel like all of our guys are very versatile and can guard multiple positions. That’s what makes us so good on defense.”

From an article on NBA sophomores:

Evan Mobley, Cavaliers:

On the one hand, Mobley is clearly elite at the defensive end and is going to have a long, productive career even if he turns into a just-dunks guy on offense. His ability to toggle among different assignments on the perimeter while still offering legit rim protection is one of the biggest reasons the Cavs ranked second in defensive efficiency, even while starting two small guards. He has a real chance of making the All-Defense team in his second season.

On the other hand … those Chris Bosh sugar-plum dreams we had seem a long way away right now. Mobley is shooting 22.0 percent from 3 and 70.8 percent from the line; the hopes of him stretching defenses from the 3-point line aren’t coming to fruition. He’s a good touch shooter who looks good dribbling into short and midrange shots, and he’s a good passer for a big man. However, he doesn’t play “big” because he lacks the strength to score on the low block consistently. Too often he gets moved away from the cup or bumped off the ball, like this:

 Meanwhile, it’s not like he has so much wiggle that he can blow by defenders off the bounce. Mobley’s motor doesn’t always run crazy hot either; he’s not the guy who goes flying down the lane rolling for dunks.

So what is he, exactly? Right now, he’s a really good secondary player on an elite team, and that’s nothing to sneeze at. But as with Barnes above, it comes across as a bit underwhelming because his rate stats have hardly budged at all from his rookie season.

More on Mobley:

Can Cavaliers Evan Mobley still be the next Anthony Davis? It’s about ‘opportunity’

CLEVELAND, OHIO - JANUARY 04: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots the game-winning shot in the final seconds of the fourth quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on January 04, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated 90-88. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
By Joe Vardon
Jan 5, 2023



CLEVELAND – Evan Mobley touches the ball in the Cavaliers’ offense about as much as Cedi Osman and Kevin Love.

He’s 21 ½ years old, was the No. 3 pick of the 2021 draft and the runner up for Rookie of the Year last season. The comparisons people place upon him are somewhere between lofty and outrageous.

Anthony Davis. Giannis Antetkounmpo. Kevin Garnett. No one says Mobley is as good as any of those perennial All-Stars (and one Hall of Famer), because he is still filling out his 6-11, 215-pound frame at his tender age.

But right now, today, his coach still says that when the Cavs are at their very best, Mobley is the best player on the floor for them, which frankly is difficult to comprehend given that Donovan Mitchell is literally performing about as well as any NBA player and is on the fringe of MVP discussions.

Mitchell put up one of the best single-game performances in league history on Monday, becoming the first player to ever score at least 70 points with at least 10 assists. Mobley missed that game with a sore ankle, watching from the bench in a snazzy sweater and dark jeans.
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If witnessing Mitchell’s greatness, and then retaking the floor for the next game Wednesday night against the Suns wasn’t intimidating enough for Mobley, then missing his first four shots and making just one of his first eight had to stick in his mind, at least a little.

But what happened next, with his ninth and final attempt, was another one of those glimpses of Mobley’s slow maturation into a player worthy of those big-shot comparisons. In a tied game with four seconds left, and Mitchell trapped in the paint with the ball in his hands, Mobley slid out to the elbow where Mitchell could see him, fire him a pass, and stand in approval under the hoop as Mobley knocked down HIS first-game winning shot in 106 career NBA games en route to Cleveland’s 90-88 triumph.

“For a player in his second year to do that naturally, in that moment, not just freeze up and stand there, that shows how locked in he is to the game,” Mitchell said. “Not having a great shooting night, things aren’t necessarily going his way, and then to come out … and make the biggest shot of the night — that’s huge.”

Most players who enter the league like Mobley — as a top-three pick — do not almost immediately find themselves surrounded by All-Stars. They usually are on bad teams and struggle to win while they learn with the ball in their hands.

Take Davis, for example, the No. 1 pick of the 2012 draft who, in his second season, reached his first All-Star Game, averaged 20.8 points and had the ball in his hands for roughly 25 percent of the Pelicans’ possessions — an astronomical number for a second-year big. The Pelicans, by the way, were awful — a good 14 games under .500. Mobley, by comparison, has a lower usage rate by about seven percentage points on a Cavs team that leads the NBA in home wins and is fourth overall in the East.

“Evan probably doesn’t get the usage that Anthony was forced into, so that’s a different role and probably puts way too much pressure on that kid to start comparing him to AD and Giannis and those guys,” said Monty Williams, the Suns’ coach who was Davis’ coach on the Pelicans back then.

Mobley finished with six points on 2-of-9 shooting and eight rebounds against the Suns. For the season, he’s averaging 14.3 points on 10.5 shots per game (last year he attempted 12 per). Like last year, he’s averaging nearly one steal per game, and he’s actually blocking half a shot less per night than he did as a rookie.
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Mobley was out with the ankle injury for Cleveland’s previous two games, and then before that was just OK, statistically, during a three-game losing streak. Some of Mobley’s worst games of the year — poor-shooting, low-scoring affairs — have come in losses, and he’s drawn some criticism from fans and media locally for the trouble he’s shown with scoring against bigger defenders in post situations. In that regard, Mobley’s tough night individually and game-winning shot at the end was even more of an anomaly.

More generally, to the untrained eye, it’s hard to see much improvement from his rookie season, which has drummed up some of the grumbling about Mobley. That is partly to his credit, as he burst into the NBA as an immediate impact player defensively, with the kind of discipline and versatility as a rim protector perhaps never before seen on the Cavs, and as a competent, if not yet flash offensive player.

Mobley spent the summer working on his offensive game, particularly on his shot and also on handling the ball in transition, even initiating offense in the half court. Then the Cavs traded for Mitchell, and he has, in a positive way, so thoroughly dominated and sucked any unoccupied air out of the offense.

“A lot of development — and I’m sure this is what Monty was talking about — is opportunity,” Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “When you get drafted as high as those guys do, you’re typically on a team that’s in development mode and your best players are the ones that are going to get the most amount of reps, the guys with the most potential. What we try to do — and we’ll see how it pans out here — is it’s not about as much individual development; it’s about how much can you impact winning? And we spent a ton of time working on skills and all that stuff, don’t get me wrong. When Evan’s on the floor, how does he impact winning? And he’s a winner by nature.”

Mobley’s arrival in Cleveland is what changed the trajectory of the franchise. His presence next to Jarrett Allen allowed Bickerstaff to build around them defensively, and now the Cavs are literally the NBA’s top defensive team. Going from the league’s worst team over the three previous years prior to drafting Mobley, to nearly reaching the playoffs by losing in the Play-In tournament last season, was a tangible measurement of just quickly having him here had lifted the entire organization. Allen and Darius Garland were the Cavs’ two All-Stars, but it was Mobley whom the Cavs’ deep thinkers pegged as having the biggest upside.
go-deeper

GO DEEPER

Cavaliers have the NBA's top defense, and it's an identity they relish

In fact, Mobley’s presence and his impact on the Cavs is what put them in the position of wanting to make the trade for Mitchell, a deal that included a massive amount of draft capital. Mobley entered last summer believing, because he was told as much, that his role on offense would expand, and he’s had to adjust back to the role he held as a rookie, albeit a slightly smaller one because it would be malpractice for the ball not to be in Mitchell’s hands.

“Every time I go out there, shooting shots, I can find my spots as much as possible and just let the game come to me — try not to force too often,” Mobley said. “That’s what I’ve been focusing on. I mean, you know, some guys have to be the guy and I don’t necessarily have to be the guy on this team, but I’m just gonna try to traditionally produce as much as I can in my role right now.”

Being in the position of having to develop a young player with superstar potential, on the fly, in the heat of trying to win now, is, of course, a first-world problem. Bickerstaff said Mobley is “an elite passer for his size,” a “playmaker” and has “one-on-one skills.” For those reasons, and because the Cavs fundamentally believe he is a pillar of this franchise for years to come, Bickerstaff said they have to “initiate some of that stuff” with Mobley — in other words, call more plays for him so he can develop those traits in game situations.

“But what we’re trying to build is never putting one person above the greater success of the team,” Bickerstaff said. “So, it is a balance that you have to work because, again, I’ve said this before, when we get to our best, I believe Evan can be our most impactful player. So it’s on us to help him get there.”

Ricky Rubio targeting Thursday in Portland for season debut with Cavs, sources say


Chris Fedor, cleveland.com

SALT LAKE CITY -- The hourglass-running-out emoji that Cavaliers guard Ricky Rubio tweeted late Tuesday night was the first clue.

After a full year of rehabilitating a torn left ACL, Rubio is targeting Thursday night against the Portland Trail Blazers for his season debut, sources tell cleveland.com.

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Rubio’s availability for Thursday is predicated on how he feels after the team’s Wednesday afternoon practice in Utah. To this point, the 32-year-old backup point guard has not experienced any setbacks in his lengthy recovery process and the Cavs are expecting him to clear this final hurdle without issue.

Rubio had been a vital part of the Cavaliers’ turnaround a year ago, averaging a career-best 13.1 points, 6.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds before suffering an ACL tear on Dec. 28, 2021, and undergoing surgery in mid-January -- the second time on that same knee in his career. With Rubio lost for the remainder of the year, Cleveland traded him to the Indiana Pacers as part of a deadline deal for Caris LeVert. Rubio then re-signed with the Cavaliers as a free agent this past summer, inking a three-year, $18.4 million contract that could see him finish his NBA career in Cleveland.

Over the last few weeks, as Rubio continued to pass every milestone test, including strength, balance and conditioning, anticipation built within the organization for his official return.

There was hope and belief it would come at some point on this current, practice-filled road trip, allowing Rubio to get the kind of on-court 5-on-5 scrimmaging required before official clearance. The road trip also marked about a year post-surgery -- the timeline decision-makers and members of the training staff had been internally pointing to since the injury.

Sources say Rubio has looked “really, really good” in those practice sessions, complete with snazzy passes and creative finishes. He was first cleared for 5-on-5 activity in December and spent time with the team’s G League affiliated Charge to get extra reps.

“Being able to get Ricky back is gonna be huge for us,” Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said recently. “This is going to be about the wind. He is going to have to get that on the fly. We will be intelligent in terms of what his first stints will look like. We’re not going to throw him out there for 25 minutes. His stints will probably start around four minutes and then work his way up from there.”

Sources say Rubio will likely play around 12-15 minutes in the early going and is not expected to participate in back-to-backs until possibly after the All-Star break. The Cavs have three sets of back-to-backs before then.

Even while sidelined, the sage veteran has stayed connected to the team and made a palpable off-court impact.

“There’s a very rare group of people that have a presence that he has, where guys just want to be around and listen to. Ricky is that guy,” Bickerstaff said. “They love to play with him even more, so we’re looking forward to that even more.”

Rubio having similar production to 2021-22 is improbable. He will need time to rebuild his conditioning even more, shake off the rust following a more-than-12-month absence, test his surgically repaired knee, get used to game speed again and get reacclimated -- all while trying to find his place in Bickerstaff’s tight rotation. Nonetheless, Bickerstaff is preparing for Rubio to be the second-unit stabilizer -- the same role that allowed him to thrive in the first few months last year, as the Cavs went 20-14 with Rubio in the lineup.

A knack for making everyone around him better while deftly running the offense, the Cavs are excited to see what Rubio’s long-awaited return means for erratic reserve Cedi Osman and Kevin Love, who has struggled at various points this season, averaging a career-low 9.2 points on 40.2% shooting and 35.8% from 3-point range. Rubio’s availability should help lessen the playmaking burden on Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, both of whom are averaging around 36 minutes while carrying massive -- and perhaps unsustainable -- usage rates.

An extension of the coaching staff, Rubio will also immediately adopt an on-court leadership role, playing alongside Mitchell, Rubio’s former Jazz teammate and protégé.

“Having him back to that rotation will be huge,” Mitchell said in late November. “Raul (Neto) has done a phenomenal job in his time playing that role. Obviously, he’s not Ricky Rubio. Ricky Rubio is one of one.”

Cavs will be much better with Rubio. There will be more ball movement and more players involved.