Cavaliers Winning in Balanced, Team Fashion

The Cleveland Cavaliers have won eight straight games and are doing so in a balanced, team oriented fashion. The Cavs, led by LeBron James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, were assumed to be a top heavy team, a team that would rely on those 3 players to dominate and lead to victories.

In the past 8 games we have seen some of that. Only once during that streak has another Cavs player led the team in scoring, Dion Waiters two nights ago against the Brooklyn Nets. Waiters had 26 points off the bench while Love, 19, and James, 18, trailed by quite a few.

Yet even with the Big 3 dominating much of the scoring, the rest of the Cavs roster has held their own. Each game had at least one player who provided a big impact for the team:

Magic – Tristan Thompson gathered 11 boards, leading the team in that category, while also contributing 9 points. Anderson Varejao contributed 14 points in only 21 minutes of action.

Wizards – Waiters had 15 points and 6 assists.

Pacers – Thompson, starting for Varejao, scored 13 points and pulled in 11 boards.

Bucks – Mike Miller made two big 3 pointers, had 7 rebounds and had a key block on Giannis Antetokounmpo in the close win.

Knicks – Waiters was efficient, 3 of 6 shooting, in his 20 minutes on the floor. (Worst game for the Cavs supporting cast in the win streak.)

Raptors – Thompson went off against his hometown team with 21 points, 14 rebounds and even 2 assists. James Jones shook off the moth balls and gave the Cavs 8 points, on 2 of 2 from deep, in a quality 15 minutes.

Nets – Waiters led the team in scoring with 26, and a huge +32 plus/minus. Jones scored 12 on four 3 pointers and Thompson added 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Raptors – Last night Waiters was second on the team in scoring, 18 points on a great 7 – 10 from the floor, while Thompson had an important game on both ends, ending up with 8 points and 8 boards. Matthew Dellavedova played all of the 4th quarter, defended well (took 2 charges), got 3 rebounds, 5 assists to go along with his 6 points.

But not only are the Cavs winning with a full team effort, the balance on both ends of the floor is also very impressive:

So while many believed the Cavs would just dominate with offense, and hope to play just enough defense to win, they are showing they can do much more. Their offense is very good, 2nd in offensive efficiency and 3rd and true shooting percentage, but their defense has been the key.

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Fourth in defensive efficiency is surprising to many. Early in the season the Cavs seemed to struggle with understanding where they should be and in turn energy. Their rotations were slow, they were giving wide open layup lines to the hoop and all in all seemed bad.

Now the Cavs seem to have found the rotations that Tyronn Lue and David Blatt have wanted and are engaged on defense with high energy. The energy seems to have followed a comfort level the team has with what they are doing. While early in the season they seemed unsure and slow, they not are reacting quickly, getting into the right spots.

They still have a long way to go. They could add a rim protector or a wing player, or more, by the NBA Trade Deadline. For now they are proving,  against a few good teams during their streak, that they have enough talent, effort and balance to play dominate basketball.

Not just because of the Big 3. Not just because of their offense.

The Cleveland Cavaliers winning is because they have played in a balanced, team oriented fashion and it has led to victories.

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What are you more surprised by: Cavs defense or the support the Big 3 is getting?