2 sets of studly highlights for Cavs as a group in bashing of the Rockets
By John Suchan
The Cleveland Cavaliers are making all of the NBA take notice with their newfound success this season. The Houston Rockets stood in the way of the young and energized Cavalier team both literally and figuratively on Wednesday evening as the Rockets were crushed 124-89 in a game that wasn’t even that close.
When you saw the Rockets only had 39 points four minutes into the third quarter then you know the other team is playing lights out great defense, regardless of the Rockets being severly shorthanded; the Cavaliers seized control from the jump. Cleveland also had 84 points at that point in the game when Houston had 39.
I’ve coached over the years and the game on Wednesday night reminded me of all those summer league games where one middle school group of players is crushing the other team like 50-4. That’s how this Cleveland team is starting to treat the competition this season.
Cleveland has been getting off to fantastic starts these last couple of weeks. In this game they went up 35-16 by the end of the first quarter. The Cavs had already knocked out the Rockets. Game, set and match. At halftime the lead went to 69-38. Having a 30-point lead in the NBA at halftime is pretty rare. If it’s happened in the past, usually the Cavalier teams of the past were on the losing end of that result.
Not this season. This season the Cavs are now 18-12 and cruising at the moment. Evan Mobley, the Wine and Gold’s star rookie big man, was out due to hip soreness, but this team is so deep and playing so well as a team that a loss of a player of Mobley’s stature can be absorbed by others.
I was supposed to come up with one stud and one dud for this game, but the outcome of the game required me to look at the broader scope of things for this team. When the team is up 94-50 at one point, it’s hard to key in on just one stud because everyone on the team is usually contributing. There simply isn’t a dud either with this team playing outstanding team basketball.
Instead, let’s highlight several big moments in the game that are studly in their own way. The Cavaliers game highlights are becoming “Top 10” material on a nightly basis.