The Cleveland Cavaliers got back in the win column on Friday night with a win over the Portland Trail Blazers 114-101. It was the first of a six-game Western Conference swing and set a good tone for the rest of the trip, even with Portland being shorthanded without Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum; after all, the Cavs have had their share of injuries, too.
Rajon Rondo made his first appearance in a Cavalier uniform after being traded here from the Los Angeles Lakers a week ago. He stepped in right away, added 11 points in the first half of the game, which was actually his season-high, and he provided that needed veteran and experienced play that the team was needing.
These young Cavaliers are now 22-17 on the season. They’ve already matched their win total from a year ago and they haven’t yet hit the halfway mark of the season. Their team ball style of play, sharing the ball, and getting everyone involved in the game was again on display throughout.
Darius Garland, the Cavs point guard, had a solid night going for 26 points, including five three-pointers and six assists. Cedi Osman, a key player for the Cavs that comes off the bench, had a very helpful late-game performance as he knocked down four three-pointers in the fourth quarter and helped keep the Trail Blazers hopes of mounting a late-game comeback at bay.
Six Cavs scored in double figures and again showed why the team is winning. They’ll continue their road trip with stops against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night and then a trip to the Sacramento Kings Monday evening. The team is now 3-5 in the last eight games since that six-game win streak. These next two matchups will be good tests again to see if the consistent efforts we saw on the floor Friday, will be able to be sustained.
Let’s dig a bit more into three big questions that we have regarding this squad, especially on this road trip and getting Rondo involved now that he’s playing after clearing COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
Cavs big question No.1: Is a playoff appearance a real possibility?
When you look at the whole picture, seeing that the team is currently the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference standings, then yes, this group does have a realistic chance at making the playoffs. You have to temper that possibility with the fact that this team has struggled in the second halves of seasons in the past. But, the biggest difference, one can see with this team now is simply the eye test.
These players are at a different point in their mentality this season. All season, this team hasn’t really been beaten by any of their opponents in a blowout fashion. All of their games have been close, win or lose. They are learning to come out of the locker room, after halftimes and they aren’t squandering leads like they may have in the past.
Last night was a good example of that. The two teams played toe-to-toe in the first quarter. By the second quarter, the Cavs were able to gather a nice six-to-eight-point margin. In the second half, Cleveland was able to stretch the lead to 12 points. The Trail Blazers would keep trying to make a comeback and would get within a basket or two, but one of the Cavaliers would knock down a key shot and the Cavs would expand the lead a bit more.
It hasn’t been this way in every game, but the Cavs are competing every night because they have the talent now and these Cavs believe in themselves. Confidence is a great weapon when you’re building a winner.
Cavs big question No. 2: What should we expect from Rondo?
What we saw on Friday night in his first action was a good look into what he can provide this team.
He may not score 15 to 20 points like Ricky Rubio was doing regularly before he went down with his season-ending injury, but he does have that same understanding of the game that Rubio did, that he can help these young teammates of his to help them be in a better position to make plays. Friday night he was able to feed the big post players like Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, and Lauri Markkanen near the rim and gave them opportunities for easy baskets.
Rondo has played for a champion team when he was much younger as the point guard of the Boston Celtics back in 2008. With 16 years in the league, he’s played for several other teams and has been challenged to step into situations that might help less experienced teams.
Now with the Cavs, who are right on the cusp of being a legitimate playoff team for the next several years, Rondo has an opportunity to play a big role in keeping this team moving forward in the right direction.
His role will expand over this Western trip, but his 11 points, five boards, and knocking down a couple of three-pointers are all a good indication that he will be able to help immediately. The buy-in hopefully sticks looking forward with Rondo also, and it does appear to be there early on here, and should be with the way the team is playing.
Cavs big question No. 3: What should we expect the rest of this Western road trip?
Getting that first win on an important road trip for the team is always good. The Blazers were without several key players including Damian Lilliard and CJ McCollum, as we noted, and they are 14-24 on the season, so on paper Cleveland was coming into the contest as the favorite, but they hadn’t won in Portland since 2013, so this was a big step for the young team.
Now, the Cavaliers take on a much tougher team in the Warriors who stand at 29-9 and in second place in the Western Conference. But the Warriors have been struggling of late and have lost back-to-back games this past week. They are expected to get their veteran sniper Klay Thompson back, which certainly might be a big boost to the team.
Thompson hasn’t played a game in over two years because of injuries. So, emotions will likely be running high; it’s not yet that certain how much or how effective Klay will be, though.
The Cavs and Warriors have a salty history having played in several NBA championship series’ in recent years. The Cavs got their one NBA title in 2016, but the Warriors have gotten three championships at the hands of the Wine and Gold. So, buckle up on Sunday night. It’ll be a good one.
On Monday night the team plays a struggling Kings team but then they have to play an outstanding Utah Jazz team next Wednesday; that said, it’s unclear currently if Rudy Gobert and Joe Ingles will be playing. That’s followed up with games against the San Antonio Spurs next Friday and the Oklahoma Thunder Saturday. Both the Spurs and Thunder are well below sub .500 teams this season, so the Cavs will have the obvious advantage going in.