1 stud, 1 dud for Cavs in Wednesday’s close preseason loss to Sixers

Cleveland Cavaliers basketball is here. The new era kicked off with a game against the Philadelphia 76ers, and it did not disappoint. This was the first time we saw the duo of Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell in action, albeit in the preseason to start things off.

Isaac Okoro showcased a redefined jump shot, Caris LeVert gave the team great minutes and is poised to be a 6MOY candidate, Kevin Love is still a scorcher from three, and Dean Wade just might be the frontrunner for the starting small forward position.

Outside of those guys, Sharife Cooper had a very good stretch in the 4th quarter, showcasing his sweet handle, nifty passing, and deep-range shooting. In 16 minutes of play, Isaiah Mobley was a treat to watch, displaying his high basketball IQ and interesting style of play.

Raul Neto showed why he has the ability to be the backup point guard for the team until Ricky Rubio returns from injury and Robin Lopez had one of his patented hook shots, adding a sweet spin to it.

R.J. Nembhard didn’t make a shot in this game but you like to see the aggressiveness to take seven of them. For Lamar Stevens, there was a lot to be desired on the offensive end but 2 blocks and a steal in just 14 minutes of play highlights that defensive tenacity he can bring in spot minutes.

Having a lead for the majority of the game, the Cavs would ultimately falter at the end and lose the game by one point. Still, this preseason game was a great stepping stone for a team looking to make some real noise this season.

This game wasn’t anywhere near a defensive battle as both teams combined to score 225 points but I’d imagine things will get much, much better on this end for the Cavaliers once Evan Mobley returns from his ankle sprain.

Diving deeper into individual performances, it’s time to look at 1 stud and 1 dud from Wednesday’s game.