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.
The Cavs stud from this close loss to Philly: The new-look backcourt
The Cavaliers made a blockbuster trade to acquire Donovan Mitchell and from the get-go, you could see the potential the pairing of him and Darius Garland possessed. Garland is the best offensive threat that Mitchell has played with and vice versa. That statement ran true in yesterday’s game.
Both players benefited by not being the only offensive weapons that opposing defenses had to gameplan for. This allowed both to move off-ball, it allowed both players to find easier shots, and it allowed them to focus more on facilitating, which paid dividends for both and the team.
Their stats showed that. In just 18 minutes of play, Donovan Mitchell had 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting to go along with 5 assists, including an incredible find to a cutting Isaac Okoro for an And-1 finish. As for Garland, he had 12 points and 4 assists in just 15 minutes of play, showcasing the same craftiness and playmaking that he accomplished last year.
This shifty, exciting young duo is one of the best in the league and should take the team far for many, many years to come. It seems like a match made in heaven, and they didn’t look to have any problems gaining chemistry with each other.
The Cavs dud from this close loss to Philly: Dylan Windler’s injury
Dylan Windler, a first-round pick for the Cavaliers in the 2019 NBA Draft, has not had an ideal start to his NBA career. For the first three seasons of his career, he was hindered by injuries, one of which kept him out for an entire season.
This offseason was the first one where he could really work on his game it’s seemed, and it was the first one that he went into healthy and his peers raved about it. He was reportedly looking confident, and all he needed was a chance to show the Cavaliers that he belonged.
But, that dream was short-lived. Prior to Wednesday’s matchup, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reported that Dylan Windler would miss the trip due to an ankle injury, and just like that the confidence of fans everywhere diminished.
The injury is considered minor but is yet another setback for someone who is in an uphill battle for a secured roster spot. Windler is someone in the running for the starting small forward position and Wednesday’s contest would’ve been an excellent stepping stone in securing a steady role on the team.
His status is seemingly up in the air for the preseason and I’d imagine that he will not participate in the Cavs’ Wine-and-Gold Scrimmage on Saturday, beginning at 11 AM. This is the last shot for Dylan to show the Cavs his worth as he enters free agency at the end of the season.
All in all, it was a successful first preseason game for the Cavs. Their next game is Monday in a rematch against the 76ers, then at home.