After last year’s punishing campaign where the Cavs finished 22-50, 3 games better than the year prior, locking up the 13th seed in the East, and securing the #3 pick in the draft; they’ve managed some HUGE wins this year with a record of 7-4! After departing MSG last night riding high on old man Rubio’s 8, 3-pointers in a row and 37 points, the Wine and Gold are finding their young footing most recently at the expense of the New York Knickerbockers. The addition of all 7ft of Evan Mobley from USC and Jarrett Allen, securing a contract, a home, the starting center position, and a chance to show off “the goods” has a Duncan and Robinson, “twin towers” excitability. The young guards, (Sexton 22, Garland 21) are displaying their God-given tools, splitting the D and putting floaters up with touch, going hard to the goal, stroking 3’s and finding the open man. JB Bickerstaff must have called the Zen Master, Phil Jackson, borrowed his singing bowel, incense, and sweat lodge rituals, because these Cavaliers look like a team, a unit, in sync; they definitely pass the eye test.
On Friday the team made a trip across the northern border to face a solid ball club after beating a Damian Lillard lead Trail Blazer team by 3pts days earlier at home. My expectations were low against the Raptors and having come off a game that was not an expected W but the Cavs grinded. They even overcame Colin Sexton’s common turnover habit of driving aimlessly through the lane and coming up with lint. They never led until the last 2 minutes but that shows you this new persona they see themselves in, competitors, they believe and why not, Sexland is full of Believelander’s.
Last week the team came back from the west coast splitting 4 games besting the Nuggets and Clippers, really, yes! Throw in W’s against the Raptors, Blazers, and Hawks (Playoff teams); it’s becoming evident that this squad has had an off-season growth spurt. The unselfishness of group can be identified by it 5th ranking 25 assists per game. Each player is finding their niche; from Allen’s inside presence, Sexton’s bulldog mentality, Garland’s smoothness, Cedi’s 3-point %, Rubio’s experience, Mobley’s length, Wade’s sharp shooting, and still missing Love, Okoro, and Markkanen. The men in this lineup play as one, whether off the bench or starting, I don’t see any ego out there; they just paint their mantra, “All for One, One for All.”
With all due respect to the NBA, I’ve only entertained their mediocre product because I enjoy the rush, puzzle, and excitement of putting together a perfect Draft Kings lineup. But, I felt different about “My Cavaliers” after 4 quarters against a top tier Portland team. I wasn’t praying for points in garbage time waiting for the numbing pain to recede at the whistle; instead I was the 6th man, participating by yelling, “block out,” watching Lillard get off a tough 3 for a chance to redeem his 10 of 27 from the floor. This year’s ball club has a cohesiveness of a youth traveling team that only eats, sleeps, and dreams basketball. The former St. Vincent St. Mary prodigy said it best in a heartfelt commercial 7 years ago,
“1, 2, 3 Hard Work, 4, 5, 6 Together!”
The Cleveland Cavalier’s a playoff team, Just Do It!
