Danny Cunningham here, the host of the daily Locked On Cavs podcast, with your daily Locked On Cavs newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Cavs and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Cleveland Cavaliers Stay Perfect with Win over Charlotte
Welcome to today’s newsletter where we dive into the Cleveland Cavaliers’ impressive 15-0 start, highlighted by their recent victory over the Charlotte Hornets. With standout performances from Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, Ty Jerome, and Jarrett Allen, the Cavs are making waves in the NBA. Let’s break down the key moments and strategies that have propelled them to this unbeaten streak.
- Cavs’ Stellar Start: The Cleveland Cavaliers have kicked off the season with a perfect 15-0 record, recently defeating the Charlotte Hornets 128-114. This remarkable start has been fueled by strong team performances and strategic plays.
- Donovan Mitchell’s Absence: Donovan Mitchell sat out the game for rest, marking his first missed game of the season. Coach Kenny Atkinson indicated this was a planned decision due to the team’s demanding schedule, having played 15 games in 26 days.
- Ty Jerome’s Breakout Game: Ty Jerome stepped up in Mitchell’s absence, delivering a career-high performance with 24 points and eight assists. His contribution was pivotal, showcasing his ability to handle the ball and relieve pressure from Darius Garland.
- Evan Mobley’s Aggression: Evan Mobley displayed a new level of aggressiveness, scoring 10 points in the first quarter and finishing with a strong performance. His ability to finish through contact and his improved physicality have been key to the Cavs’ offensive success.
- Darius Garland’s Impressive Form: Darius Garland continues to impress, potentially positioning himself as an All-Star candidate. His improved ball handling, shooting, and decision-making have been crucial to the team’s success.
- Defensive Adjustments: The Cavs have struggled with defending the three-point line, with opponents shooting over 40% from deep in recent games. However, a strategic shift to a zone defense in the fourth quarter against the Hornets helped secure the win.
- Max Strus’ Influence: Despite being sidelined with an injury, Max Strus has contributed to the team’s defensive strategies. His input in implementing a zone defense was acknowledged by teammates, highlighting the collaborative environment within the team.
- Injury Concerns: The Cavs face potential challenges with injuries to Dean Wade and Isaac Okoro, both of whom left the game with ankle issues. Their availability for upcoming games, particularly against the Boston Celtics, remains uncertain.
- Upcoming Challenges: The Cavs are set to face the Boston Celtics in an NBA Cup game, a significant matchup given the Celtics’ talent. The team’s ability to adapt and overcome injuries will be tested as they aim to maintain their unbeaten record.
Join us as we continue to follow the Cleveland Cavaliers’ exciting journey this season. Stay tuned for more updates and analysis on Locked On Cavs, your go-to source for all things Cavs.
After historic back-to-back nights over the weekend I hope the Kings’ De’Aaron Fox is on your radar. Fox delivered a 60 point game against the Timberwolves on Friday (the Kings, after all that, could not wrestle away the win) and then 49 points against the Jazz in a winning game on Saturday. While these scoring numbers are certainly a touch more astronomical than Fox’s norm, he’s still an athlete who’s averaged 25 points per game in the last three seasons.
Beyond pure shooting, Fox is a pleasure to watch. I mean that in an artful sense, like taking your time in a gallery or museum and letting your eyes rove over every flourish and detail. Fox has a knack for hang time, able to lightly adjust his body mid-air to tweak the angle of his jumper just so. It’s a bane to defenders because it’s nearly impossible to pre-calculate where Fox will wind up releasing the ball, but it’s startling, and fun, to see.
His passing follows the same rules. Namely: his own. One hand flings and scoops to teammates running down the lane, or flashing out to the wing, dependent on the sort of timing it takes trust and seasons of practice to nail. It speaks to the cohesiveness of the Kings, a team many are still quick to dismiss from contention but who will prove a difficult team to match up against once their roster returns to full strength.
Cade Cunningham
Admittedly, I hadn’t been paying that close of attention to Cade Cunningham, even with my well documented dedication to the Detroit Pistons. I changed that last Friday when the team was in Toronto to face the Raptors, and I spent a good chunk of pregame warmups watching Cunningham run through his drills.
There’s a new level of patience to Cade, who’s been — by circumstance — forced into holding pattern since he entered the NBA. This new level filters through his game. There’s still the juddery, at times mesmerizing, stop-start motion of his handle and with it the ability to force the pace he wants in a game, but now Cade’s letting the game come to him. Where there simply isn’t time to draw out a possession, or altering one might upend his team’s momentum (momentum has been something Detroit is relying on this season, to their benefit), Cade instead adopts the rhythm of the floor in motion. Now into his forth season, his maturation is evident, and it’s winning games.
Jabari Smith
It’s felt a touch disingenuous, how down on Jabari Smith those in the wider sphere of the Houston Rockets have been this season. Yes, he’s had some slow shooting nights, and made some frustrating decisions, but he’s also come back in the games that follow those less than stellar performances and done all the right things — leading to wins.
Smith’s a third year player in the league on a franchise that only really started to get the foundation of their rebuild right last season. He’s learning to adjust to quicker pace, tighter and more effortful defence (the Rockets are the league’s best rebounders), and what it means to actually compete versus playing at the whims of a single game, on a game-to-game basis. There’s continuity showing here, and it’s great.
Smith tends to have his best rebounding games when he’s also scoring, which just tells me that energy generated on one end of the floor is essential for him at the other. It’s also true of younger players — and teams, like the Rockets — learning what it is to stay consistent through a game’s many tide-turns.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Recap The Cavaliers continued their perfect start, defeating the Hornets 128-114. Darius Garland led with 25 points, while LaMelo Ball scored 31 for Charlotte. Cleveland is now 15-0. (AP News)
Watch Couldn’t watch the Cavs grab their 15th-straight win? Watch the full game highlights.
Biz Deep breaths. The NBA has settled its broadcast lawsuits, and “Inside the NBA” is here to stay. (Sportico)
Preview Major changes could soon be coming to the All-Star Game. (ESPN)
Analysis The “unicorn” era of Anthony Davis may be over, but could the “Lakers AD” era just be starting? (The Ringer)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Sunday’s NBA Fantasy Basketball Roundup
Nov 17, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) reacts after being called for a foul against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the fourth quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images|Nick Wosika/Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
As we dive into the latest NBA action, it’s clear that Sunday was packed with intriguing performances and unexpected developments. With 10 games on the schedule, there was no shortage of excitement and fantasy implications to unpack.
Injury Updates and Opportunities
The Sacramento Kings are dealing with some significant injury news. Domantas Sabonis, usually a reliable presence, is doubtful with a back issue, potentially missing his second consecutive game. This opens up opportunities for players like Kevin Huerter and Trey Lyles to step up. Meanwhile, DeMar DeRozan is officially out for his third consecutive game.
Key Performances and Fantasy Implications
The Minnesota Timberwolves’ victory over the Phoenix Suns highlighted some strategic missteps by the Suns. Starting Mason Plumlee and Jusuf Nurkic together against Minnesota’s big lineup didn’t pay off, with Nurkic playing only 14 minutes. His inconsistent performances make him a risky fantasy option, as his playing time and production fluctuate wildly.
On the Timberwolves’ side, Mike Conley’s increased minutes are worth noting. While his scoring was minimal, his contributions in other areas helped secure the win. Naz Reid, despite his scoring potential, continues to struggle defensively, which could limit his fantasy upside.
Click the button below to see why one of KD’s newest running mates could be worth a look, and how Charlotte’s injury concerns will affect your lineup.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Cavs podcasts.
Darius Garland’s Clutch Performance Garland has been a big reason why the Cavaliers have been the NBA’s best team. His numbers in the clutch have been outstanding for Cleveland this year.
Offense Keeps Rolling Without Donovan Mitchell The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t have Donovan Mitchell on Sunday against the Hornets, but that didn’t matter as they were still able to score 128 points in a 14-point win.
