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 See Winning Streak Snapped at 15, What Went Wrong?
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ impressive 15-game winning streak came to an end with a loss to the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night. Despite the defeat, there are both concerns and reasons for optimism as we break down the game.
- Game Overview: The Cavs faced their first loss of the season in Boston, ending a remarkable 15-0 start. The game highlighted both strengths and weaknesses, offering valuable insights into the team’s performance.
- Offensive Struggles: The Cavs had their worst first quarter of the season, scoring only 20 points. The offense appeared stagnant, with excessive isolation plays and insufficient ball movement, deviating from their usual dynamic style.
- Player Reflections: Postgame, players like Darius Garland and Evan Mobley acknowledged the team’s deviation from their game plan, attributing it to playing at Boston’s pace rather than their own.
- Darius Garland’s Off Night: Garland struggled with a 3-of-21 shooting performance, one of his career’s toughest nights. While Boston’s defense played a role, Garland’s back issues might have also contributed. The upcoming break is expected to aid his recovery.
- Three-Point Defense Concerns: The Cavs’ defense against three-pointers has been a recurring issue, with opponents shooting over 40% in recent games. The Celtics capitalized on this, hitting 53% from beyond the arc.
- Third Quarter Resurgence: The Cavs showed resilience in the third quarter, outscoring Boston 40-28. They returned to their brand of basketball, with Evan Mobley playing a pivotal role in the comeback.
- Evan Mobley’s Impact: Mobley delivered an All-Star-worthy performance, contributing significantly on both ends of the floor. His ability to influence the game was evident, showcasing his potential as a key player.
- Learning from the Loss: Despite the defeat, the Cavs demonstrated their capability to compete with top teams like Boston. The loss serves as a learning experience, emphasizing the importance of maintaining their style of play.
- Looking Ahead: The Cavs aim to bounce back against the New Orleans Pelicans. The team’s response to this setback will be crucial in maintaining their momentum and proving their status as serious contenders.
- Team’s Mindset: The locker room atmosphere post-game was one of determination and readiness to move forward. The Cavs are focused on starting a new winning streak and continuing their strong season.
- Conclusion: While the loss to Boston was a setback, it highlighted areas for improvement and reinforced the Cavs’ potential as a formidable team. The upcoming games will test their resilience and ability to adapt.
The streak had to end sometime. Even the 2015-2016 Warriors only (“only”) got to 24 wins to start their season. Ironically, they’d go on to lose the title to the Cavs that season.
That Cleveland lost to the Celtics, in TD Garden, without Isaac Okoro and with Darius Garland shooting 3-21 — well only the first half of that stings. If Garland made two more of those field goals the Cavs would’ve taken the game, and Okoro, out with an ankle sprain, will be back.
This game was a tester for the Cavs. Beyond a match against the defending champs and a potential Eastern Conference Finals preview, it was an opportunity to see how the team responded to pressure, unfavourable conditions and expectation. NBA basketball is about winning, we all know this refrain well, but that the Cavs scoring dried up in crucial stretches while the team also fell into bad habits of turning the ball over in momentum-leeching moments, and they still managed multiple runs to come back within two, speaks pretty well to this group’s ability to respond.
What makes the Celtics so good, and a bit like a dream-crushing machine, is their ability to capitalize on and invert what usually brings their opponents wins. In the Cavs case, it’s their speed. Not just pure speed without aim, but their ability to push the pace within their offensive possessions because not one player tends to move in isolation from anyone else. Their lightning quick passing, their flashing cuts and counter-cuts, it’s all predicated on ball movement capitalizing on intuitive communication. A sixth sense of understanding where their teammates are on the floor at any given moment.
Boston was able to jam that up. Not entirely upend it, but chase with pace of their own enough that Garland at times appeared to be the pursued and not the pursuer. Where Garland rushed an offensive possession, where he went in for a fastbreak ISO drive to wrest the pace of the game back into his team’s hands, he bungled it. He’d botch an easy layup and go careening past the baseline, having to expend more energy to get back down the floor in the transition already underway. And the more he botched it, the faster he went. The Celtics saw this and upped the pressure on him, taking advantage of forced turnovers by draining three after three and all but eliminating a huge component of what’s made the Cavs so formidable — their rebounding.
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
Ranking No. 1. That’s where the Cavaliers are in ESPN’s latest power rankings. A 15-game winning streak will do that.
Analysis How the Cavaliers’ offseason plan has turned them into the top team in the league so far this year. (ESPN)
Milestone Russell Westbrook becomes the first player in NBA history to record 200 triple-doubles. (CBS Sports)
Must Read The NBA’s three-point revolution has gotten extreme, begging the question: How many is too many?(The Washington Post)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Can Dalton Knecht Keep Up This Run?
Nov 19, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Dalton Knecht (4) react after scoring a three point basket against the Utah Jazz during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images|Gary A. Vasquez/Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Dalton Knecht has recently become a focal point in NBA fantasy discussions, thanks to his electrifying performances on the court. In a standout game, Knecht scored 37 points, including nine three-pointers, with an impressive 75% shooting accuracy. This remarkable display has fantasy managers buzzing, as Knecht’s shooting streak positions him as a valuable asset in leagues.
Knecht’s Shooting Streak: A Fantasy Goldmine
Over the past four games, Knecht has been on a tear, shooting 22 of 33 from beyond the arc, equating to a 67% success rate. Such efficiency is rare and highlights his potential as a sharpshooter. For fantasy managers, Knecht is a must-add player, especially given his current role in the Lakers’ starting lineup. However, while his shooting spree is impressive, it’s important to manage expectations, as maintaining such a high percentage is challenging over the long term.
Injury Updates and Their Impact on Fantasy Rosters
Knecht’s rise comes at a time when injuries are shaking up NBA rosters. Norman Powell’s hamstring injury, for instance, has left a gap in the Clippers’ lineup. With Powell likely sidelined for at least a week, players like Kris Dunn and Amir Coffey might see increased roles, offering potential value for fantasy managers seeking replacements.
Click the button below to get updates on Zach Edey’s ankle injury, and how Bradley Beal’s calf continues to cause problems for fantasy managers.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Cavs podcasts.
Stumbling in Boston The Cavs fell to the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night on the road to see their winning streak snapped, but there’s still reasons to be optimistic that the Cavs are contenders.
Cavaliers Finally Get Some Rest This Week This week had one challenge against Boston and two games the Cavs should win against New Orleans and Toronto. What do the folks that cover those teams think of the Cavs?
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.
