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.
Was Thursday Night Cleveland’s Most Impressive Win?
In today’s newsletter, we dive into the Cleveland Cavaliers’ impressive victory over the Denver Nuggets, highlighting their defensive prowess and balanced scoring. Join us as we break down the key elements that contributed to this significant win and explore what it means for the Cavs moving forward.
- Cavs’ Defensive Strategy: The Cavaliers showcased a strong defensive performance against the Nuggets, particularly in guarding the three-point line. Despite Denver’s high shooting percentage from beyond the arc, the Cavs limited them to just 24 attempts, tying for their second-lowest of the season. This strategic focus on perimeter defense was crucial in containing Denver’s offensive threats.
- Key Defensive Players: Jarrett Allen and Georges Niang stood out defensively, with Allen providing a solid presence in the paint and Niang effectively challenging Nikola Jokic. The Cavs’ ability to neutralize other Denver players, like Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., was pivotal in their defensive success.
- Transition Defense: While the Cavs excelled in many areas, their transition defense was a point of concern, allowing 28 fast break points. This aspect will need improvement, especially against teams with a faster pace like the upcoming matchup against the Charlotte Hornets.
- Offensive Highlights: Offensively, the Cavs displayed a well-rounded attack. Caris LeVert’s performance was particularly noteworthy, scoring 21 points and hitting five three-pointers. His ability to provide scoring off the bench adds depth and unpredictability to the Cavs’ offense.
- Evan Mobley’s Shooting: Mobley’s willingness to take more three-point shots is a positive development. He attempted five threes against Denver, making three, which could add a new dimension to the Cavs’ offensive strategy if he continues to shoot with confidence.
- Injury Updates: Isaac Okoro left the game with a knee contusion, but initial reports suggest it’s not serious. Max Strus is progressing in his recovery and could return to play in December, while Imani Bates is also making strides in his rehabilitation.
- Upcoming Challenges: The Cavs face a stylistic shift as they prepare to play the Charlotte Hornets, a team known for their high volume of three-point attempts. This will test the Cavs’ ability to adapt their defensive strategies to different opponents.
- Next Games: The Cavs are set for a back-to-back road trip against the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat. We’ll be back to discuss the outcomes and what they mean for the team’s progress.
Dec 1, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick calls a play against the Utah Jazz during the first half at the Delta Center. | Christopher Creveling/Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images
If JJ Redick had approached the season signalling a measure of outward self-awareness that he, a former player with no head coaching experience and cohost of a podcast with LeBron James, was now head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, things might be different. If Redick had acknowledged that very obvious, and unique to our contemporary basketball moment of athlete-driven media elephant in the room, things might be different. If Redick had at any point, when asked about his new role in scrums wherein he knows the clips and audio of his answers will be immediately and robustly aggregated, balanced out his self-aggrandizing basketball sicko-hood, or answers where he likened head coaching to nothing short of personal destiny, with something like, It’s a learning curve, really anything a hair more measured, things might be different.
Things would not look different. The Lakers made no real structural changes to their roster in the offseason, so the team playing bad basketball now is the same team that was playing bad basketball last season under Darvin Ham (Redick is one game off the 13-9 pace set by Ham last season), but things might be interpreted, or reasoned with, differently. That kind of grace, for a struggling franchise with major conflicting timelines and high-stakes notions like legacy on the line, goes a long way.
There is such a fine line in coaching between collaborative and domineering, confident and arrogant, and many first-time head NBA coaches have learned the hard way what it is to lose a team, and lose them quickly. Nate Bjorkgren went into the Pacers organization not just hot but by many accounts scorching, and was expeditiously fired at the end of his lone year in Indiana. Jason Kidd may have traded in his string of short-lived head coaching appointments (Nets, Bucks — and surprise! — Lakers) for his current and seemingly steady job with the Mavs, but there is no doubt a type afforded the leniency of multiple failures in the NBA, and it tends to be white, male and abidingly faultless.
To Redick’s credit, he has vocally shouldered the blame of the Lakers recent, bad losses. When the team fell to the Timberwolves 109-80 to start the month, Redick noted their lacklustre effort was “looking more and more like it’s not an aberration”, correcting himself from a late-November blown effort against the Nuggets he said was. This week’s impressive loss to the Heat resulted in a two minute explanation from Redick that skimmed the existential and was anchored in the heavy weight of realization.
What’s difficult from here — beyond how the Lakers improve when their offensive energy is sporadic at best and their approach to defence has been to literally stand back and watch — is how to move forward into the long season still ahead, with the base level of competency and pride necessary for a cohesive team to function.
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
Analysis The Cavaliers’ heavy dependence on three-pointers raises questions about their overall strategy and sustainability. Despite success from beyond the arc, balancing their offensive approach could be crucial for long-term performance. Cavs’ reliance on three-point shooting warrants a closer look. (Fear The Sword)
Analysis Donovan Mitchell’s standout performance led the Cavaliers to a high-scoring victory against the Nuggets. His leadership and scoring prowess were pivotal in securing the win, highlighting his crucial role in the team’s success. Mitchell’s leadership shines through in this vital game. (Fear The Sword)
Replay The Cavaliers outscored the Nuggets 126-114 in an intense shootout, showcasing their offensive firepower. The game featured high energy and exceptional scoring from both sides, making it a thrilling contest to revisit. High-scoring shootout highlights the Cavs’ offensive capabilities. (Fear The Sword)
Biz The NBA will return to China in 2025; The first time since team executive Daryl Morey’s 2019 tweet signalled support for Hong Kong independence. (ESPN)
Dec 5, 2024; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) looks to pass the ball while defended by San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) and forward Harrison Barnes (40) during the first half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter/Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
The Dallas Mavericks dominated the Washington Wizards, with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving leading the charge. Doncic’s 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, alongside Irving’s 25 points, highlighted their commanding performance. Despite a lackluster showing from P.J. Washington, Quentin Grimes and Spencer Dinwiddie delivered solid contributions. The Wizards’ decision to start Marvin Bagley over Jonas Valančiūnas was puzzling, given Bagley’s inconsistent play. Bilal Coulibaly’s struggles continue, and Jordan Poole’s shooting woes persist, though his minutes remain encouraging.
In another matchup, the Cleveland Cavaliers secured a significant win over the Denver Nuggets. Nikola Jokic’s 27 points, 20 rebounds, and 11 assists underscored his dominance, despite heavy minutes. Michael Porter Jr.'s defensive contributions were notable, with four steals and two blocks. On the Cavaliers’ side, Caris LeVert’s 21 points and Donovan Mitchell’s 28 points, six assists, and six triples were key to their victory.
The Oklahoma City Thunder overwhelmed the Toronto Raptors, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge with 30 points, five assists, and two steals. Cason Wallace’s defensive prowess was on display, contributing two steals and four blocks. The Raptors struggled without Jakob Poeltl, highlighting their lack of depth at the center position.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Cavs podcasts.
No More Bad Defense? The Cavs are back in the top 10 in the NBA in defense rating, is it finally here to stay?
Who is stepping up for the Cavs? A big reason why the Cavs have been so successful this season has been the play of Evan Mobley and Darius Garland. Which player has stepped up more?
The Domination of Denver The Cavs completely controlled the game on Thursday night against the Denver Nuggets, leading by double digits for most of the contest. Evan Mobley, Caris LeVert, Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland all thrived.
