Random dribbles following the Cavaliers’ heartbreaker of a 100-98 road loss to the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.
1. On the bright side, this is probably more what coach J.B. Bickerstaff is hoping for when it comes to the defense. This was how the Cavs defended when all their fans were excited early in the season.
2. Of course, they also had Andre Drummond back then — and he was a massive shot-blocking threat in the middle. But Jarrett Allen seems like the better fit for the long term, and he is a quality rim-protector too.
3. Allen missed Saturday’s loss with a concussion, leaving the Cavs without a true center. New acquisition Isaiah Hartenstein, acquired in the JaVale McGee trade with Denver, is not yet available.
4. So not only were the Cavs a little undermanned, they were also fairly undersized. It took some scrapping, clawing and a goal-tend call on Collin Sexton‘s driving layup with 1.6 seconds left to try to eek out the win.
5. Of course, the Cavs didn’t win. They allowed a three-quarter-court pass under the basket from De’Aaron Fox to wind up in the hands of Harrison Barnes. Then Barnes turned and fired up a 3-pointer over Dean Wade at the buzzer. Ball game.
6. It was truly a remarkable shot, and it’s too bad for the Cavs, as they successfully turned this into an ugly game. It ended beautifully for the Kings, now winners of four straight.
7. Sexton missed the previous two games with a hamstring issue, but man, he sure made some winning plays in this one. That included a fourth-quarter steal that resulted in a layup and kept the moment in the Cavs’ favor. Or so everyone thought. Overall, Sexton finished with a team-high 26 points, as well as six rebounds and four assists.
8. Darius Garland (18 points) and Larry Nance Jr. (17 points, nine boards) also gave strong all-around showings. Wade (13 points) also had his moments.
9. Bickerstaff to reporters on if he would’ve done anything differently: “No, not at all. Those kids fought tonight. They played undermanned. They competed. (Barnes) hit a tough shot at the end of the game. But our guys did everything they should’ve. … They just made one more play then we did.”
10. It’s still way too early to know what will become of Isaac Okoro. Most nights, he just looks like a rookie. On this night, he did very little to contribute in 33 minutes — with two points, 1-of-7 shooting, two rebounds, two assists and two turnovers.
11. Along with that, he had a team-worst rating in the plus-minus department (minus-10). But Okoro deserves at least another season before everyone gets too worked up, right? It only seems fair.
12. Meanwhile, Cedi Osman and Dylan Windler didn’t get in the game. That makes sense. Both have been incredibly hit-or-miss all season.
13. After losing Drummond for nothing, a lot of fans are wondering what the front office has in mind in terms of vision and a plan. That too is a fair question. Sexton and Garland both seem to be turning into quality NBA guards. But how many teams have won big with two 6-foot-1 starters in the backcourt?
14. OK, Toronto. But that was when the Raptors had Kawhi Leonard. They’ve come back down to earth since.
15. None of that is to say the Cavs don’t have a nice young nucleus. It seems they do. Still, with any young nucleus, there are plenty of frustrations and questions about its actual ceiling. The bottom line is when you lose a lot, you are going to generate a lot of lost faith from the fan base. And lose a lot these Cavs (17-29) most certainly do.
16. As for the Drummond buyout, it was neither a loss nor a victory. The Cavs gave up nothing to get Drummond in February 2020. So nothing is what they should expect in return, and nothing is what they got.
17. It’s true that they gained some flexibility under the cap, but don’t forget, they still have Kevin Love‘s massive contract, looking worse by the minute. And they will have to ante up this offseason for Allen, a restricted free agent. Translation: A Drummond buyout isn’t nearly as impactful for salary-cap purposes as some of the Cavs’ minions in the media will try to make it out to be.
18. Overall, though, the Cavs looked a lot better in the focus and determination departments in this one. Consistent examples of such are all they can really expect this season.
19. Kings guard De’Aaron Fox was brilliant with 36 points. Barnes added 16, none bigger than the final three.
