Random dribbles following the Cavaliers’ 119-99 hammer job of a road loss to the Pacers on Thursday.
1. As suspected, the Cavs have a long, long way to go before they can consistently beat good teams on the road. That’s basically what this game proved.
2. The Pacers raced to an early lead, took the second quarter off, then put their foot on the gas in the second half. The Cavs just don’t have the talent or depth to match up with a team like Indiana. At least, not at this point in the season.
3. We won’t spend a whole lot of time on this, with it being New Year’s Eve and all. So, happy New Year. Always appreciate you following along.
4. For big stretches of this game, it was too much Collin Sexton (29 points) and Darius Garland (21) and not enough of the other guys. That’s not going to be a winning formula for the Cavs this season.
5. Don’t misunderstand. Sexton and Garland both played well. Sexton was 12-of-19 shooting; Garland 8-of-14. But you’ll know the Cavs’ young guards are showing real growth when they do more than just show individual improvement.
6. Greatness involves facilitating for your teammates and putting them in position to produce. Neither of the Cavs’ young guards are there yet.
7. Now, in the Cavs’ defense, Kevin Love (calf) and Isaac Okoro (foot) are out, and Kevin Porter Jr. (unknown) has yet to return. All of that really depletes the bench and messes with coach J.B. Bickerstaff‘s rotation.
8. Also, Cedi Osman went just 2-of-12 shooting in the previous game vs. the Knicks. I suggested the Cavs move him back to a reserve role. Well, that’s what happened, and Osman went 1-of-8 for three points.
9. That means he’s 3-of-20 from the floor over the last two games after a hot start. But as they say in the NBA, role players tend not to play as well on the road. All the Cavs (3-2) want out of Osman is for a little consistency, and this has to be the season he delivers some.
10. Andre Drummond got just 11 shots and scored 11 points, grabbing 14 rebounds. He needs to get the ball more. There’s no two ways about it.
11. You still have to really like what JaVale McGee is giving the team, too. The man grabbed 13 boards in 14 minutes. You can tell losing really gets to the veteran center. He is coming off a championship with LeBron James and the Lakers.
12. Still, the Cavs’ big men had no answer for Pacers power forward Domantas Sabonis, who utterly dominated to the tune of 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10-of-14 shooting.
13. The Pacers (4-1) are a balanced, gritty bunch. This game showed that more than ever. Doug McDermott added 18 points off the bench, while Malcolm Brogdon (17 points), Victor Oladipo (16) and Myles Turner (14) all played key roles. Brogdon is an extremely underrated point guard who picked apart the Cavs’ backcourt.
14. Back to the Cavs. Larry Nance Jr. gave another solid showing with 10 points, seven assists and a couple of steals. Nance is invaluable when it comes to providing the intangibles.
15. It wouldn’t have made much of a difference but the Cavs need to hope Okoro and Dylan Windler (wrist) heal soon. If nothing else, those young wings could use the minutes in games like these. And yes, they do increase the Cavs’ odds of winning.
16. Same goes for Porter. His absence is a bit of a mystery. You can read my thoughts on that here.
17. That’s it for now. Thanks again for reading and I’ll talk to you in 2021.
