Random dribbles following the Cavaliers’ impressive 129-102 road win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday.
1. For the second time in two games, the Cavs gave a glimpse into what they hope is the future.
2. They looked like more than just a young team. They looked like a young team with some promise.
3. It doesn’t hurt to have some veterans — and the returns of Kevin Love, Matthew Dellavedova and Taurean Prince have indeed helped the young guns get settled down.
4. It’s never easy when young players feel as if they have to carry the load, with only young guys out there to help them. Love and Delly have won a championship. Their presence can’t be understated.
5. And both Collin Sexton and Darius Garland have looked even better recently, especially Garland. He is beginning to run the offense in a manner that makes it OK for the Cavs to dream.
6. It’s true that the Thunder aren’t very good. They’re a lot like the Cavs, in that they want to give their young guys as much of an opportunity as possible.
7. But scoring 129 points on the road in the NBA is no easy task, so no matter how you spin it, the Cavs have been clicking. (Let’s not forget they scored 125 at San Antonio on Monday.)
8. This was a team-wide effort in the truest sense, as all five starters reached double-figures in scoring and everyone who played contributed.
9. Sexton led the way with 27 points. Prince tallied 22 off the bench. Garland went for 21 with five assists. Love added 18 (and 11 rebounds), rookie Isaac Okoro had 15 and Dean Wade gave a solid all-around showing with 12.
10. Sexton to FOX Sports Ohio on the win: “We pretty much just played hard from the jump.”
11. Dellavedova and newcomer Isaiah Hartenstein joined Price to make a difference in reserve — with Dellavedova passing for seven assists and Hartenstein scoring eight points and collecting 12 boards. The young center also compiled six assists.
12. Love to reporters on the state of things: “I always talk about trending in the right direction, (and) I do feel like we’re playing a good brand of basketball right now.”
13. Of course, the Cavs have have managed to do this without the services of Jarrett Allen (concussion) and Larry Nance Jr. (illness). Allen and Nance will presumably return soon, and as Love said, “getting those two back is gonna be a huge luxury for us.”
14. Overall, the Cavs are in a better spot than they were a week ago, and you can’t forget coach J.B. Bickerstaff when handing out the extra credit. He has has remained even-keel in an otherwise uneven season.
15. Bickerstaff has never wavered from his message: Play hard, play together, keep the ball moving. You’ll get your shots. Coaching young teams can be painful at times. But the idea is to keep developing through it all.
16. A great example of the selflessness was the fact the Cavs passed for 35 assists in all. They did an underrated job defensively, too. Lately, they are beginning to resemble the determined and fun team we saw at the start of the season.
17. The Cavs (19-32) have already matched their win total in each of the past two seasons, with 21 games still to go. Three of the next four are at home, which should give them a chance to keep the good vibes going.
18. Former Virginia star Ty Jerome came off the bench to lead the Thunder (20-32) with 23 points.
