Random dribbles following the Cavaliers’ hammer job of a 118-94 home win over the 76ers on Sunday.
1. It’s only been three games. That’s what everyone keeps saying.
2. One fan even asked, “Are the Cavs for real? Or is it luck?”
3. Answer: Who knows, who cares, and how long before we can watch these Cavaliers play again?
4. Actually, the truth is, luck has nothing to do with the Cavs’ 3-0 start. It’s been a little bit of grit, a little bit of confidence and a whole lot of passing the basketball and then putting it through the hoop.
5. Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff: “All we’re preaching is play the game the right way, right? That’s what successful teams do. I have to give (the players) credit, because they’ve bought in.”
6. You also have to give Bickerstaff credit, because playing the right way is about all he ever preaches. Move the ball. Give great effort. Believe that good things will follow. So far, that’s been your 2020-21 Cavs.
7. This game was a good example of that. The Cavs turned a five-point lead at the end of the first quarter to 21 by the end of the third. They led by as many as 32 in the fourth. They got better as the game went along.
8. Granted, the 76ers were without star center Joel Embiid, a late scratch because of back tightness. Sure, that helps. But Embiid’s absence isn’t the Cavs’ problem. When the opponent is down, you don’t help it back up. You take care of business and wish it well.
9. As you probably know, the Cavs were minus rookie starter Isaac Okoro, out with a sprained left foot. Also, Kevin Love appeared to aggravate his strained right calf in the second quarter and never returned. Love will have an MRI on Monday.
10. Other than that, it was all rainbows and unicorns and Andre Drummond, the Cavs center who dominated Dwight Howard and whoever else the 76ers threw in the pivot. Drummond finished with 24 points, 14 rebounds, three steals and two blocks. And he did it all in a mere 26 minutes.
11. Collin Sexton went for 22 points and backcourt-mate Darius Garland scored 14 and passed for seven assists. Cedi Osman also had 14 points — and the fourth-year man has never looked better than he has in these first three games in reserve.
12. Yes, Osman came off the bench again, as Bickerstaff opted to start Larry Nance Jr. (13 points, five assists, 5-of-6 shooting) in Okoro’s spot at small forward. This was two games after Nance started at power forward in place of Love. Both times, Nance has been great.
13. Nance also had the quote of the night when told the Cavs have sizzled their way to an average of 31.3 assists a night.
14. Nance on that number: “That’s nuts. (It’s) not something I saw coming into this year, but good teams share the ball. I think we’re starting to get that. Hey, look, when we win, everybody looks good.”
15. He makes a valid point, as JaVale McGee, Dante Exum and Damyean Dotson also gave underrated performances off the bench. McGee has won three championships — two with the Warriors and another last season with the Lakers. His experience winning big can only help.
16. McGee on how things are going: “We’ve got a bunch of guys who want to come in and work hard and play as a team. It shows up on the court. I keep telling the guys that winning feels amazing. Losing games doesn’t feel good at all.”
16. The Sixers were led by 16 points from Tobias Harris and 15 from Ben Simmons. They offered no excuses about missing Embiid. “That’s on us,” Simmons said. “We’ve got to lock-in and play better.”
17. Next up for the Cavs: A visit from the Knicks on Tuesday. It’s a winnable game. And right now, those are exactly the type of games the Cavs have been winning.
