Cleveland Cavaliers Just Getting Started and Other Friday NBA Takeaways
The Cleveland Cavaliers just keep rolling through the Eastern Conference, moving to 12-4 on the season with a 95-90 Friday night victory over the vastly improved Charlotte Hornets.
At first glance, that might not seem particularly notable.
After all, LeBron James still plays for the Cavaliers, and this is a squad coming off an NBA Finals loss to the Golden State Warriors—one in which they took the eventual champions to Game 6 before losing out on the Larry O'Brien Trophy. Cleveland was supposed to be extremely competitive, taking advantage of the weaker half of the NBA before gearing up for another deep postseason run.
TOP NEWS
Adam Silver Talks LeBron's Future
Stephen Curry gives update on NBA retirement
Pop's Speech to Spurs 🗣️
But had you told the Cavaliers they'd win 12 of their first 16 games despite a grand total of zero minutes from Kyrie Irving and Iman Shumpert, it's hard to believe they'd have done anything but greedily accept the generous proposition.
Good as this squad has been, it has the potential to get so much better.
James, in particular, wants it to be. Not just so that he can extend his personal winning streak over the Hornets, but so that he can experience even more success in the regular season.
"You've got to have talent, man. You gotta have talent. You gotta have talent. That's the No. 1 thing," the four-time MVP told Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal. "No matter if you've got the greatest system in the world, you gotta have talent to be able to equalize that and execute that. But I don't know. It'd have been great to be on a team to win 70 games, it's just another feat in your career."
He probably won't be experiencing those feelings in 2015-16, as the Cavs, currently on pace for 61.5 wins, would need to go 58-8 during the rest of the year to get there. But we can't definitively rule out the possibility. Not given how this team shut down a Charlotte offense that had been rolling along to the tune of the Association's No. 5 offensive rating, and not given the eventual influx of talent.
James finished the post-Thanksgiving victory with 25 points, 13 rebounds and five assists, playing the part of facilitator and defensive ace late in a game that was tighter than the five-point margin would indicate. Kevin Love thrived during the first three quarters, recording a gaudy 18 points and 16 boards in 30 minutes of run before he cheered on his teammates from the bench.
And those are only two members of the vaunted Big Three.
The rest of the Cavaliers roster is mighty solid. There's depth at plenty of important positions, and we can't undersell the beneficial nature of players such as Timofey Mozgov and Tristan Thompson. J.R. Smith, when he's locked in, can do special things—putting Frank Kaminsky on the dance floor, for example:
But Shumpert and Irving are still significant contributors whom the Cavs will eventually need if they hope to challenge the Warriors for league-wide supremacy. Good as they've been, we can't overlook the fact that they've played the fifth-easiest schedule in the NBA before this Charlotte contest. It's likely one of the reasons ESPN.com's Marc Stein refused to pick them as the league's second-best team in a recent roundtable:
"I know this isn't the answer you want, but there really isn't a good nomination in this category. So I'm passing. The Spurs are 12-3 but haven't been tested much yet. The 11-4 Cavaliers have lost four road games to fellow Eastern Conference residents and just called a players-only meeting, so you can't really attach any superlatives to their start either. It's the Warriors' world right now. And the other 29 teams are playing catch-up at the minute. Draw a thick line under the Dubs if we're making judgments purely on what we've seen in November.
"
Mo Williams has been more than serviceable, coupling his below-average defense with some torrid offensive numbers. The veteran entered Friday's affair knocking down 48.6 percent of his looks from the field, 35.6 percent from beyond the arc and 89.3 percent at the charity stripe. His player efficiency rating was a strong 18.0, showing that he's done more than just serve as a placeholder for Irving.
Spelling him is Matthew Dellavedova, who appears to have worked on his game significantly during the offseason. He's no longer a tenacious defender with no offensive game aside from the easy-to-see-but-hard-to-stop lobs to Tristan Thompson.
But neither of them is Kyrie Andrew Irving, who could return from his knee injury prior to a Christmas Day showdown with the defending champions. Neither of them stars in the Uncle Drew commercials. Neither of them has handles that could legitimately be called the best in basketball. Neither of them has made the All-Star squad during each of the last three seasons.
The 2015-16 season has been a mixed bag for the Cavaliers, as they've struggled inexplicably in some games but taken out surprisingly strong opponents—see: Hornets, Charlotte—in others. But ultimately, the win total is what matters most, and the 12-4 mark during this go-round's opening portion has them sitting pretty atop the Eastern Conference standings.
That's scary enough. What's even more terrifying is how much better this team could still get.
Warriors Keep Winning
Though 17 straight wins might get a little monotonous if you look only at the results, the Golden State Warriors never fail to entertain. In a 135-116 victory over the Phoenix Suns, the reigning champions put on yet another show, led by Draymond Green and the perimeter shooting of just about everyone.
Green finished with his second triple-double of the season, recording 14 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists without missing a shot from the field. And somehow, he wasn't even the most impressive player on his own team.
Somehow, that would be Stephen Curry. Surprise, surprise.
Without even playing in the fourth quarter, last year's MVP—who doubles as this year's MVP front-runner—recorded a scorching 41 points, six rebounds and eight assists, upping his average to 28 points per contest in his last three outings. And here's a tidbit of information, courtesy of GSWStats, that makes that little nugget stand out even more:
Curry only took 20 shots from the field on Friday night, but it didn't matter. He drilled 11 of them, including a ridiculous nine from outside the arc that helped him move past LeBron James on the all-time leaderboard, per NBA on ESPN:
Not only that, but the Warriors shot so well in the first half that they ended up setting the NBA record for most three-pointers in the first two periods:
At this point, what is a defense supposed to do?
It's hard enough to guard a Warriors team that's playing as it typically has on offense, but it's virtually unstoppable when Curry is locked in like this. The highlight reel from this game is staggering, especially when you remember he didn't need to play in the final quarter:
Just another night for the Bay Area representatives.
Kawhi Kannot be Stopped
If Kawhi Leonard had stolen the ball from the Denver Nuggets just one more time during the 91-80 victory, he would've emerged with an elusive five-by-five. Still, he can't be too disappointed with "only" 25 points, seven rebounds, six assists, four steals and five blocks.
After all, the list of players who have achieved those numbers isn't particularly long. Since 1985-86:
- Michael Jordan
- Hakeem Olajuwon (three times)
That's it.
Leonard made history with his two-way destruction of the Nuggets, littering the Pepsi Center with impact plays that helped him continue to solidify his burgeoning superstardom. When he wasn't taking over as a scorer or helping his teammates thrive on a night when head coach Gregg Popovich chose to rest both Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, he was locking down whichever Denver player drew his defensive ire.
"The version of Leonard the Spurs have now ranks, almost inarguably, among the league's top 10 players," a prescient Grant Hughes wrote for Bleacher Report, "And he's arrived at that status through gradual, steady growth—growth that shows no signs of relenting."
Relent it did not on Friday night. Not with him driving past multiple defenders and knocking down a tough finish:
Not with him blocking shots on back-to-back possessions before letting a three-pointer serve as the exclamation point:
Leonard's game is complete, and he's still getting better. Remarkably better, in fact. He's not just a top-10 player; he's also acting as a bona fide MVP candidate for a Spurs squad that has exceeded even the most lofty expectations while adjusting to LaMarcus Aldridge's presence in the lineup.
Maybe he'll finally make his first All-Star team, despite already having Finals MVP and Defensive Player of the Year on his ever-growing resume. At this point, it seems all but guaranteed.
Vintage Carmelo Expires After One Quarter
It wasn't even a tale of two halves for Carmelo Anthony. It was more a story that featured a bizarre decline after the first quarter.
Twelve minutes into the New York Knicks' eventual 97-78 loss to the Miami Heat, Anthony had exploded for 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field, highlighted by this slam off an adept feed from Kyle O'Quinn:
He'd even gotten involved on the defensive end, throwing back an ill-advised layup attempt from Goran Dragic with this thunderous block:
But then the man who dropped 11 in the opening period went cold.
Ice cold, really.
Anthony was the subject of some tenacious defense from both Justise Winslow and Gerald Green, ultimately finishing the game with only...11 points. With every shot contested and every entry pass greeted by a second defender, he missed all eight of his shots from the field and was visibly frustrated by the time the final buzzer sounded.
Rare is the day that such an elite scorer explodes to start and can't get anything going during the rest of the contest.
Of course, credit is also due to the suffocating defense of the Heat, who entered Friday night's dominant showing boasting a point-preventing unit that ranked behind only the Spurs and Indiana Pacers.
Kevin Durant Keeps Rolling
If you thought Kevin Durant was going to ease his way back into action after recovering fully from his hamstring injury, try again. The 2013-14 MVP doesn't know how to do anything at half-speed, and he's putting the rest of the NBA on notice now that he's healthily back in business.
His performance in a 103-87 victory over the Detroit Pistons screamed that the whole league must start paying loads of attention to him again:
| 11/23 | Utah Jazz | 27 (10-of-13) | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| 11/25 | Brooklyn Nets | 30 (11-of-18) | 6 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| 11/27 | Detroit Pistons | 34 (10-of-22) | 13 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
This is a motivated Durant we're seeing, one who's eager to prove the Oklahoma City Thunder are still his team. He apparently wants everyone to know that while they're fawning over Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Paul George or anyone else in the NBA, he's still out here balling.
Point proven, KD.
Point proven.
Bizarre Night in the Toyota Center
The Houston Rockets can't feel good about a two-point victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, especially because they trailed in the fourth quarter and ended up allowing 114 points to the typically anemic offense of a squad that has yet to win a single contest.
But the narrow margin isn't even what made this night bizarre. Plenty else did.
How about the fact that the Sixers managed to drain 16 three-pointers on the night after entering the contest averaging just 7.6 per game? Prior to this inspired outing, Philadelphia had literally never posted a game in which it had made more than 15 triples—and it's not like this franchise has a short history.
The sharpshooting led to Isaiah Canaan and Robert Covington both topping the 20-point barrier, but it was the latter who stood out in a big way. In addition to his 28 points, Covington registered seven rebounds, five assists, one block and eight steals. He's the first player this season to record so many thefts in a single outing, and the whole line is even more unique.
Since 1985-86, only Michael Jordan (twice), Hersey Hawkins and Doug Christie have managed to produce such a well-rounded performance, which may allow Covington to lay claim to the single most impressive thing anyone in this organization has accomplished during the current campaign.
But Houston wasn't going to be outdone.
James Harden, despite some big misses from the free-throw line down the stretch, had a big night of his own, recording 50 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. We'll overlook the nine turnovers, because only the following players have managed to post such a line in those three counting categories since 1985-86:
- Kobe Bryant
- LeBron James (twice)
- Michael Jordan
- Dwyane Wade
- Russell Westbrook
If you picked Houston-Philadelphia as the Friday night game that would produce so many historic lines, kudos.
Now, go buy a lottery ticket.
Milwaukee and Washington Can't Get out of the Dumps
What's going on with the Milwaukee Bucks and Washington Wizards?
Both teams entered the season with hopes of climbing out of the Eastern Conference's morass of mediocre teams, and each has done the opposite. Unfortunately, they've climbed in the wrong direction, plummeting into territory normally reserved for teams with hopes of a top lottery pick.
First, the Bucks sunk to 6-10 on the season after a 114-90 loss to the Orlando Magic. Once more, the defense that was so stellar last year couldn't get any crucial stops. Victor Oladipo came off the bench to score 17 points, including the thunderous slam below, while Elfrid Payton dropped a cool 22 points and 10 dimes.
Even coming into this game, Milwaukee had allowed more points per 100 possessions than any other squad in the Association, proving stunningly inept despite posting the No. 3 defensive rating in 2014-15.
Washington's numbers haven't been much better, despite seeming poised to turn the corner with a revamped offensive system on full display during a dominant preseason. The Wizards are no longer taking as many long two-pointers, but they're not making any of the shots they are generating.
Scoring just 78 points in a blowout loss to the Boston Celtics won't cut it, even for a team that entered Friday night ranked No. 20 in offensive rating.
The John Wall who had previously moved into the upper echelon of point guards simply hasn't been present this season, and this outing was no exception as the Wiz dropped to 6-7 on the year. He finished with only 10 points and six assists, despite 11 attempts from the field.
According to my FATS model (based on historical comparisons and explained in full here), the Wizards and Bucks entered their latest losses on pace to win 35.9 and 32.4 games, respectively. After both were embarrassed on the road, it's safe to assume each of those numbers is going to continue trending in the wrong direction.
Rajon Rondo Is Rolling
Sure, the Minnesota Timberwolves got the better of the Sacramento Kings, using a 101-91 victory to boost their record back to .500. We still can't help but highlight what Rajon Rondo has been doing.
The point guard has refused to fade away into the oblivion that is NBA mediocrity, bouncing back from last season's disastrous campaign in a big way. All of a sudden, it's the poor-shooting 1-guard who's trying to reclaim the league's assist title, posting some ginormous results in the process.
Friday night, Rondo recorded 16 assists and zero turnovers, making him the 50th player since 1985-86 to accomplish such a feat. But, goose egg aside, this wasn't even a standout performance when you look at his recent showings.
In his last 11 outings, he's now hit double-digit dimes in 10 of them, only failing to hit the mark in a Nov. 21 contest with the Orlando Magic that saw him fall one shy. This also makes five games over the same stretch in which he's put up 15 or more assists.
The Kings are still struggling to win consistently, and Rondo's shooting woes don't exactly help. Nor does the fact that he hasn't been quite as impactful on defense as he was in his prime.
But every Sacramento outing is worth watching as long as he's passing the ball like this.
Milestone of the Night: Kyle Korver Moves into Top 10
Though Paul Millsap (23 points, 14 rebounds and four assists) was the star of the night during the Atlanta Hawks' 116-101 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, it was Kyle Korver who got to celebrate a milestone.
With 1:31 remaining in the first quarter, the sharpshooter took a pass from Dennis Schroder and drilled the 1,759th three-pointer of his career, leaving him just one behind Peja Stojakovic. Near the end of the second quarter, he received a feed from Lamar Patterson and tied Stojakovic, cutting the Memphis lead to six points in the process.
But just two minutes into the second half, Korver moved past the retired wing and into sole possession of 10th place on the all-time triples list, tying up the eventual victory and giving Millsap one of his four dimes in the process.
Next up on the career leaderboard? Rashard Lewis sits at No. 9 with 1,787 long-range buckets, putting him just 26 ahead of Korver.
Potentially Scary Injury of the Night: Anthony Davis
The NBA world was forced to hold its collective breath on a seemingly innocuous fast-break opportunity for the Los Angeles Clippers.
En route to a decisive 111-90 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, Chris Paul veered off course and into the legs of Anthony Davis, drawing a foul because there's no way the big man would ever expect the sudden change in direction. Unfortunately, the contact was a bit too much, sending Davis into a limp and eventual plunge onto the hardwood:
The scene worsened when Davis, who has experienced way too many injuries during his young career, needed help getting back to the locker room:
But the Pelicans didn't have to see their worst fears realized.
In a fortunate turn of events, Davis eventually returned to watch the end of the blowout from his seat on the bench. The diagnosis? Nothing worse than a contusion, as sideline reporter Jennifer Hale revealed:
Feel free to exhale.
Note: All stats, unless otherwise indicated, come from Basketball-Reference.com and are current heading into Nov. 27's games.
Adam Fromal covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @fromal09.
.jpg?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "NFL Not Investigating Mike Vrabel")
.jpg?w=600 "Grading WrestleMania 42 🔠")
