By james art It was abundantly clear from the opening tip that both the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks were headed for an offensive blowout. For most of the game, that was the case as the Cavaliers created good shooting opportunities, but the shots just weren’t falling.
Cleveland’s backcourt led the way offensively, with Darius Garland scoring 34 points and Donovan Mitchell also getting his 23. Both guards got great looks early and often and drove the Cavaliers, who hung around long enough to steal the win .
Garland in particular felt this was his coming out party of the season. Garland not only scored from the perimeter (5-8 from three), but also showed aggression getting to the frame. This is the form of Darius Garland that Cavs fans were worried was gone. He hunted down shots within the offense in a way that felt natural and less like the version that has come and gone over the last season and a half. If Garland has nights like this going forward, it will take this Cavaliers team to a new plateau.
The core four generally held their own, but Tom Thibideau seemed to have the players beat him early on. In the first half, they did not seem to cope with the task. However, Sam Merrill (6 points), Caris LeVert (5 points) and George Niang (5 points) all played their part, hitting instrumental shots as the Cavaliers clawed their way back into this game. This grouping also provided value in their respective lineups as the top 3 on the team in plus/minus (LeVert +16, Niang +14 and Merrill +9).
The Cavaliers have managed to make life pretty challenging for the Knicks offensively. The Knicks often had to work pretty hard to generate looks. Dean Wade, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen were a devastating frontcourt matchup for the smaller Knicks. They also didn’t punish the Cavaliers from the perimeter, with only Josh Hart, Cam Payne and Myles McBride making two or more 3-pointers on the night. The Cavaliers also thrived in the turnover battle (13 vs. 9), often picking the Knicks’ pocket for good looks in transition.
This game was a statement that if the looks are great and the shots aren’t falling to continue for a positive regression. The drive the Cavaliers ran generated great looks, it took until the third quarter for those looks to lead to points. The Cavaliers were also dominated in offensive rebounding in the first half, giving up nine offensive boards. Kenny Atkinson seemed to voice his displeasure as they buckled this one down, giving up just two boards in the second half.
It’s a confidence boost not only for the team but also for the coaching staff as we’ve seen the team deal with early game adversity and stick with what works despite the numbers. It’s a growth from a team that struggled with a poor set-up during the game and couldn’t get their best players going when they struggled. Kudos to the coaching staff and team for the mental toughness they showed against a Knicks team that has had its numbers the past few years.
Cleveland’s next game is on October 30 when they welcome LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers to town.