CLEVELAND, Ohio – LeBron James still maintains control over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Second-year guard Darius Garland is “like a little brother” to James – a connection linked to Klutch Sports and super agent Rich Paul. Kevin Love and Matthew Dellavedova – both inactive for Monday’s clash against the Los Angeles Lakers – were part of Cleveland’s 2016 champion team. Larry Nance Jr. arrived from Los Angeles in a 2017-18 negotiation ahead of schedule, helping James compete for one last Cleveland championship before joining the free agency. Cedi Osman, who met James before the game and gave him a big hug, is still one of James’ favorites of all time.
There are many other relationships spread across the organization that James has called home for 11 years in total, including one with equipment manager Mark “Cobra” Cashman and team leader Jason Hillman, who stood out from the superstar at the end of the third quarter. with his enthusiastic reaction to the lack of LeBron that fueled an explosion at the end of the game, spilling 21 of his 46 points in the last 12 minutes, hitting nine of his 10 shots and winning the Cavs alone, 21-19.
The Lakers won 115-108. James finished with 46 points, the best of the season, in 19 of 26 pitches and 7 of 11 in the 3-point range, with eight rebounds, six assists, two steals and two blocks.
“I felt he was a little too excited to see me lose,” said James of the switch in the third quarter. “He was very excited that I missed that photo. A little more than I would like. He has to cheer for his team, obviously. I knew I had another quarter, and the fourth quarter is my favorite. Good for him, I only come here once a year. “
By the way, Hillman, who was first revealed by ESPN before sources confirmed him guilty, went to the visitor’s locker room after the 2018 clash between the two teams – James’ first return as a Laker – and the two shared a warm greeting and some fun games.
However, Monday night helps to highlight a few things. One is how different this connection is. Cavs is not just another opponent in programming.
“I always pay close attention to what’s going on,” said James when asked about his level of interest in Cavs. “I think (coach) JB (Bickerstaff) did a great job and they are preparing well and doing some negotiations. You can say that the team is improving. They have some young guards who are very dynamic in Collin (Sexton) and Darius and the rest of them they can build around. They have some new pieces that can leave their future behind. We’ll see what happens. “
The other, in addition to how senseless it is to pull the Superman cape, is how far the Cavs have come.
Less than three years have passed since James signed with the Lakers – a decision that sent the organization on to another grim reconstruction. They had just lost the best player in the world, perhaps of all time, and were without assets. Consecutive seasons of 19 wins. Lottery trips. Countless deals. At one point, it might have seemed that General Manager Koby Altman was rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, doing something, anything, before the ship sank. But the plan started to come into focus. The future looks bright.
On Monday night, about 24 hours after being defeated by the Boston Celtics in perhaps the most predictable result of the season, Cavs managed to test themselves against the champions.
“You always want to play against the best,” said Bickerstaff. “This is the fun part of our league, accepting challenges. Whenever you have the opportunity to do this, you love this test. It tests you physically, it tests you mentally and that is what we need to grow. We need these tests to become a better basketball team. “
Cavs are just that. Even LeBron sees this. How could he not? It took a vintage performance, one of the best since joining the Lakers, to thwart Cavs’ irritating return attempt. They lost 14 in the second half and James was having one of That nights, the kind that usually crush spirits. He was doing difficult and well-guarded external kicks – a lesson for newcomer Isaac Okoro that the perfect defense doesn’t always lead to a stop – and Cavs was there, swinging until the end.
Progress will not be defined by a game. An embarrassment against Boston does not eliminate the good vibes of the first month. A disputed defeat against the Lakers does not mean that Cavs is about to win the playoffs. The final record of loss and victory will also not be the only measure. Not yet.
Still, wrapping up the Reunion Tour – two games against former Cavaliers owner Kyrie Irving in the Brooklyn Nets, one against old heart and soul Tristan Thompson and fundamental force James – with a 2-2 record is an encouraging result.
After being put aside as a doormat when entering the season, Cavs is 8-9, seventh in the Eastern Conference, despite dealing with a myriad of injuries. For all they are still missing in this rebuild, they have the league’s sixth best defensive ranking after two miserable years on that end of the court looking like a hilarious layup line before the game. They have an identity – an irritating and fragmented group of overachievers that some teams don’t want to deal with for 48 minutes. They are finally establishing a culture that is no longer built on a person. Ahem, LeBron. They have a well-adapted young core. They have a respected coach. And, on most nights, they are competitive and fun to watch, with glimpses of what it could be with more time and a continuous infusion of talent.
what is progress.
“This game was not lost by our effort. It was not lost by our scrap, ”said Bickerstaff later. “They gave us what they had. They competed. They played together. They competed together. That was not where the game was lost. “
So, where was it lost?
“I think it was some calls that changed the momentum that were made or not,” said Bickerstaff. “I think our boys came and went to great lengths to earn the respect that both teams should earn. I don’t think that was the case. The Lakers are a great basketball team, don’t get me wrong. They deserve everything to come. But our guys play hard and deserve the same. Were there any moves we made on the same straight where we could have made better decisions? Right. But it is difficult to overcome the champions more. “
Well, that and LeBron. His only visit to Cleveland last season was canceled by the pandemic COVID-19. Sources say the organization had something special planned, tying it to the long celebration of 50 years of Cavaliers basketball. Richard Jefferson, Channing Frye, Mo Williams, Dahntay Jones and many others from the championship era were on the guest list. There was a planned tribute video and several celebrations within the game. Perhaps at another time, when the world returns to normal and fans can pack Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse to shower James with the appreciation he deserves.
Current NBA protocols meant that James had to stay at the team’s hotel, unable to sleep in his own bed. But he found time to see his mother, Gloria and uncle. He enjoyed a home-cooked meal and played the first episode of a Frank Sinatra documentary in his altered routine. Being back in Cleveland always brings back good memories. The chalk thing even came back for this special occasion.
“To find out what happened before I arrived here in 2003, to see the franchise and see the type of conditions it was in and for us to just build and build and build until 2016 to deliver a championship to this city, for this franchise , is something I will always remember, ”said James. “There are many things that you will forget throughout your life. But the moment I spent here and the championship we did in ’16, being called up, are just moments that I will never forget. I would be inhumane, even though you probably think I’m inhumane the way I play the game, but emotionally, it’s still there. Ever.”
Cavs don’t have a star to build today. Perhaps Sexton can continue this ascent. It is a sum-is-greater-than-the-parts approach that started with Irving’s trade.
Sexton, half of that young dynamic defense field that James referred to, was impressed by the choice of Brooklyn, the crown jewel of that Irving blockbuster. In his third season, Sexton averages 24.8 points in 50.5% of the field and 46.2% of the 3-point range to go with 4.2 assists. Garland, the other piece, is still recovering from a sprain in his right shoulder that made him pull back about two weeks. Garland turned 21 on Tuesday and has an average of 14.3 points and 5.7 assists, the best of the team.
Jarrett Allen, a promising young pivot, was recently hired by the Nets. The 26-year-old Taurean prince also came, winning his first debut on Monday.
Okoro, a relentless defender with an offensive game still in development and which currently lacks polish, was called up with the fifth choice in 2020 and did not give up on a confrontation against James – although the possible GOAT gave the novice a doctorate-level course NBA. Nance did not play because of a sprain in his right wrist, but he showed his worth and solidified his place in the nucleus with a year of career. There is also 25-year-old Osman, who mentored James from the beginning, prompting Osman to send a letter of thanks.
“Obviously, my debut year, he really helped me a lot,” said Osman. “He really protected me and helped me with everything, on and off the court. And it was a great experience to be around him. I wasn’t playing much, so I had a chance to see him, how he was playing, how he works. I mean, he’s a real professional. When I wrote the letter, it was really deep in my heart. I was very happy to have the chance to play with him. Most importantly, I earned his respect. That was very important. I’m glad I did that. “
Osman was the only unhurt Cavalier on Monday’s lineup who joined James in Cleveland. JaVale McGee, who is currently at the center of business talks, helped James win a title in Los Angeles last season. That’s it. Love was put aside with a strained calf, managing only to exchange a personalized handshake with James from the bench. Dellavedova remains on the concussion protocol, with his history of concussions making the recovery longer.
Monday night was not just a demonstration of James’ continued mastery, laughing at Father Tempo and defying logic. It was a presentation by Cavs – a team in constant evolution that, for the first time, seems to be on the right track without it.
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