The win takes the Cavaliers to a perfect 10-0.
Former Golden State Warriors assistant coach called Steve Kerr his mentor before the game. Kerr might have passed along too many secrets based on how this one went. The Cleveland Cavaliers were the better team in every aspect as they rolled to a one-sided 136-117 win.
Atkinson used the knowledge he had of the Warriors against them. He kept Isaac Okoro in the starting lineup even though Dean Wade was available to play. That was the conventional choice. You want your best perimeter defender on the court against Steph Curry at all times. But that wasn’t how he was deployed. Okoro was instead guarding Draymond Green and Darius Garland drew the Curry assignment.
Curry does most of his action away from the play, with Green initiating the ball or screening. Putting Okoro on Green limits both actions.
First, it makes it more difficult for Green to handle the ball. Okoro can be aggressive with the ball pressure he provides because of the backline help, which makes it difficult for Green to play his best. Second, it helps when Green screens for Curry, as you’re just automatically putting your best perimeter defender on Curry.
This short-circuited Golden State’s offense in the opening minutes, allowing Cleveland to get out in transition off of stops. The Cavs used this to jump out to a 20-2 lead before all of the fans even reached their seats. Evan Mobley was a big reason why.
Atkinson has often brought up Green as a comparison point to Mobley. Not necessarily because they have similar skillsets, but because Green can make a two non-shooting big lineup work due to his playmaking.
“You see Evan at the top more now,” Atkinson said pregame. “[He’s] handling the ball more, using his passing ability, much like Draymond.”
That came through in the first quarter. He wasn’t finishing plays with his passing necessarily, but more so initiating his own offense. He was aggressive all evening, but especially so in the first half where he scored 11 points in 14 first-half minutes.
Cleveland’s depth has been an overlooked reason why they’ve been so dominant this season. That showed up again tonight. Okoro’s offense was just as good as his defense. He was comfortably attacking off-the-dribble and from deep throughout the first half. That, combined with Ty Jerome’s 13 second-quarter points allowed the Cavs to continue to extend the early lead they built. They outscored the Warriors 44-20 in the second quarter to take a 41-point lead into the break.
The Cavs never took their foot off the gas from there.
Mobley continued his good play throughout the entire game. Atkinson allowed him to use his time at the end of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth to get additional reps handling the ball in a game well in hand. There were some clunky possessions, but he also had moments of brilliance like this play below.
Evan Mobley with the acrobatic flush pic.twitter.com/IobGPBNN3F
— Tony Pesta (@Tony_Pesta) November 9, 2024
Mobley finished with 23 points points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Garland continues the most impressive stretch of his career. He is manipulating every possession he’s on the floor so that the offense gets the exact look they want. Garland did this without overly controlling the ball, which is a skill that very few players in the league have. He contributed 27 points, 6 assists, and 3 steals.
It was a quiet evening by Donovan Mitchell’s standards. He stepped aside to allow his teammates who were playing well to shine. Mitchell concluded the evening with 12 points and 4 assists in 26 minutes.
The Cavaliers have improved their record to a perfect 10-0 with their most impressive win of the entire run. As good as they’ve been, they know that they don’t give out a trophy for who’s the best team in November.
“We haven’t done anything yet,” Atkinson said pregame. “It doesn’t surprise me. . . . In this league, you get a little lucky too. I mean, we’re shooting the heck out of the ball. You know, we could be 7-2. It’s possible, right? But we’ve had things go our way.
“So I don’t think in this league you can get too high on yourself because you know how quickly it can turn. . . . But I’m pleased in the process and all the things we’re doing.”
