Sunday, January 10, 2021

Bucks bounce Cavaliers 100-90

  The Cleveland Cavaliers' ailments may limit the number of players that they can use, but the final game of their six-game road journey found them in Milwaukee against the high-scoring Bucks, and the Bucks without the defending MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo weren't at full strength either.

Even without Milwaukee's biggest star, the Cavaliers didn't have enough to get by the Bucks in a 100-90 defeat to end a 2-4 trip.

Andre Drummond led the Cavaliers with 26 points and 24 rebounds with support from Damyeon Dotson's 21 points.

The Cavaliers are home Monday and Tuesday with games against the Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz.

Swashbucklings

1) What I've liked most about the start of this season for the Cavaliers is how they have bought into the team/hustle concept.

They haven't used the injury excuse, although it could be justified to do so, and they never give up on a game and not in a "Steve Robinson" way either.

That's exactly how you make progress in building a future.

2) Andre Drummond almost singlehandedly kept this game in reach with his 26/24 evening. Drummond's 20/20 was the first for a Cavalier since Anderson Varejo in 2012.

3) Drummond has been even better than expected for the Cavaliers and during an off-season that had me wondering if the day of a more conventional big man was changing into an antique, Drummond has improved his shooting range and has worked hard every night.

4) Damyean Dotson played with 21 points and eight assists.

Dotson has been playing out of position during a time that the Cavaliers are essentially playing without a point guard and Dotson's play is even more impressive considering he's not a true passer and isn't playing with one either.

5) Larry Nance Jr. finished with 17 points, but also had four steals and maintained his lead as the league leader in steals.

Nance is excellent at getting into passing lanes, deflecting the ball, and seems to have an innate knack for finding the ball.

That likely sounds basic, but when you watch enough basketball you see players that can get to the ball but knock the ball out of bounds or get into a lane and not gain possession.

Think of it as similar to the shot blocker that leaps up to swat the ball away, but always seems to knock it out of bounds.

The point is to have a possession change....

No comments: