What we learned: Garland is returning to form
The Cavs are off to a 7-0 start thanks in part to Garland’s resurgence.
The Cleveland Cavaliers remained perfect as they won all four games in a week that was supposed to be difficult. Let’s get into what we learned.
Donovan Mitchell is picking his spots
The Cavs have gone as Mitchell does for the past two seasons. This has meant heavy minutes and repetitive high pick-and-rolls to generate clean looks. That hasn’t been the case through seven games. The team is now getting easier offense so he’s been able to be an accent to a good attack instead of the entire focal point. This has allowed him to better pick his spots.
On Monday, that meant he scored nine crucial fourth-quarter points to grab a win over the New York Knicks in a game the role players struggled in. On Wednesday, he contributed 15 first-quarter points against the Los Angeles Lakers leading to a blowout. On Saturday, he carried them across the finish line with a game-winner against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Mitchell is playing the least minutes per game in his career (29.6). That will likely increase, but so far it has allowed him to be more efficient when the team needs him to step up. As a result, Mitchell is finishing his highest percentage of looks at the rim (70.8%) and from three (40%).
So far, less has yielded more from Mitchell.
Sam Merrill and Evan Mobley are developing a two-man game
Merrill developed great chemistry with Isaiah Mobley when both were on the Charge in 2022-23. Some of the ways they attacked teams in the G League are carrying over to how Merrill and Evan Mobley are being used so far this season.
Mobley’s gravity as a roller causes teams to be hesitant to hedge when Mobley screens off-ball for Merrill. This gives Merrill extra space to get shots off when Mobley screens for him.
Merrill has also been used as a screener for Mobley as well when he’s handling the ball.
“Sometimes they’ll put a weaker defender on [Merrill] because he’s not a pick-and-roll guy so we’ll put him in actions because he’s really good at slipping out of stuff,” Atkinson said. “His IQ in terms of screening is huge.”
Their two-man game is one of the reasons the Cavs currently have a 135.3 offensive rating with both Merrill and Mobley on the floor. That number will come down, but it does speak to how well they’ve paired together so far.
The Cavs are winning with depth
Kenny Atkinson said repeatedly before the season that he would like to play a 10 or 11-man rotation. He’s done that so far and has gotten great results. A different bench player has stepped up in almost every game to keep the Cavs undefeated.
Caris LeVert is playing some of the best basketball of his career. His 11 third-quarter points helped keep the Lakers from getting back into the game. Ty Jerome turned the momentum at the end of the second quarter against the Magic as he supplied two steals to keep the lead at 19 heading into the break. Against Milwaukee, it was Isaac Okoro and Merrill who altered the game.
Okoro is starting to find his place within Atkonson’s team
Okoro is slowly figuring out his role within the offense. This week was a step in the right direction as he contributed nine and then 13 points in the last two victories. Atkinson has mentioned that his contract situation and ensuing late arrival to off-season workouts have resulted in him being a step behind where they ultimately envision him being.
“I’m really pleased,” Atkinson said about Okoro’s progression after the win over the Magic. “I’m [still] discovering Isaac’s [game]. I’m just starting to know him better as a player and I think we’ll use him better as the games go on.”
Darius Garland’s floater is back
Garland is playing some of the best basketball of his career. He’s bought into a new offense that requires him to move more off-ball and it’s paying dividends. Garland is averaging career-best percentages with shots at the rim and in the short midrange.
“He’s playing with swag,” Atkinson said. “He’s got that floater going. . . . [He’s a] heck of a player. He’s playing really well.”
The touch on the floater has been one of the most encouraging developments of this season. He’s getting to his spots well and finishing them at a high clip (62.5%) in the short midrange. The majority of these shots are floaters.
Finishing those floaters opens up the pass when the opposing center comes over to help.
Mitchell and Garland are both off to incredible starts to their season. This has allowed them to carry lineups when one of them is sitting incredibly well. The results with both on the court have been solid, but there’s still room for improvement. The offense remains better when one is off the floor than when both are on.
The good news is that Garland is playing the way he needs to for him to make the lineups with Mitchell work their best. The process remains good. The better results will follow.