Cavs learning from measuring-stick games against NBA’s elite teams

On Feb 24, 2023

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley, center, shoots between Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, left, and forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers have grown tired of having to use the term “learning experiences.”

But they also know that if they are going to make a deep run in the Eastern Conference playoffs, they have plenty of studying to still do as the least experienced team among the top contenders.

The key subject Thursday night: closing games and, to an extent, feeding the hot hand.

The Cavs struggled to execute in the last few minutes of the fourth quarter and fell 115-109 to the Denver Nuggets. For a team lacking playoff experience, it was a measuring stick-type game as the season winds down. The Cavs, holding the No. 4 seed, have 20 games left entering Friday to position themselves in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

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The Cavs have added their fair share of significant wins to their resume this season. They’re 5-3 against the three teams above them in the East (Boston, Milwaukee, Philadelphia), a conference that was made a bit lighter with the Brooklyn Nets dismantling their roster after Kyrie Irving sought a trade, and he and Kevin Durant headed to the West.

They know that while they’ve shown to have the talent to put themselves in positions to beat the best, there are times when their execution in the game’s final moments hasn’t lived up to their expectations.

Thursday’s game against one of the West’s best teams served as another playoff-caliber test, which the Cavs both want and need. But, in the end, Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets ran away with it, as nothing the Cavs did in the final 90 seconds worked.

“This is the playoffs, that’s what that is,” said guard Donovan Mitchell. “They know our plays, they know what’s coming. We know their plays, we know what’s coming. It’s just who executes better and who finds a way. They found a way tonight and we didn’t. And that’s just all about the learning process as we get better.”

Mitchell is one of only two Cavs on the roster with extensive playoff experience. Kevin Love was another before he and the Cavs agreed to a contract buyout that allowed him to sign with the Miami Heat in a roster move that was much about gratitude and respect for what he had done over the last nine seasons in Cleveland than anything else.

Cavs struggle to feed Evan Mobley after hot start, point to miscommunication

The Cavs had a slight lead for much of the night, led by Evan Mobley, who had one of his best offensive games of the year with 31 points entering the fourth quarter. The problem is that he still ended the night with 31 points, as he became a non-factor on the offensive end.

The Cavs have been bullish on Mobley’s sky-high potential, and coach J.B. Bickerstaff has noted that even if he’s not contributing much to the stat sheet he has the opportunity to be the most impactful player on the court. But when he is being assertive on the offensive end, the Cavs want to feed him the ball. That just didn’t happen Thursday night.

It’s one example of the Cavs players not having a lot of time on the floor together and healthy, and in particular in these types of situations against the best teams in the NBA.

“We’ve [had] miscommunication, especially myself, I speak for myself when I said especially me and him … and that just comes with knowing each other in late-game situations,” Mitchell said. “Ev’s become way more aggressive as the season has progressed.

“It’s all about knowing each other and getting better at the end of the day, and I’m not too upset at that, and I think the biggest thing is we learn.”

As the Cavs prepare for their first playoff appearance without LeBron James since 1998, there are only so many pop quizzes to help them prepare for the final exams. Thursday’s loss, they hope, can at least help with study.

“Evan Mobley had 31 and he was the leader of the whole game offensively, and he can’t finish the game with 31 points after three quarters. That’s on us,” Mitchell said. “We got to give him the ball, put him in positions, and that’s part of our learning each other, our maturation. We got 20 games left. This is one stings because we all felt like we should have won this game.”