Cavs Creating New Identity In Response To Mounting Injuries
There's a reason that Saturday night's 109-95 win on the road over the Chicago Bulls was so enjoyable for the Cleveland Cavaliers and their fans.
It was all about the team.
From start to finish, the Cavs overwhelmed Chicago with perpetual motion, relentlessness, multiple efforts and selflessness. They trusted each other, covered for the next man over and never took their foot off the gas. Having 28 assists on 39 field goals is nice, but it was the way they imposed their collective will that truly stood out.
"Everybody's just sharing that ball," Craig Porter Jr. said after the victory. "It makes our offense a lot better. Sometimes, when the ball gets stagnant on the offensive end, we kinda get lackluster and sometimes, we take bad shots.
"But once we get that ball swinging and get each other open and stuff like that, almost anything's possible at that point. So that's been another big emphasis for us is to get each other open shots. We assisted on almost probably every basket we got. It's just fun to play that way."
Since Darius Garland and Evan Mobley's devastating injuries were announced, the Cavs have averaged 31.4 assists on 44.2 attempts per game. That figure leads the entire NBA during this 10-day stretch.
Offensively, as a result of the ball hopping around, they have made 47.1 percent of their shots over the last five contests.
"We know that with the group that we have, we've got to move it and we've got to create for one another, and the guys took it to heart," Cleveland head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said.
"They want to do it together, and it's been impressive to watch 'em play a selfless game where it's not a matter of who gets the shot. They just give it to the right person and let the right person take the shot."
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) shoots a free throw against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at United Center.
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Without two of their their best players, and unexpectedly losing more, the Cavs have banded together to show how much of a team game basketball really is. That is this squad's identity right now, and it's been fun for everybody.
"Finding ways to win. Just coming together," Max Strus said in an interview with Bally Sports Great Lakes postgame. "We're battling a lot of adversity right now with injuries. Guys step up and find ways to win."
"Just grit," Jarrett Allen added. "J.B. always talks about winning the scrap. That's one of his favorite lines from last year, and I feel like that's exactly what we're doing."
