Undefeated Cavs are the perfect palate cleanser for the depressing Browns season – Jimmy Watkins

On By Littum

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Spirits taste harsh, so Jack Daniels needs Coke. Vodka needs tonic water, Tequila shots need lime wedges, and Cleveland sports fans needed a glass of good basketball Sunday to chase the stomach-churning taste left by the Browns hours earlier.

Lucky for Clevelanders, these Cavs are meeting at any moment. Even without star guard Donovan Mitchell, sharpshooter Sam Merrill and defensive stalwarts Isaac Okoro and Dean Wade (both of whom left with midgame injuries), Cleveland beat the Charlotte Hornets 128-114 at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Sunday night, marking a 15-game winning streak to start . this season and moves one step closer to the NBA record (24-0).

Point guard Darius Garland closed out the game by scoring or assisting on 14 straight points, including a pull-up 3-pointer with 1:41 left. And seven seconds later, Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson ejected Garland, Ty Jerome, Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, allowing a sellout crowd (19,432) to stand and express its appreciation.

Turns out some fall Sundays in Cleveland are better spent at the gym.

“That was great, man,” Jerome said of the Cavs’ standing ovation. “I didn’t know if the crowd would be this great tonight, and it was great again. So we thank you.”

No, we thank you you, Shut up Jerome. Thanks for your career-high 24 points and eight assists while starting in Mitchell’s place against Charlotte. Thank you for stabilizing Cleveland’s second unit this season, which was seventh in bench scoring entering Sunday’s game. And thanks for delivering victory to a depressed sports town that cursed another dismal loss earlier in the day.

Shall we talk about it? Fine.

The Browns lost 35-14 on Sunday to a 3-7 Saints team that is missing its top two wide receivers. Cleveland spent seven days planning to slow down Saints tight end — slash quarterback, slash running back, slash kick returner — Taysom Hill, then spent three hours failing to tackle him. Hill tallied 206 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns against Jim Schwartz’s defense (supposedly the strength of Cleveland’s roster). The Browns countered with 22 first downs and 443 total yards knocked off three fruitless drives into Saints territory (two missed field goals, a fourth-quarter drive that fumbled). They are 2-8 after building the most expensive roster in NFL history.

Meanwhile, the Cavs write a new historic chapter every night. No iteration of this franchise has started 15-0 (or even won 15 straight games). Only three other NBA teams have ever started as hot as all made the NBA Finals. But let’s not spoil a good time with expectations.

Instead, ride the ripples created by Atkinson’s fun, fast-paced offense, which produced four 20-point scorers Sunday for the second straight game. Check out the stronger, more aggressive Mobley, who scored 24 points and — woah — made two 3-pointers to go with 11 rebounds and a destructive block against Hornets forward Brandon Miller. Watch Garland (25 points, 12 assists and five rebounds) channel his All-Star self again, or Allen (21 points, 15 rebounds) treat the Hornets’ front court like children, or Jerome spin this impossible finish of the glass, try frowning at football.

You can’t do it, can you? And I’ve barely mentioned the words “Donovan Mitchell” yet. The Cavs rested him Sunday because they have bigger, banner-hanging plans than their franchise-record winning streak. In fact, Mitchell is playing a career-low 31.1 minutes per game, but Cleveland still can’t lose unless it plays make believe.

“After the Chicago game (Friday), I didn’t think our defense was very good, so we had a film session and we pretended it was a loss,” Atkinson said before Sunday’s game. “I don’t think the guys felt good about how they played on the defensive end. I think we turned the game into an up-and-down game and didn’t put enough emphasis on the defensive side, so we let them know.”

The coach laughed as he explained himself, because no team has more fun than his Cavs. Even when serious business comes knocking, as it will Tuesday against the defending champion Celtics (11-3), Cleveland faces it with gusto.

Two good teams with playoff baggage to sort through in an intense environment (Boston’s TD Garden)? “What’s better than that?” Atkinson said.

Most November: Thursday Night Football. The 8-2 Steelers come to town this week and Cleveland can’t wait to hate. Russell Wilson is annoying; TJ Watt is overrated; and Mike Tomlin, who has never posted a losing season as a head coach, is a loser. The Browns will prove it, just watch.

But here in November, some game days are better spent in the gym. One Cleveland franchise can’t lose while the other can’t handle the hybrid tight end. And I’d never expect this football town to give up its Browns (or the accompanying tailgate opportunities), but I’d recommend mixing up some Jarrett Allen while tearing up shots of Jack Daniels or Jameis Winston this week.

“It’s unbelievable,” Allen said of the atmosphere against Charlotte. “Especially also on a Sunday. “Everybody came out. Everyone is showing tons of energy all over the city of Cleveland. It’s amazing how the city of Cleveland has adopted us and how they come to every game and shout for everything… That’s what this is all about. The city of Cleveland has our back like that.”