Some Cavs Streakin’ Scribbles, starting with Ty Jerome – Terry Pluto

On November 20, 2024By Littum

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Scribbles in my notebook after the Cavs defeated Charlotte 128-114 on Sunday night.

1. The Streak is now 15 in a row to open the season. It’s not like the Cavs played their stars big minutes to keep The Streak alive. But the Cavs have been cautious. Donovan Mitchell wasn’t hurt, but they rested him Sunday night. Mitchell had played 34 or 35 minutes in five of the last six games. I’ve heard they want to keep their star at 32 minutes or less in most games.

2. Mitchell missed 27 regular season games in 2023-24 due to injuries. He was also injured for the last two playoff losses in the Boston series. Mitchell is struggling with injuries. In the last four seasons he is missed 27-14-15-19. One of the Cavs’ goals is to keep him healthier this season, especially for the playoffs.

4. Then coach Kenny Atkinson turned to Ty Jerome to start. Did anyone think at the beginning of the season that with Mitchell not starting, the Cavs would turn to Jerome? That’s right, not Caris LeVert … Jerome.

5. Atkinson said: “I wanted another ball handler … we don’t want to wear Darius (Garland) out … I also wanted to reward Ty for his outstanding play.”

Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome (2) delivers the ball — In his first Cavs start, Ty Jerome scored 24 points. David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com

6. The only thing Jerome did was responds with 24 points and eight assists. He shot 9 for 15 from the field (4 of 7 on 3-pointers). With him on the court, the Cavs were a plus-14. Only Evan Mobley (plus-20) was better for the Cavs. In 17 minutes a game, Jerome averages 9.8 points. He is shooting an amazing 59% from the field, 53% on 3-pointers.

7. He reminds me of former Cavs guard Ricky Rubio, only with a better jump shot. A former first-round pick out of Virginia in 2019, Jerome plays with the poise of a 10-year NBA veteran. He has savvy, driving floaters and bank shots. He pays close attention to teammates, and especially looks to pass to the big men.

8. The Cavs signed Jerome as a free agent last season. He suffered a serious ankle injury and played only 15 minutes in total. In 2022-2023 with Golden State, Jerome averaged 6.8 points in 19 minutes a game and shot 49% from the field (39% on 3-pointers). He has been productive before. You can’t underestimate this quiet signing from Koby Altman’s front office in the summer of 2023.

9. While I have dwelt on Jerome, this was a game that belonged to the great men. Charlotte plays at an almost insane pace, shooting up 3-pointers from anywhere within 28 feet of the rim. Almost every member of the Hornets shoot them. Charlotte averages 43 shots from 3-point range per game. Only Boston (51 shots) takes more 3-pointers per game. match.

The scoreboard shows the final result — The scoreboard shows the final score of the NBA game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Charlotte Hornets at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Sunday, November 17, 2024. The Cavs went 15-0 after winning 128-114.David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com

10. But the Hornets had no size to match up with 7-footers Jarrett Allen and Mobley. Allen was incredible, scoring 21 points on just seven field goal attempts. That’s because he was often fouled going to the rim and then made 9 of 10 from the foul line. Allen also had 15 rebounds.

11. Mobley scored 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting. He grabbed 11 rebounds. Allen and Mobley were the reason the Cavs scored 60 points in the paint. They could have scored even more if the Cavs had been more deliberate and patient in getting them the ball.

12. Confession time: I’m starting to take Darius Garland’s big plays for granted, especially in the fourth quarter. The Cavs had a 112-105 lead with six minutes left. Charlotte got them busy and a little worried. Garland then scored nine points in the next four minutes (Jerome added a 3-pointer) and the Cavs took the game to a 124-109 lead with 1:32 left. Then Charlotte pulled her starters. He finished with 25 points and 12 assists.

13. Atkinson on Garland: “It’s like at the end of every game Darius makes the right play … He’s got a great, great basketball IQ … He’s got the whole package.”

14. Fully healthy and physically stronger than his 2023-24 season, in which he battled several significant injuries, Garland is averaging 21.1 points and 6.6 assists in 30 minutes a game. He is shooting 53% from the field, 46% on 3-pointers. He helps on the boards when needed – he had five rebounds on Sunday.

Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) hits a three pointer — Darius Garland has a “great, great basketball IQ,” according to coach Kenny Atkinson. David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com

15. Huge Stat No. 1: The Cavs held Charlotte to 15 points in the fourth quarter. The period began with Cleveland clinging to a 102-99 lead. Atkinson dug into his X’s and O’s and went for a zone defense. He said the Cavs used it about 85% of the time in the fourth quarter. It’s a rarity for them, though he pulled it off in Friday’s win over Chicago in the fourth quarter.

16. Huge stat No. 2: The Cavs were 27 of 28 at the free throw line.

17. The Cavs lead the NBA in scoring (123 points) and field goal percentage (52%). Atkinson admitted, “We shoot like crazy … shoot the 3-ball great … this is a really deep team … pretty much every player we have can shoot it.”

18. The depth is impressive. Sam Merrill (ankle) and Mitchell (rest) were out at the start of the game. Isaac Okoro (14 minutes) and Dean Wade (15 minutes) left the game with ankle injuries.

19. Georges Niang is playing some of his best basketball in his second season with the Cavs. He had 13 points in 26 minutes. He moves better defensively. Atkinson has called Niang “the ultimate link” because of how the veteran keeps the ball moving with his passing.

20. I know Cavs broadcaster Brad Daugherty loved Cleveland’s Carolina Blue uniforms. The former Cavs No. 1 draft pick played four years for the Tar Heels and Dean Smith. But I had a hard time dealing with the visuals. This is Cleveland, not Chapel Hill, NC

21. With a 15-0 record, the Cavs have tied Houston (1993-94) and the old Washington Capitols (1948-49) for the second-longest winning streak to open an NBA season. Only Golden State (24-0 in 2015-16) is now ahead of them. Next stop is Boston’s TD Garden on Tuesday night.