The Cavs are the new Warriors, and they’re just getting started

Golden State Warriors Forward Draymond Green probably isn’t the most willing person to compliment the Cleveland Cavaliers, but even he couldn’t help himself after what he saw last week.

“They’re so aware of the extra pass, and this is an important part for us to run swing, swing,” Green said after facing the Cavs. “That’s what we preached for years, and they threw us out with it.”

“I was so excited (with what) Draymond said the other day,” Kenny Atkinson, who served as an assistant for Golden State for three seasons, said after the win against the Chicago Bulls. “(Our offense) is Warriors-esque.”

The Cavs have purposely copied what the Warriors have made work for years. So far, it has produced similar results to what the Cavs currently have best offense in the league.

“The way we want to play is very similar,” said Ty Jerome, who has spent time with both organizations. “The space, the pace, the ball movement, the shot selection, it’s going to be the same.”

Friday’s game was another example of that. The Cavaliers opened with 49 points in the first quarter. They closed out the game with 19 in the final two minutes to improve their point differential in the NBA Cup. Both barrages resembled what these top Warriors teams were known for as well.

“I thought about it today,” Caris LeVert said when asked about Atkinson’s comparison to Golden State. “When the game first started, Donovan (Mitchell) hit three or four threes, then Darius (Garland) hit three or four threes. I know they thought ‘damn, these guys don’t miss.’ And when I first came into the league, that’s how it felt when we played the Warriors.”

The Warriors made it work with two of the best shooters of all time in their backcourt. The Cavs don’t, but Mitchell and Garland possess different skill sets that have allowed this team to function in a similar but different way.

For Mitchell, it’s been about being willing to embrace a different offense than he’s been used to since his days with Utah Jazz and his final two years in Cleveland.

“We came into this with a self-reaction and understanding that we got off (the ball),” Mitchell said. “I keep bringing the corners up, but sprinting to the corners and spacing (forces) the defense to have to see where we’re at.”

His head coach has noticed that too.

“It’s not just him dominating (the ball) all the time,” Atkinson said of Mitchell. “He knows when to get his touches. He knows what lineups to play with, where to get his touches. He’s just in a big niche, big role right now.”

This offense only works if you also have a good ball mover. So far, Garland has been.

“He’s a great passer,” Atkinson said. “I don’t say that lightly. I don’t think he’s a good passer.”

The two lead guards have set the tone for how the Cavs will play, but it’s something that the entire team has completely bought into that has made it work.

“I think you’re just hitting singles, not trying to make the home run really play,” LeVert said.

“You’re not going to hit a home run every time. If I get out of a pick-and-roll, a lot of times it’s not just to come down and get a layup or make a good play. This game might just, come off and hit the next man that’s wide open. It’s not a pretty play, but it creates energy. When you hit the open man, it becomes a domino effect.”

The individual play that sets everything up may not be pretty, but the end result has been so far.

“We don’t have that hierarchy,” Atkinson said. “We just have this incredible chemistry, incredible understanding of each other and respect for each other. It’s beautiful, beautiful to watch.”

It’s easy to see the similarities between this version of the Cavs and the early Warriors dynasty. Both teams took a risk and hired a new coach to put them over the top. Both teams have been overlooked at times due to their unconventional style and team building philosophy. And both teams win because of the strength of their depth.

The Cavs are in the midst of a 14-game winning streak to start the season. That hasn’t been done since the 2015-16 Warriors. They do so by embracing a new offensive system while still maintaining their defensive identity. It’s the key to what has made Golden State work.

The scary thing for the Cavs is that they are just getting started.

“We’re going to continue to build on that,” Mitchell said of the offense’s start. “We’re not perfect, but we’re playing well.”