National Basketball Association

Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 Takeaways From The Preseason Opener

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

The Cleveland Cavaliers got both a win and insight on their rotation in their preseason opener against the Orlando Magic.

The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Orlando Magic 117-102 Tuesday night. Though this was a blowout, it wasn’t as nearly as close a game as it looked. At one point in the third quarter, the Cavs led the Magic 97-69. Though it’s only one game, it’s better than opening with a loss for one. It’s even better that the game helped provide clarity to what the team’s identity will be next season.

Offensively, the team’s scoring was predicated on ball movement. The ball didn’t stick and, perhaps because of the lack of offensive firepower in the starting backcourt, the Cavs didn’t seem to barrel towards the rim as much as possible at the beginning of the game.

Instead, the team opted to let LeBron James and Kevin Love be all-around threats from the outset.

Then rookie point guard Kay Felder and sophomore shooting guard Jordan McRae were in the game when the Cavs pulled away from the Magic. It should only make fans imagine what the game would have looked like if they started the game with the offensive firepower of Kyrie Irving and J.R. Smith.

Orlando played without Elfrid Payton, Aaron Gordon, Serge Ibaka and Jodie Meeks. The Cleveland Cavaliers played without Irving and Tristan Thompson. With both teams missing starters, the contest was fair. It’s just fair to say the Cavaliers are far and away a better team than the Orlando Magic.

The Cavs used this contest to get back into the groove of playing NBA basketball, of course. However, the team has a lot of competition at point guard behind Irving and this contest served as a good first test for all point guards involved.

While the team will look different when Irving and Thompson return, it’s great to know the team can put up 117 points without them. It’s also great to know that the Cavs have a renewed commitment to defense as they suffocated the Orlando Magic and held them to 42 points in the first half.

LeBron James Has Been In The Gym Working Hard

One of the NBA’s favorite adages is that “Father Time” is undefeated. In a season where Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are all relatively young and athletic small forwards that are trying to duel with James for his top spot, Tyronn Lue has something to say to people who think the King is at the tail-end of his athletic prime.

While nobody expects James to play above-the-rim like he did when he was fresh in the league, it’s good to know that James can still move around like he’s in his 20’s. James’ youthful bound was put on display as he played the game with intensity and grace. On one sequence, he was seen spinning around his defender to launch a crosscourt pass. On defense, James ran out to contest three-point shots like a rookie trying to make the team.

Nonetheless, the Cleveland Cavaliers star small forward did make both of his jumpers outside the paint. James was reportedly working on his shooting form this summer with longtime friend, and assistant coach, Damon Jones.

Jones seems to have instructed James to kick out his leg up slightly at his highest point on jump shots. This helps James keep his shoulders squared to the basket and it’s a tried-and-true rick for James to have the same balance and form on every jump shot. James naturally fades away when he shoots a jump shot and kicking his leg out counteracts the momentum that’s carries him backwards.

The Cavs Will Be Tough Defensively

Against the Magic, the Cavs were intense as they guarded their man. Guards picked up their man before they crossed halfcourt and, at times, defenders were guarding their man full-court like it was in the 1990’s. This is how Lue made his name as a player.

Lue routinely picked his man up full-court defensively. After the Cavs scored quickly on offense, the guards would pressure the ball as soon as they scored. This allowed the rest of the defense to get set and eliminated a lot of the Magic’s transition opportunities.

This type of defensive intensity led to the Cavs holding the Magic to 36.0 percent shooting from the field in the first half. The Magic’s point guards were defended especially well.

D.J. Augustin and C.J. Watson finished a combined 2-for-10 from the floor and went 0-for-4 from three-point range. The Magic also finished with 17 total team turnovers. Five of those came between Felder, Iman Shumpert and DeAndre Liggins.

The Cavs also finished the game with four blocks. Two came from Liggins, one from Chris Andersen and one from Channing Frye, who also had a steal in the contest.

Communication Is Key

Out of the players that managed to hit shots for the Magic, half of their makes came from beyond the line. Jeff Green finished 6-for-12 from the field and 3-for-5 from three-point range. Evan Fournier finished 5-for-9 from the field and 2-for-3 from three-point range. Mario Hezonja finished 6-for-14 from the field and 3-for-6 from three-point range. This isn’t because the Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t try to contest those shots, they were just late.

On one sequence, Liggins faded to the low-block to double the post. Meanwhile, Shumpert was supposed to take Liggins’ man and James was supposed to switch to Shumpert’s man. Instead, Shumpert just stayed on his man. James, in realizing Liggins’ man was unguarded from behind-the-line instead of Shumpert’s, bounded to Hezonja in order to prevent the shot but was too late.

This could have been prevented by any of these three things: (a) Liggins doesn’t make the gamble; (b) better off-ball awareness from Shumpert; or (c) better communication from the entire trio. If that had been communicated on the court, the shot would have been contested better. These type of communication issues happened all game defensively.

Kevin Love and Jordan McRae Look Comfortable

For the first time, Love looked truly comfortable and confident. He, for once, actually looked like he belonged. He was able to display the inside-outside game that made him the league’s premier “stretch four”. He was aggressive down-low and while he was 1-for-3 from inside-the-arc he went to the free throw line for a couple of two-shot fouls.

Despite the additions of Frye and Mike Dunleavy Jr., players who are three-point specialists, Love was also an accessible three-point threat. Defensively, Love looks quicker, stronger, and like he’ll hold his own on that end of the court this season.

McRae was the star of the show Tuesday night as he finished the game with 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists. The 10 pounds he gained in the offseason came in handy. He also had the dunk of the night and put the finger-wagging Bismack Biyombo on a poster.

While he’s not a defensive stud it’s clear why he’s being compared to Jamal Crawford. The kid can light it up and score from anywhere on the court. His ball-handling isn’t as flashy as Crawford’s but he can get to the rim any time he wants.

Love and, to a lesser extent, McRae will be relied on to score for the Cavs this season. As James advances in age, the plan should be to ease his minutes and scoring burden. He can do everything else.

Love can score as well as any power forward in the league. His ability to be a force inside will be as important as ever this season with the Cleveland Cavaliers looking to be a balanced basketball squad.

For his part, McRae is beginning to look like he really belongs. If the Orange Mamba continues on this pace, he and Felder have the potential to make the Cavs bench unit one of the best in the league.

The Point Guard Position Is Fine

Liggins got the start on Tuesday night and it was obvious that he has to get acclimated to the jump in competition from the NBA’s Development League (D-League) and Summer League to the NBA.

He committed some quick fouls and had a couple of turnovers early as he adjusted to the speed of the game, but as the contest went on, Liggins got acclimated and went on to record three assists, two blocks,and a steal that he took back for two easy points in transition. A more assertive and comfortable Liggins will be a boost to the Cavs point guard rotation but an even bigger boost to the team’s defensive potential.

Felder, who is also battling for the backup point guard spot, had a better showing as he went 7-for-11 from the field for 14 points and had a couple of assists as well. Where Liggins looked unsure of how to make his impact offensively, Felder was assertive and aggressive from the beginning. Felder looks a bit out-of-control at times and often jumps to make passes, which can leave him looking awkward. However, Felder looks like a player who will be a big piece of the team as he gets more experience.

Liggins is not only making a jump from the D-League to the NBA, he’s making a jump to playing point guard for the defending NBA champions. For those reasons, Liggins’ uncertainty early in the game offensively is understandable. If he had issues defensively, as a two-time Defensive Player of the Year in the D-League that wouldn’t be. However, he doesn’t. On the contrary, Liggins is already showing he can be an impact defender.

Felder, on the other hand, plays with confidence and gusto at the point guard position. Ever-certain he can get by his man and score, Felder took the ball to the rim consistently and was successful. Irving has solid depth behind him at point guard for the second year in a row. However, Liggins and Felder are better athletes and could be better defensively.

Wrapping Up

The Cleveland Cavaliers have some kinks to work out, but their first preseason game should be looked at as very successful.

More from King James Gospel

Offensively, the ball moves around very well. Players moves their bodies as well and because there isn’t any player who just ball-watched, a lot of Cavs found themselves scoring easy buckets. Players like Felder and McRae showed off their scoring ability and gave Cavs fans a good glimpse at what they can expect this season and for years to come. The shooting specialists did their job and both James and Love looked as good as they ever have.

Furthermore, the Cleveland Cavaliers are exhibiting a determination to show a different level of effort on defense this season. There hasn’t been a game in recent memory where the Cavs consistently picked up their man from across halfcourt.

The Cavs benefit from the defensive intensity on the offensive end, as they find themselves in position to score in transition opportunities. The Cavs also benefit this type of defense because the opposition is unable to reel off so many points in the first half, it makes them it much easier for Cleveland to beat teams.

Last season, it was obvious the team could score with the best of their opponents. The problem was getting stops in the first half and having to come out swinging in the third quarter. Eliminating those slow starts will allow the Cavs to have more energy as they go into the fourth quarter and improve upon their 57-25 record from a year ago.

What are your takeaways from the Cavs first preseason game? Do you agree with our assessment? Let us know in the comments section or on Twitter @KJG_NBA.

This article originally appeared on

share

Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Basketball Association