CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cavs’ preseason finale on Friday night in Indiana will serve as a dress rehearsal after the third exhibition gave coach J.B. Bickerstaff an extended look at his non-starters.
Less than two hours before Monday’s tipoff, Bickerstaff announced that his expected opening night starting five — Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen — would not play against Israeli team Maccabi Ra’anana.
While Allen is still dealing with an achy bone bruise in his ankle, the other four were rested as part of the big-picture ramp-up plan before the Oct. 25 season opener in Brooklyn.
There are no injury concerns with Garland, Mitchell, Strus or Mobley. All of them took part in Monday’s shootaround and they were bouncing up and down along the bench area during the game.
The plan for Friday’s tune-up is to have all the regulars — except Allen, who is set to be re-evaluated this weekend — play the first three quarters. Bickerstaff will then determine the best approach for the fourth quarter based on feel.
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“My expectation is we get as close to game-like as we can — if all goes well,” Bickerstaff said, as he knocked on the table for good luck.
As for Monday — Cleveland’s third exhibition against Maccabi Ra’anana that was about much more than basketball given the tragic events currently taking place in Israel — the on-court focus became the Cavs’ others. Those 15 players currently with the team (veteran Ricky Rubio has an excused absence so he can keep focusing on his mental health) all received minutes for the first time.
It was a chance for guys to earn minutes, lock up spots or make an impression.
Ty Jerome, Caris LeVert, Isaac Okoro, Dean Wade and Damian Jones were the fill-in starters — a window into Bickerstaff’s thinking when it comes to most of the initial rotation. Georges Niang and Emoni Bates were the first two off the bench Monday night — a purposeful two-man combination.
“I think he’s good for Emoni to be around,” Bickerstaff said when asked about the substitution pattern. “The way Georges plays the game, and the way that he thinks the game. There are so many lessons that you learn to become an NBA player. Georges has those things down. He has a way to out-think his opponent. The more that young guys can play with people like that, it helps them learn the game.”
Bates continued his stellar preseason. He poured in a game-high 16 points in 23 minutes off the bench. Bates went 6 of 12 from the field and 4 of 9 from 3-point range, showing why he’s affectionately being referred to as “3-moni.” With machine-like shooting mechanics, Bates is 9 of 20 (45%) from beyond the arc in the first three preseason games.
“We are extremely fortunate that Emoni was there at (No. 49),” Bickerstaff said. “I believe that Emoni is fortunate to be here also, because I think the pairing works for his development and advancement of his career.
“I believe if Emoni had gone in the lottery he’d have been the type of player who’d have been in the Rookie of the Year conversation. We are extremely fortunate that he’s here with us and we look forward to working with him.”
Bickerstaff also wanted to get a close-up of the Jerome-LeVert pairing, one that could share the floor a bunch this season and has been effective in training camp. Both can handle the ball, playmaker and run the offense. Both can shoot from the outside and attack the defense off the dribble. Both can serve as the de facto backup point guard while having enough size, length and versatility to play other spots. Both fit the up-tempo style the Cavs anticipate deploying this coming season.
Jerome and Jones — two of the offseason acquisitions — got more game reps while they continue to learn the ins and outs of the system. Each scored in double figures. Jerome tied for the team lead with six assists. He also showed off his deep shooting range.
Wade, who had 13 points and missed just one shot, added to his don’t-forget-about-me camp and preseason, earning praise from Bickerstaff and giving the coach plenty to ponder when it comes to the possibility of deepening his rotation from the expected nine- or 10-man setup.
“We have belief in Dean,” Bickerstaff said. “I think he’s starting to feel healthy and comfortable. In this league, belief is the main thing. Sometimes, injury gets in the way and doesn’t allow you to do the things you know you’re capable of. It causes doubt. Him being healthy, physically and mentally, you see what he’s capable of and how many different ways he can help us.”
Two-way player Craig Porter Jr., who will be one of the team leaders of the G League affiliate Charge, had his best showing, ending the night with 12 points and six assists in 20 minutes.
“I feel like a lot of it’s just been not necessarily difficult, but guarding the guys we’ve got on this team, guarding ‘em every day in practice has definitely shown me what the NBA’s about,” Porter said while reflecting on his first NBA camp. “I feel like that’s my welcome moment just because we’ve got those guys that are talented, and they can do everything.”
While Maccabi Ra’anana isn’t littered with NBA players, Monday is part of the evaluation process — for the front office and coaching staff.
Everybody wanted to see these guys play, and execute, against a different opponent unfamiliar with the system, an opponent that brings out a heightened level of competition compared to practice. Members of the front office also got a look at the end-of-roster players, as decision-makers try to determine who to keep, who to cut and who to bring back to the G League roster.
“We got out of it exactly what we wanted,” Bickerstaff said. “It was an opportunity to go out and compete. And then we played Cavalier basketball. We got after it on the defensive end. We shared the ball offensively and that’s what we were looking for.
“You need the reps, and I think guys who may not have gotten a ton of reps got their opportunities tonight.”
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Tuesday will begin the next phase of the tune-up process. Coaches have three games to evaluate and a few extra practice days before heading to Indy. While players may be ready to put those behind them and tip off the season, Bickerstaff sees this week as another valuable opportunity.
“We will take all the practice time we can get,” Bickerstaff said with a smile. “It is a short period of time with what you’re trying to implement, get done and bring guys together. We will use every day this week and the next couple leading into Wednesday to get everything we need.”
So, what’s still left to accomplish ahead of the opener?
“It’s not about questions that need to be answered. It’s reps that need to take place,” Bickerstaff said before using newbie sharpshooter Strus as an example. “Playing with a guy like Max is different than what we played with in the past. Max creates a ton of disruption with his movement.
“In the past we have been stationary. Find your spots, execute the pick and roll and then find your outlets from there. A guy as dynamic as Max, you still need to figure out how does he get to his spots and how can he continue to create that disruption as well. Just about reps, getting to play with each other and chemistry-building.”
Three games into the preseason. One remaining. Are the Cavs where they want to be?
“It’s a work in progress,” Bickerstaff said. “It’s just different. I think our guys know their foundation and base and I think all this stuff, it’s going to take time. It’s going to take game action versus different coverages and opponents before we become the best team. But our goal is always to continue to do that during the season and not peak too soon.”
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