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

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

1. The Streak is now 15 in a row to open the season. It’s not as if the Cavs were playing their stars big minutes to keep The Streak alive. But the Cavs have been careful. 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’d like to keep their star at 32 or fewer minutes in most games.

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

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4. Then coach Kenny Atkinson turned to Ty Jerome to start. Did anyone believe at the start of the season that when Mitchell didn’t start, 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 excellent play.”

6. All Jerome did was respond 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 is averaging 9.8 points. He’s shooting a stunning 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 is very aware of teammates, especially looking 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 total minutes. In 2022-23 with Golden State, Jerome averaged 6.8 points in 19 minutes a game, shooting 49% from the field (39% on 3-pointers). He has been productive before. You can’t underestimate this quiet signing by the Koby Altman front office in the summer of 2023.

9. While I’ve dwelled on Jerome, this was a game that belonged to the big men. Charlotte plays at almost an insane pace, firing up 3-pointers from anywhere within 28 feet of the rim. Nearly every member of the Hornets shoots them. Charlotte averages 43 shots from 3-point range per game. Only Boston (51 shots) is taking more 3-pointers per game.

10. But the Hornets had no size to match 7-footers Jarrett Allen and Mobley. Allen was incredible, scoring 21 points on only seven field goal attempts. That’s because he was often fouled going to the rim, 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 hauled in 11 rebounds. Allen and Mobley were why the Cavs scored 60 points in the paint. They could have scored even more if the Cavs had been more intentional and patient about getting them the ball.

12. Confession time: I’m starting to take Darius Garland’s great play for granted, especially in the fourth quarter. The Cavs had a 112-105 lead with six minutes left. Charlotte had them scrambling and a bit worried. Then Garland scored nine points in the next four minutes (Jerome added a 3-pointer), and the Cavs took the game over with a 124-109 lead with 1:32 left. Then Charlotte pulled its 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 has a great, great basketball I.Q. … He has the whole package.”

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

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 to a zone defense. He said the Cavs used it about 85% of the time in the fourth quarter. It’s a rarity for them, although he pulled it in Friday’s victory 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’re shooting like crazy … shooting the 3-ball great … this is a really deep team … about every player we have can pretty much 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 during 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’s moving better defensively. Atkinson has called Niang “the ultimate connector” because of how the veteran keeps the ball moving with his passing.

20. I know Cavs TV 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 handling the visual. This is Cleveland, not Chapel Hill, N.C.

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) now is ahead of them. Next stop is Boston’s T.D. Garden on Tuesday night.