Recap: Cavs 101, Lakers 95 (or, Turkish Delight)

How sweet was that? For those of who stayed up and tuned in, you were treated to a late night snack. A delicious confection of poetic justice. A sugar coated victory if ever there was one. That’s right, despite my decidedly bitter game thread introduction, the oft-beleaguered Cavaliers served up a candied assortment of just desserts for everyone… from the Lakers and their fans to the doubters and curmudgeons with any sort of previously unsatiated sweet tooth for progress. It was enough to please the palate (at least for one dreary night in early January), and quash the bad taste of a near month long 12 game losing streak. After all, if this dismal season is the medicine that will eventually help revitalize and strengthen the Cavs in the long run, then games like this one are the spoonfuls of sugar that help us swallow that reality down.

From a certain perspective, this was a bit of sweet revenge for the few former teammates whom LeBron James left behind. Guys like Tristan Thompson, Kevin Love and Matthew Dellavedova who won a title with the King. Guys like Rodney Hood, Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance who played with him last year (the last two of which were even traded away by these Lakers). From another perspective, the game was a bit of a sampler for LeBron to see what goodies he might have missed out on… like Collin Sexton, the rookie point guard and designated Kyrie replacement, or maybe the young protege the Chosen One left behind in Cedi Osman. Actually, yes… come to think of it… if there was one piece of candy LBJ could have taken with him from the Cleveland dish, it might very well have been the Turkish delight.

Cedi was the inspiration for theme of this recap, not because he was the only Cav who performed well in a featured game (though he did lead the team in scoring with 20 points), but because he seems to reserve his best games for his mentor. The padawan becomes the jedi when playing against (or in front of) the master and his new team. It’s clear LeBron also still has a sweet spot for Cedi, since he invited the young Turk to his star-studded training sessions this past summer, and reportedly stays in contact. Though Bron might be troubled by the struggles of his young Laker teammates, he must be proud of the strides Osman is starting to take.

The game itself really began and (almost) ended with Cedi. He was truly delightful early on, scoring eight of the Cavs’ first 13 points, with four straight buckets. He and the Cavs hit just about every shot they took in the first quarter (58%), as they built a lead as large as 15 by the nine minute mark. Sexton chipped in seven (including his lone triple), and both Hood and Alec Burks drained threes and tallied five points a piece. For a change, the starting five were the gooey center that kept things cohesive from the outset. Meanwhile, the young Lakers threw up an assortment of ill-advised shots and wide open bricks alike. The Cavs led 32-24 after one.

CEDI IS FEELING IT!@CediOsman with a quick 8 points in 6 minutes.#CavsLakers @FOXSportsOH #BeTheFight pic.twitter.com/AOmTFFdSNz

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) January 14, 2019

After a Delly trey to kick off the second quarter, the Lakers woke up a bit and turned on the defensive intensity. They forced the Cavs into a couple of turnovers, including a shot clock violation, and both Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma hit shots to close the gap. It was a low scoring quarter (22-19 Lakers), with both teams scrapping for loose balls, hustling on defense, but also missing a ton of shots (they went a combined 15-55 from beyond the arc for the game). This was Rodney Hood’s time to shine, though, as he scored almost half (nine) of the team’s 19 points. Every time the Lakers got the lead down to three, Hood had a counter. At halftime, the Cavs still led 51-46. 

Also, even though they didn’t score on this play, here’s the highlight of the quarter… TT’s sweet behind the back move…

Now you see it.
Now you don't.#CavsLakers | #BeTheFight

WATCH: https://t.co/XU8GJw0dRb pic.twitter.com/x2pBfC5QqU

— Bally Sports Cincinnati (@BallySportsCIN) January 14, 2019

The Cavs starting five once again showed up in the third to keep the Lakers at arms length. Even though LA took advantage of a couple of wine & gold miscues coming out of the half to close to within a point, Alec Burks drained a three, kicking of an 8-0 Cavalier response. It ended with another Cedi triple, and he spun his way to a seven point quarter. Tristan Thompson was also much more of a force on the glass in the second half, as he often helped limit the Lakers to one shot and had a couple of put backs. The Lakers continued to build their own rock candy mountain of missed threes, which helped the Cavs maintain a 10 point cushion at the end of the third… 75-65.

Most of the fourth quarter was a glacé reflection of the third. Each time the Lakers started to cut into the Cavs’ double digit lead, the Cavs would make terrific plays and hit timely shots to push it back. There was another Cedi three, two fantastic dimes by Delly (one for an open layup to Clarkson, and one of the old Commonwealth high handoffs to TT), and the hustle play of the game by the Bandit…

AB with the ❗❗❗❗#CavsLakers | #BeTheFight

WATCH: https://t.co/XU8GJw0dRb pic.twitter.com/KZo7OH3Yt2

— Bally Sports Cincinnati (@BallySportsCIN) January 14, 2019

Collin Sexton even beat a guy off the dribble (okay, it was Kentavious Caldwell-Pope… but still!). Unfortunately, the Cavs got themselves into the penalty about three minutes into the frame, allowing the Lakers the opportunity to stop the clock to catch up at the line. At least, they would have if they could have. Instead, the purple & gold bricked almost half of their freebies for the game (16-27 for 59%). Turns out, those 11 points could have really helped them…

The Cavs still held a 10 point lead with just over two minutes to play, but that’s when Kuzma really started heating up. He had been 0-5 from downtown for most of the game, but drilled two triples in the final minute plus. Kuzma also pulled a fairly egregious flop on another attempt that got him to the line in that same stretch. The Laker forward scored 18 of his game high 29 points in the final quarter, cutting the lead to three twice in the last 25 seconds. The last bucket came after Cedi almost ruined my plan to use this Turkish delight theme by missing a pair of free throws that probably would have clinched the game.

In the end, both Alec Burks and Rodney Hood made their contributions from the charity stripe to put the icing on this sweet victory.

The Bitter:

Most of the sour taste from this game was reserved for the Lakers. They and their fans are getting a dose of what life is like when you depend on LeBron, but LeBron is not available. Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka may believe they have done it all differently by putting playmakers around LBJ instead of shooters, yet nights like this show the potential for folly in that line of thinking. The Lakers shot an abysmal 7-34 (20%) from deep, and just 39% overall. Combine that with the 59% from the free throw line, and it’s a recipe for disaster.

A healthy LeBron will no doubt still make the Lakers a contender for a playoff spot in the crowded West, which is why they are probably erring on the side of caution with his groin injury. Better to stay out a few extra games than return too soon and make it worse. That said, losing to LeBron’s old team (which also happens to be the team with the worst record in the NBA), and not being able to break a hundred (against a team that had just surrendered back to back 140 point games), could lead to some impatience and possibly even some changes for the Lakers.

The only slightly sour note for the Cavs was the overall bench play. Granted, they weren’t counted on for much, since the starters played well enough to secure the bulk of the minutes. Really only Delly with his two highlight assists, and Clarkson with a couple of timely buckets, contributed much. Ante Zizic and Jaron Blossomgame seemed overmatched in their short stints, and I barely noticed Cam Payne in his six minutes.

The Sweet:

The starters were terrific. All five not only scored in double digits, but also had at least 15 points a piece. They accounted for 87 of the 101 points scored, and all shot close to 50% from the field.

Cedi Osman had clear confidence in his shot, but also made a concerted effort to attack the rim, playing one of his better all-around games of the season. In addition to his 20 points, he snagged eight rebounds, two steals and had one assist. He’s had six games of at least 20 points this season… and two of them have been against the Lakers.

Collin Sexton had a decent shooting night (7-14), while also chipping in three boards, three dimes and a steal. More importantly, he had two plays that showed some promising progress. In the first, he drove the baseline and kicked out to an open Clarkson for a three…

The @cavs are on 🔥 so far!#CavsLakers | #BeTheFight

STREAM: https://t.co/XU8GJw0dRb pic.twitter.com/n84OVEEHzF

— Bally Sports Cincinnati (@BallySportsCIN) January 14, 2019

And, in the second, he dribble drove past KCP for the layup…

GET 'EM ROOK!#BeTheFight @FOXSportsOH pic.twitter.com/So24OKXL1J

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) January 14, 2019

Tristan started slow, but in the second half he got to the chewy center of the paint. TT finished with yet another double double (15 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks), and essentially neutralized the Laker big men of JaVale McGee and Iva Zubac (combined seven points and 10 boards).

Alec Burks had a tremendous all-around game with 17 points, 13 rebounds and four assists. He also had my favorite play of the game with his victimization of McGee on his steal and subsequent slam to put the Cavs up eight late. His energy level was off the charts.

Rodney Hood also had a good shooting game (18 points on 6-14 shooting) even though he was less accurate with his three ball (1-5). He took on the scoring mantle in the second quarter when Clarkson couldn’t buy a shot, and also cooly sank the final free throws.

The Delight:

I take great joy in paradoxically predicting doom and gloom for the Cavs in game threads, and then having them jam those words down my throat. Especially when I’m not being entirely ironic about it. The previous two games of hemorrhaging 140 points to the likes of the Pelicans and Rockets really gave me little hope that they could hold the fast-paced Lakers (even sans LeBron) under the century mark. The last thing I felt like doing on a gloomy Sunday night in Los Angeles was watch the Cavs get pasted by LeBron’s new team on national television. And, that’s why this victory is so sweet. It was an unexpected pleasure. A respite from the funeral march to Zion. A sugary end to a 12 game losing streak that seemingly had no end in sight.

In the end, this victory won’t likely cost this team a shot at the top pick… though it might be the kind of game that threatens to cost the Lakers a shot at the post-season. More than anything, however, it provides a welcome reminder that we do have some young talent on this team who are taking small steps forward.

Isn’t that delightful?