Answering Your Cavs Questions: Oct. 26, 2023

Spencer Davies answers Cleveland Cavaliers' fans questions following the team's thrilling 114-113 win over the Brooklyn Nets on the road.

Welcome to Cavs Questions! In this daily mailbag, Spencer Davies will respond to fans’ curiosities surrounding the Cleveland Cavaliers throughout the duration of the 2023-24 season. In order to submit yours, simply send your questions on X to @SpinDavies or via email at spindavies22@gmail.com.

Talk about a wild way to tip off the season! The Cavs went into Barclays Center and literally ripped a victory away from the Brooklyn Nets 114-113 to get off to a 1-0 start. Let’s talk about it, shall we?

Was this Isaac Okoro’s best game as a Cavalier? - @WillSD3V

That wasn’t a question I was expecting, but I’m glad you brought it up. Typically, I don’t glance at the box score until postgame, and I wouldn’t have guessed 18 points, six rebounds and four assists in the stat sheet. We’ve seen Isaac Okoro have some solid performances in the past, including game-sealing thefts, big-time stops and clutch moments. Although they’ve come inconsistently, they have happened, so I don’t know if I’d go that far.

Stepping up as a starter in the first game of the season and guarding Mikal Bridges the way he did, that is commendable. He was blowing screens up as per usual on the defensive end, refusing to lose his assignments. Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff called upon Okoro to slow down a red-hot Cam Thomas on the last possession of the game, and he forced a give-up.

Oct 25, 2023; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas (24) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro (35) during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center.  / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

We’ve addressed this being a prove-it year for Okoro after he didn’t get a rookie contract extension and how this quicker pace could help him thrive. He attacked off the dribble well, had some nice passes and the season-opener certainly looked promising for him. Let’s watch for how he adjusts toggling between starting and coming off the bench once Jarrett Allen returns.

Why does Evan Mobley’s game still look the exact same? You’d think he would have added some strength and been playing tougher by now. - @JacobRobert0806

With such high expectations coming out of training camp, many were expecting Evan Mobley to come out with a vengeance in his first game. It’s understandable. Let’s not pull the “soft” card just yet. He and Nic Claxton were battling on the glass all night and both weren’t really to find mismatches on the offensive end. He’s also not the Cavs’ usual starting 5-man, keep that in mind too.

Mobley also got into some foul trouble early and never was able to establish a rhythm. He had some nice attacks off the dribble, including a nifty floater over the top. He’s still a once-in-a-lifetime defender in terms of the ground he covers and how quickly he gets off the ground. His block on Claxton’s attempted putback was one of those moments we have to understand the level of difficulty more. Claiming key rebounds is big time too.

Bickerstaff and the Cavs as a whole are big believers, and for good reason. It will come.

What are your thoughts on the late-game execution? We had some bad stretches in the game but the defense stepped up when it mattered. - @WillSD3V

Hey, at least there were no inbound violations or mishaps. We know those have been a thorn in the side for a while in critical situations.

Offensively, the Cavs ultimately stagnated. If you watch around the league, most of the bogged down possessions come in the fourth quarter under two or three minutes. It’s not just a Cleveland issue. Guys get gassed, but you do have to execute fatigued and take care of the basketball. Honestly, I thought once Royce O’Neale hit that corner three after Donovan Mitchell tied the game on that ridiculous move to the cup, it might’ve been curtains. 

But that’s on me for forgetting about how good the defensive intensity can be and Mitchell’s will to win.

Everybody could tell once Mitchell started knocking down his shots that Brooklyn started to rush. He ripped the ball away from a handoff attempt and got an easy deuce. Aside from his record-setting night of threes, Max Strus had a great closeout on Cam Johnson and blocked a shot that led to a nice transition chance that led to a pair of free throws. Then, that defensive possession where Mitchell didn’t leave Bridges’ side and nearly forced a shot-clock violation was unbelievable and the best of the night. (And that foul was absolutely a bail-out.)

As the basketball gods would have it, Mitchell nailed a dagger with 12 seconds and change in the game. (If you noticed, Dorian Finney-Smith had to worry just enough about Strus on the left wing to help Donovan get the look he wanted; last year, that's totally a double team with a contested shot.) 

Then, as I said in your other question, Okoro made it extremely difficult on Thomas. The Nets never got the shot they wanted.

Complementary hoops down the stretch on the road in crunch time — that’s a good sign in my book.

When is Jarrett Allen coming back? - @DaveCavSteelers

Well, originally I thought that the Cavs wouldn't have a practice until next week because of the three-games-in-four-nights stretch to open the season. It was a surprise that they were holding a practice or a walkthrough at all on Thursday, especially traveling from Brooklyn late last night after a win. 

Who knows how hard the coaching staff wants to go a day before a weekend back-to-back at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers. This might be a light day at the facility with more focus on film. It does, though, give Allen another opportunity to get up to speed.

Did Jarrett Allen practice today for the #Cavs?

J.B. Bickerstaff: “That’s a good question.”

Who knows what tomorrow looks like in Brooklyn, but here’s JA getting some work in after Tuesday’s session. pic.twitter.com/bPblLgHbNy

— Spencer Davies (@SpinDavies) October 24, 2023

We know that Bickerstaff is adamant on ensuring Allen is 100 percent before he returns to the floor so he isn't yanked back and forth from the court and the injury report. The good news is he was doing more after practices this week.

Maybe that happens this weekend? If not, the New York Knicks on Halloween makes the most logical sense. We'll see.