The Cleveland Cavaliers went wire-to-wire on the way to a blowout victory against the Memphis Grizzlies, 112-89. The Cavaliers were led by LeBron James, who put up his eleventh triple-double of the campaign in only three quarters. Cleveland was also helped out by the four new Cavs as they all finished with double digits in the win.
Let’s take a look at the three takeaways from the Friday night victory:
1. Another Triple-Double For The King- LeBron James put on another show in the hometown of the King Of Rock And Roll, Elvis Presley. Though LeBron and company only have one annual trip to Memphis, he continues to make it worthwhile when he does take the court at FedEx Forum. James finished with eighteen points, fourteen rebounds, and eleven assists in thirty-seven minutes of action. Throughout his time on the floor, LeBron found teammates early on and found himself sprinting past the defense multiple times in the first half. LeBron is playing the most energized he’s been since the 2016 NBA Finals. He has a group full of game-changing younger guys and smart veterans and feels good about his championship chances.
2. Larry Nance Jr. Continues To Earn Respect And Fan Love- Larry Nance Jr. is becoming the newest fan favorite for Cleveland fans due to his hustle and athleticism. Nance Jr. knows how to captivate a crowd with an awe-inspiring dunk while also crashing the boards, giving fans a hard-working player to get behind on their team. Tonight, Nance Jr. put together a very solid body of work.
While playing off the bench again, the young forward put up fifteen points and eight rebounds in twenty-seven minutes of play. Nance Jr. created some second-chance opportunities for his teammates and was the hardest working guy on the floor. If teams cannot contain the rambunctious and energetic style of play utilized by Nance Jr., the Cavs should think about inserting him into the starting unit.
3. Hill’s Best Game In Wine And Gold- George Hill put up a nice eighteen points in thirty-four minutes of play on Friday, his Cavalier-high in points up to this point. Though Hill was not very active in the passing game against Memphis, he stepped into shots and found a way to score in a number of ways. Hill only went 1-for-4 from long range so he looked for other ways to get on the board and become a problem on offense. That led to some mid-range knockdowns and better looks for Hill thanks in part to LeBron’s dominant night and the help of the other new Cavaliers. Hill’s aggressive nature led to making seven out of eight free throws attempted in the contest.
With Jordan Clarkson commanding the second unit with Rodney Hood and Larry Nance Jr., it speaks to the veteran leadership of George Hill for him to come in and start for Cleveland. So far, he’s made Tyronn Lue and company look smart for playing him at the starting point guard role.
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