DOMINANCE: Cleveland Cavaliers FINISH Strong as Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell CRUSH Wizards

DOMINANCE: Cleveland Cavaliers FINISH Strong as Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell CRUSH Wizards

On today’s show, the Cavs get their first NBA Cup win of the season in a blowout victory over the Washington Wizards. On Friday night, they did something important that they haven’t really done this season. That’s put a team away when they have a big lead. We’ll talk about that and everything else from Friday’s win for the Cavs on this edition of Locked on Cavs. You are Locked On Cavs, your daily Cleveland Cavaliers podcast, part of the Locked On podcast network, your team every day. Hello again everybody. I’m Danny Cunningham and I cover the Cleveland Cavaliers over at my Substack the Inside Shot. And thank you for making today’s edition of Locked on Cavs your first listen. And thank you to those of you everydayers that make Locked on Cavs your first listen each and every day. You can find the show anywhere you get your podcast. That’s Apple, that’s Spotify, that’s anywhere else. We are on YouTube as well. So, make sure you hit that thumbs up button for us as we get started here. Click the notification bell and make sure you’re subscribed to Locked on Cab so you don’t miss the latest from us here because we are a proud part of the Locked On podcast network, which is the number one sports podcast network there is. And of course, today’s show brought to you by FanDuel. Right now, new FanDuel customers can bet just $5. If your first $5 bet wins, you get $300 in bonus bets to use all across the app. Head to fanduel.com. That is f an d-l.com to get started. Today, the Cleveland Cavaliers got a 148 to 114 win in NBA Cup action on Friday night over the Washington Wizards. And this game stood out to me because of the way, not that the Cavs won, right? Like Washington is a bad team. They’re now, I believe, 1-8 on the season after losing to the Cavs on Friday night. They don’t have a lot of like remarkable talent. The Cavs would have to play their worst game of the season to lose to a Wizards team that is in the shape it currently is in. Like CJ McCollum, I think, hit six threes, I believe it was, in the first half, and that was the only reason why that game was even remotely within shouting distance for Washington. But what I think about this is that’s important is the Cavs didn’t let the Wizards back into this game because go through some of the first eight games that the Cavs have played and I think that they have played and this is going to sound probably a little worse than it’s meant to. But they have played some teams that are beneath them, right? Like the New York Knicks are not a team that are beneath the Cavs right now. The Brooklyn Nets are, right? like the Brooklyn Nets are I think the worst team in basketball um at the current juncture and that’s a team beneath the Cavs. I don’t think that’s a a disrespectful thing to say. I think you can make the case even though the Bucks have gotten off to a good start. I think Milwaukee is certainly below the Cavs. Like they are a tier if not two tiers below the Cavs. Detroit, Boston right now, Toronto, Atlanta, Philly, Washington, like all of these teams are teams that are beneath the Cavs. And when I say that, I don’t say it as if, you know, they’re not worthy of Cleveland’s respect or anything like that. But those are games that the Cavs should be winning. And the Cavs obviously have not played their best basketball so far this season. That is not a big deal because it’s November 7th as we talk about them right now. And they need to play their basketball as their best basketball as I have said in April, May, and in June. That’s what matters. That doesn’t change. But what we have seen so far this season in games against lesser teams, what happened against Brooklyn, the Cavs led, I believe, by 26 or 27 points in that game. The Nets came all the way back and got within one. You go back to the Milwaukee game. The Cavs had, I think it was an 18-point lead in that game. Milwaukee came all the way back and tied it in that game. Detroit, that’s kind of the only other one where the Cavs built a big lead in that second quarter and never let their foot off the gas. They never relinquished it. But for the most part, you can look I mean Toronto, they had a 13-point lead in that one. They lost that game. Atlanta, they only led by 14 and and the the Hawks made it close. I don’t know that that necessarily qualifies, but Philly the other night, like the Cavs led early 18 to4. And the Sixers came all the way back and had a lead in the second half. Like the one thing the Cavs have not done well this year. And I mean there are a few things that we could talk about that they have maybe not done as well as they they should, but they’ve not put teams away when they’ve built the big lead. And we can even go back to Wednesday night against Philly when the Cavs were up by 27 and the Sixers got it back within nine. Now, I don’t think the Sixers like it’s not like they were the ball bouncing away or two away from winning that game. Like I don’t think I I think that the Cavs were always going to win that game, but it was closer than it should have been. like the Cavs didn’t finish that basketball game. And I think the most encouraging thing to come out of Friday against the Wizards is that the Cavs played very well early. They didn’t have a great second quarter, but it wasn’t as if I felt like they really let the Wizards back into that game. They actually extended their lead during the quarter. They won each and every quarter on Friday night. And that to me I think is a really good sign moving forward because they didn’t let a Wizards team that like I said has no business competing with the Cavs for a win. Like the Cavs could have slept walk through this game and found a way to win because Washington is just not good. But they didn’t like they didn’t give the Wizards hope. And I think that is something that the Cavs have done a little bit too frequently so far this year. So the fact that they were able to open up a big lead, right? Like that is what they were able to do early. They led in the first half, let me find it here. They led in the first half by I don’t know where it is, but they led in the first half obviously by d they led in the first half by 17 points and they never let that slip away. like they came out strong in the third quarter and they were able to continue to push that lead further and further and further out. And it wasn’t just because, you know, Donovan Mitchell had some great game or or Darius Garland who I did think was fantastic in this game and we’re going to talk about him in segment number two, but they did so many things well offensively. They were fantastic. Like the offense looks elite right now. And that’ll tie into the Darius Garland conversation a little bit more. The role players right now are just all playing great basketball. This is what Friday night is. And I think when you watch these games, you really have to make it about the Cavaliers and not about the game itself or more accurately I guess the team they’re playing. Like even on Wednesday, the Sixers were playing their third game in four nights. They didn’t have Joel Embiid. They didn’t have Jared McCain. like the Cavs did not see the best version of Philadelphia. That doesn’t change the way that I felt about how the Cavs played that game because right now I think that things need to be so much more about who you are as a basketball team, about who you are growing into as a basketball team rather than what the opponent does. And winning of course is the goal each and every night. But I think it’s more important what do the Cavs look like? How do the Cavs operate? And I it’s very much a process over results type of thing that if you do the process well enough, the results will then follow, but you have to do the things that are going to create the result that you want rather than kind of screw things up and find a way. Like that’s not a healthy way to go about it. And I do think right now the process for the Cavs looks really, really good. I think it has looked really really good since Darius Garland has been back in the lineup for these past two games. And I don’t think that is coincidental in the slightest. I I think that is something that Darius Garland being back really gave this team some much needed juice. Like part of it was it wasn’t just Darius that was out. DeAndre had missed time. Sam Merrill had missed time. Jarrett Allen who had another fantastic game in this one had missed time. Donovan Mitchell uh missed a game. So they were without quite a few guys. It wasn’t just oh Darius Garland isn’t here. We don’t care. But I do think that mentally, and I know I talked about this on Thursday’s show, I felt like he gave them a boost and it felt like that boost carried over into Friday’s game against Washington. The way the ball moves just feels differently the way that I I mean, these were the two best games offensively that I think the Cavs have played so far this year. And it’s a small sample size and I think that there are some things that they can still do better certainly. But overall I think there’s a lot to be really really happy with how the Cavs looked on W or on Friday night. But you do have to separate it out from well they played the Wizards. Of course they won this game by 34 points. They played the Wizards. Yes, that’s true. But if you just look at what the Cavs did and not care about the opponent, this was the type of effort on Friday night that would have beaten any team in basketball. like there’s not a team in the NBA, not Oklahoma City, not New York. If the Cavs play like this, there’s not a team that’s beating them. Playing like this is obviously very, very difficult, though. The other thing that stood out that that certainly deserves a first segment mention is how great the Cavs were on the glass on Friday night. So, they collected 25 offensive rebounds as a team. 25. That is the most that they have had in a game since 2014. Jarrett Jack started for the Cavs in that game. It was a loss to the Lakers. That was a bad Lakers team. That was a LeBron is not back in Cleveland. Yet, like LeBron was still a member of the Miami Heat when the Cavs last had 25 offensive rebounds in a game. That’s how rare this is. But I thought that the fact that it was such a team effort in that area. Jared Allen was fantastic. He had eight offensive rebounds. Craig Porter Jr. had five offensive rebounds off the bench. Evan Mobley had four. Darius Garland had one. Donovan Mitchell had a couple. Jaylen Tyson, Tyresese Proctor, Larry Nance, Luke Travers, Nickon Tomlin, like all of those guys contributed in that area. And I think that the way the rebounding looked too is almost more of a thing that you want to look at what they did on the defensive glass because that to me is where the bigger issue has been. When I think when coaching staffs, when organizations look at how teams are as a rebounding group, they’re looking at how many offensive rebounds offensive rebounds are we allowing? That is the big thing because if you’re collecting all your defensive rebounds and maybe you’re not the greatest offensive rebounding team, you can live with that. But you can’t live with being a poor defensive rebounding team. So the Cavs had 32 defensive rebounds in this game against Washington. Evan Mobley had six. DeAndre Hunter had five. Jared Allen had six. Donovan had three. Jaylen Tyson had three. Sam Merrill had two. Craig Porter Jr. had none, but he had five offensive ones. Like, it is a very balanced effort. Jared Allen had 14 rebounds. And the fact that eight of them came offensively and six of them came defensively, I think is a really good sign. Like, the Cavs need to be in a place where they are not relying on just Evan, Jared, go get boards. Those two should be the the leaders in rebounds for this team. No doubt about that, but it can’t be, well, they’ve got it handled. We can figure the rest out. We don’t they don’t need help because that’s not true either. So, I thought that was a very, very positive sign. I thought overall just a very balanced output and there were a few guys that I thought were big contributors, but I do need to talk about what this Cavs team looks like right now offensively because these two past games with Darius Garland back in the lineup have been far and away the two best that the Cavs have had so far this season. We’re going to talk about that next right here on Locked on Cavs. But first, today’s show brought to you by Door Dash. The NBA season heating up and Door Dash has found the perfect way to keep fans in their bag all season long. Whether you’re watching for the highlights, your fantasy team, or just your favorite player, Door Dash makes every game night even better. Door Dash is the official ondemand delivery platform of the NBA. And they’re celebrating with something called the Backdrop. So, here’s how it works. Every time an NBA player scores 50 points in a game, Door Dash drops 50% off your order with Dash Pass the next day. And you’re automatically entered for your chance to win the ultimate fan bat. We’re talking player inspired drip, exclusive gear, and stuff that you actually want. It’s not just food. You can get everything from snacks and drinks to headphones, ice, heck, even socks, all delivered with Door Dash. They’ve got you covered for late night highlights, last minute watch parties, and double overtime fuelup. So, the next time that someone goes off for 50 or more, use the promo code NBA50. That is NBA50. The very next day to get 50% off on Door Dash with Dash Pass, plus your shot at the backdrop. Dash Pass members only. 50% off up to $10 the day after a 50 point game with promo code. Terms to apply. No purchase necessary. Ends on April 13th. Open to US residents 21 or older. Visit door-inyourbag.com for full details. Door Dash in your bag all season long. Thank you again for making this weekend edition of Locked on Cavs your first listen. And thank you for making Lock on Cavs your first listen each and every day. So the takeaway from not just Friday’s game but the past two games. So Friday against Washington and Wednesday against Philadelphia. The offense looks elite again. Defensively, have they been perfect? No, that’s fine. But offensively, they look like we expect the Cavs tool. And that to me is an important thing. It’s also important to note that I don’t think they’re hitting on all cylinders yet. Like I I I do think that there are some other areas where they can go and this was not even the complete Cavs team because Dean Wade and Lonzo Ball didn’t play in this game. So there are still certainly some things that they can still get to. But I don’t think it’s coincidental that Darius Garland comes back and the offense just looks so much better. And I talked a little bit about the emotional lift that I do think he’s provided, but I think the ball movement just overall the Cavs are having possessions that are resulting in great shots that they weren’t having frequently enough prior to Garland return. It the ball felt like it got sticky or it felt like guys weren’t moving the same amount that they are right now. And I think that is a really really important thing to keep in mind as we watch this Cavs team. There were possessions and I know I highlighted them over at my substack from Wednesday’s game and I’m sure I will from Friday’s game too where the ball just the ball has a really great energy with the Cavs when it’s moving that way. Like that is what we all think of as Cavs basketball and I thought that was on display on Friday night. Now Washington again is not good. You have to do a good job, I think, when you’re evaluating these games of separating the game from who the Cavs are playing because right now it’s so much more about who the Cavs are and who the Cavs are trying to be. But over the past two games, the Cavs have an offensive rating of 133. They were 26th in offense entering Wednesday night. It is 133 right now. I’m not going to say where they rank amongst the league leaders because I’m recording this at 11 o’clock Friday night. So, there are games still going on. Like, that will be a number that I will want to look at Saturday. I’ll probably talk about that on Monday’s show where they rank offensively after these games. And I don’t know if Darius Garland is going to play on Saturday against Chicago in the second night of a back-to-back. I I do not know that information as I record this on Friday night. So, we will have to wait and see. But the way the Cavs have looked offensively reminds me of who the Cavs were last year. This two-game stretch is the second most points the Cavs have ever scored in a two-game stretch. They’ve scored 280 points between Friday and Wednesday. That’s really, really good. The only time they had more points in a two-game stretch was last January when they had 281 against Dallas in Atlanta. If you remember back to that Dallas game, that was the day after the Mavericks traded away Luca Donic. though I I don’t know that that was I actually think that one probably said more about where the Mavericks were than the Cavs at that point. But watching the ball move, watching it find the right guys over and over again, I think is what this Cavs offense is supposed to be. And the offensive rebounding, as I talked about, was really nice. Like that’s a nice factor and something that the Cavs can’t count on. Like if you go more than a decade without having 25 offensive rebounds, you certainly can’t count on that being a regular occurrence. Can they be better than they have been? Yes. But they’re not going to be like I would be surprised if they have a night this year that they exceed 25 offensive rebounds. I’m going to guess that this is a season high as a team, but they can be better than they had been. And I do think that if they’re in their offensive flow, it’s going to lead to those little things that the Cavs want to be better at being better because what Darius Garland has done over his first two games this year, he’s made the Cavs look more comfortable. And I know I talked on yesterday’s show about how Evan Mobley has looked so much more comfortable with Darius Garland on the floor. And I just think that he is he is somebody that I think has set a tone. Darius, this is I think he has set a tone that the ball is going to move. We’re going to play basketball the right way offensively. We are going to generate great shots. We don’t need to have Donovan Mitchell pound the basketball on the floor. We don’t need to have Evan Mobley go isolation from 22 feet and try and get a good look. We are going to do things the right way. I think that is what Darius Garland’s play has said over the first two games that he’s been in. I think that’s a really big deal. And I think yes, Darius didn’t have a great game statistically on Wednesday. He had a very good game on Friday night. He had 20 points and and nine assists. He was much better on Friday night than he was on Wednesday night. And I don’t think, as I said on Thursday, I don’t think it was fair to expect Darius to come out and just immediately have a great game, but he looked much more like Darius Garland in this game. And I think that is a very encouraging thing. I think in the two games that he’s played so far, I think that he’s looked really, really good. I also did like that the Cavs were able to play their starting five for the first time this year. I imagine that when if the Cavs are healthy when the playoffs arrive, this is what their starting group is going to look like. If everybody is healthy, this is what I anticipate their starting lineup to be throughout the course of the regular season. So that’s Garland, that’s Mitchell, that’s DeAndre Hunter, who was back after being out with an illness on Wednesday, Evan Mobley and Jared Allen. Those five started. I thought they looked great together. DeAndre didn’t have the greatest of games. Um I do wonder if he’s still getting over a sickness and maybe that contributed to it. Like he only had eight points in 21 minutes on two of nine shooting, but he was still a plus 16. And that was the lowest plus minus in that starting five. And plus minus doesn’t always tell the whole story. I have said that a hundred times and I’ll say it 100 more. But sometimes it feels like it does. Jared Allen plus 27 felt like it. Evan Mobley plus 21. Darius Garland plus 24, Donovan Mitchell plus 23. Like those guys, that group and yes, Washington is not good, but they still have some solid players in their starting lineup. And the Cavs just absolutely blitzed them. CJ McCollum in this game was a minus 29 in 27 minutes. And I think that says more about where the Cavs starters are at. And I talked on yesterday’s show about how good the starting lineup for the Cavs was last year in a very small sample size because that’s what it was. It was a very, very small sample size because that group played fewer than 100 possessions together during the regular season last year. That is something that I think it’s fair to say they will play more than that this year. But for them to in their first game together this year, they played 14 minutes. That starting five played 14 minutes together. They had a net rating of 54. They had an offensive rating of 148.4 and a defensive rating of 98.3. That’s a good place to be. That’s not what it’s always going to be. They’re going to have nights that are not as good as this one. But I think that the first two games Darius Garland has played have been a very, very good start for Darius Garland. And I think that the first game that the starting lineup played together is a very, very good start for the starting lineup. Now, there were a couple of other guys that I thought were very impressive in this game. We’re going to talk about Sam Merrill. We’re going to talk about Jaylen Tyson next right here on Locked on Cavs. But first, today’s show is brought to you by FanDuel. The NBA is back, and there’s no better place to get in on the action than with FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Even if you miss the start of a game or if you just want to ride the hot hand, FanDuel has live bets on everything from who will score next to fourth quarter comebacks. Plus, you can even combine your live bets into a same game parlay for your shot at a bigger payout. Maybe in the Cavs were favored by 13 a half against the Wizards on Friday night, which was the largest spread in the NBA for Friday. Um, that was one that you look at and say, “Yeah, the Cavs are probably going to cover there.” But it it’s almost like how high can you go? like is this something that maybe you want to adjust the line if you can if you can get them on an alternate line and take the Cavs I don’t know minus like 32 and a half and find a way to win there you can do that with FanDuel FanDuel is the place to be their America’s number one sports book and right now if you’re a new FanDuel customer you can bet $5 and if that first $5 bet hits you get $300 in bonus bets right $300 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins so head to FanDuel.com that is fann due.com to sign up and play your game with FanDuel the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Today’s show is also brought to you by Prize Picks. You and I, we make decisions every single day. What to eat, what to wear, what time to record the podcast at, all of them. We make decisions every single day. But on prize picks, being right with those decisions can get you paid. So, don’t miss any of the excitement this sports season because whether you’re following NFL, NBA, both, maybe some other stuff that’s going on. There’s no better time to jump in on the action. And if you haven’t tried it yet, Prize Picks is the simplest way to play. Just pick more or less on at least two player stats, and if you get them right, you win. It takes less than 60 seconds to make your lineup, and you can play anywhere Prize Picks operates, including California, Texas, and Georgia. Plus, the new stacks features a game changer because you can now pick more on Steph Curry’s points, threes, and assists all in the same lineup. Plus, if one of your players leaves early with an injury, the injury reboot saves your lineup from it being a loss. So, download the prize picks app today and use code locked on NBA. That is L O C D O NA to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. That is code locked on NBA for $50 in lineups after your first $5 lineup. Prize picks. It’s good to be right. Thank you again for making today’s edition of Lock on Cavs your first watch on YouTube. And if you are watching right now, do us a favor, hit that thumbs up button for us, click subscribe, and hit that notification bell so you don’t miss the latest locked on Cavs content. I thought Sam Merrill was fantastic, particularly in the first half of this game. And this continues who Sam has been so far this year for the Cavs. And the thing that is always going to stand out with Sam is how good of a shooter he is. And I do think that part of the reason why he had a shooting percentage from beyond the arc that he did last year, which was, I think, below his standard is he’s taking some really tough shots. But I think that there are a couple of ways this year that we have seen him start to not remove those difficult shots from his diet because they are still there. But I think that he looks to me like somebody who’s so much more comfortable doing the pump fake and one dribble or the two dribbles and step back. It feels so far and I thought that this was really on display on Friday night. It feels so far like he is more comfortable audibling out of the difficult shot into a more palatable shot. So, think of this like he’s a young quarterback in the NFL. And coaches, offensive coordinators, play callers, whatever, don’t necessarily trust said young quarterback with making calls at the line, with changing the play after the huddle is broken. They want guys that will operate the offense the way that they operate. They want the offense to be operated. And I think for part of Sam’s career, it was I’m going to catch and I’m going to shoot. I’m going to come off the screen. I’m going to catch the ball. I’m going to let it fly because that’s what I’m really really good at. And it’s not that he didn’t have the autonomy to do the things that he’s doing now. Uh certainly last year with Kenny Atinson, he did. Prior to that, I’m not so sure. Um, but it’s not that he didn’t have the autonomy to do these things, but he looks to me like somebody that is so much more comfortable taking a pump fake and dribbling and resetting or getting inside the ark and then stepping back outside the arc. Like there was one three that he hit. I believe it was his fourth one from the left wing. And it’s just like, you know what, I don’t know that Sam was making that shot or even attempting that shot. He probably in previous years would have taken a more heavily contested three-pointer, kind of forced it, and yes, is he capable of making those? Absolutely, because he’s one of the best shooters on the planet in my opinion. But I think that the ways that he’s able to get to the looks that he wants to get to is more expansive this year than it has been in the past. And I don’t think that Sam has come in as a better shooter suddenly than he was before. like he’s not making more shots this year because he just like unlocked something. I think that he unlocked if anything a way to find himself some easier shots that I just don’t know that he had before and I think that has been a really cool thing to watch so far this season. The other guy that I briefly wanted to touch up to two other guys I want to talk about real quick. Jaylen Tyson who again was very very good in this game. He just kind of I think has become a quietly a pretty good outside shooter. He hit two of the three threes that he took. He had 10 points in this game. Still has like the the loose ball foul that happened 94 feet actually probably further than that because it was in the corner away from the basket the Cavs were defending. Um like that stuff does need to get cleaned up. But I do think that having taking risks like that in these situations not that bad of an idea. So I do think that he has had an impact in a lot of different areas. I I I look at this and say if Jaylen wasn’t making shots right now at the clip that he’s making shots, is he doing enough to still warrant playing time? And I think he is. I think the fact all of the other activity that he has, the I know he didn’t have very many on Friday. He had one steal, didn’t have a block, but it feels like he’s doing that a lot this year. The rebounding aspect, I think he’s been a very good playmaker so far for the Cavs this year. Had a couple of assists on Friday night. Like I think even if the shot’s not falling, which it obviously is, if the shot’s not falling, I still think he’s been an NBA player and that’s a really really good sign. And then Tyres Proctor, the other guy I wanted to talk about, he had 17 points in 18 minutes. He had five threes, which for a second round rookie to two and a half weeks into his career be comfortable enough stepping into a game. And yes, I know a lot of this came in mop-up duty. It’s not like the He did play as part of the rotation. He got minutes in the first half. So, it’s not as if all of this came when the game was out of reach, but for him to even in mop-up duty enter an NBA game two and a half weeks into his career after being 49 overall in the draft and light it up the way that he did, I thought that was a really, really impressive thing. And the the one thing with him too, it always feels and this is a tough spot to be in for who he is as a basketball player right now and and more so the situation he’s in as a basketball player right now. It always feels like the longer he’s on the basketball floor, the better he gets. He doesn’t necessarily come into the game and is good right away. feels to me like somebody that needs to sort of find a rhythm early in their first shift and that doesn’t always doesn’t always happen. So, I do think it’s been interesting to watch like if he gets multiple runs in a game, that second run, I think every time so far this year has been better than the first one. So, that is something to keep an eye on. But I I don’t look at him as somebody that should or will be in the rotation when the Cavs are at full strength because of how good that rotation is. But I look at him and say he is somebody that is good enough to be in an NBA rotation right now. It might not be the Cavs right now, but he looks to me like somebody that is certainly a future piece to this team. And I thought that Friday night against the Wizards was an encouraging sign as far as that goes. Now, the Cavs are back in action tonight at home against the Chicago Bulls. We don’t have an injury report. Don’t know who will be available. Lonzo Bal did not play in this game on Friday, so you presume that he will be back in action on Saturday because he’s not playing back to back. So, the Cavs opted to sit him in the first night of this backtoback. Don’t know if Darius Garland is going to play or not. That will be the thing to watch for when the injury report does come out sometime early in the afternoon on Saturday. Um, I will not be at this game. This is, as of right now, the only Cavs home game this year that I think I won’t be at. Um, my wife and I are going out of town for the night. So, I will not be at this game. There will not be an episode of Locked on Cavs for you first thing tomorrow morning. I might have one Sunday afternoon, Sunday evening. Will definitely have one first thing for you Monday morning. The whipound also should be back on Monday as well. And then the Cavs take on the Miami Heat Monday and Wednesday in Miami. I will be on the road. We’ll be at both of those games, so we’ll have plenty to talk about from those. But as we get out of here, do us a favor, hit the thumbs up button for us, click subscribe, and hit that notification bell so you don’t miss the latest lockdown Cavs content. And I will be back on Monday talking more about the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Cleveland Cavaliers blow out the Washington Wizards with a dominant 148-114 NBA Cup win and, for the second time this season, never let their lead slip away.
Danny Cunningham spotlights the Cavs’ offensive resurgence with Darius Garland’s return, emphasizing improved ball movement and elite scoring. The podcast covers Jarrett Allen’s monster night on the glass, strong performances from Sam Merrill and Jaylon Tyson, and the importance of balanced effort beyond the stars. Plus, analysis of the Cavs’ starting five chemistry, potential lineup shifts, and upcoming challenges against the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat.
Check out Danny’s Substack, The Inside Shot: https://theinsideshot.substack.com/
Email the show: LOCavsmailbag@gmail.com
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
DoorDash
Next time someone goes off for 50, use promo code NBA50 the next day to get 50% off on DoorDash with DashPass — plus your shot at the Bag Drop.
DashPass members only. 50% off up to $10 the day after a 50-point game with promo code. Terms apply.
No Purchase Necessary. Ends April 13th. Open to U.S. residents 21 or older. Visit DoorDashInYourBag.com for full details.
DoorDash — In your bag all season long.
Robinhood
You expect more from yourself. Expect more from your money. Get started today at robinhood.com/yourmoney. Your money. Your move.
All investments involve risk, including loss of principal. Options, futures, and crypto trading carry significant risk and may not suit all investors. Securities offered through Robinhood Financial LLC, member SIPC. Futures trading is offered by Robinhood Derivatives, LLC and not SPIC or FDIC protected. Crypto offered through Robinhood Crypto, LLC (NMLS ID 1702840), not FDIC or SIPC protected. Portfolio management offered by Robinhood Strategies, an SEC-registered advisor.
Gametime
Today’s episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.
FanDuel
Right now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting https://FanDuel.com to get started
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOCavs?sid=YouTube

Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More
🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNBA

#Cavs #ClevelandCavaliers #NBA