Cleveland Cavaliers All-Access – The Road Back – Season 6, Episode 2: Resilience

Cleveland Cavaliers All-Access – The Road Back – Season 6, Episode 2: Resilience

And I’m in the home of [Music] [Applause] [Music] the long time pacer miles. This game unfolds. Whoa. It looked like Yiannis Darren Allen and then he got rejected by Evan. Did not go by. by Evan Mo, but too far out on the floor. Evan such an excellent defender in space off happened. So been good defensively so far. They’ve made some tough shots. That’s a tough shot by Evan Moy. I like the shot to Wade. Wade bursts around Giannis. Tyson Merrill eventually knocks it down. Lonzo ball with the into the back court. Donovan. Mitchell has to track it down. 30 seconds to go. Race it on Porter. Go off the window. He missed it. Allen’s there to keep it alive. He spun Sims around and Allen banks and scores. Nice job by Jared Allen getting in there. A little hard-nosed basketball. What a move by Donna. Just absolutely [Applause] [Music] at home. How did you guys respond to the the home crowd? Yeah, I thought they helped us, you know, really, especially when we were struggling there, you know, in the fourth quarter. Um, helped us. Um, you know, we needed an emotional lift. We’re a little down. They make make a big run, but the crowd crowd uplifted us. Um, I thought it was huge. You know, I don’t I don’t know if you get this win if you’re on the road [Music] and fires a three in the air. He’ll fire balls there. Big time play by Lonzo. Ball run. Donovan in towards Cord. Donovan Mitchell and the champ for the three-point ball for three. Hey big possession. Donovan Mitchell mid-range. [Applause] Through [Music] the first three games, you guys kind of pinpointed some struggles that you have had. How important is it to identify those this early into the season and you guys try to clean that up? Oh, absolutely. I mean, this is one where you’re a little more anxious going to the tape, going to the film, just to just to figure out um h how how we can be better and how how I can um adjust the lineups better. Um who fits with whom, um you know, what sets are we running with each lineup. Um we we still have a lot to um a lot to improve on, a lot to learn about with this with this team. Um but that’s it. Yes, sir. Good job [Music] of the free. [Music] I know you obviously would prefer to not be dealing with all the injuries you’re dealing with right now, but how does the opportunity for the younger guys that they have now be something that can pay off down the road for you guys? Yeah, Dan, that’s where I am. Um and and it so it’s it’s um definitely opportunity for young guys and got you know maybe um maybe if we’re fully healthy don’t get the chance and this is the best way to see them in real real NBA games, high stakes games, uh cup game. I mean, we we can get a great evaluation and I can get a better feel and then down the line, you know, obviously hopefully when we’re we’re healthy down the line, you you you feel feel more confident of what role they should um play and and I I also think that that also um you know, we also get to look at um you know, our main players and and obviously their their roles have to you know, that their their usage goes up and um I think of Evan in particular like It’s it’s, you know, there’s growing pains there. It’s just just what it is. Um, some really good stuff and and some stuff that he’s seeing like, oh man, I’m you I’m in the paint now and they’re swarming me and they’re coming with three guys like he hasn’t seen that before. You know, you just got Spacian and Darius and and Don out there, Sam or Max. So, it’s like, okay, now I got to figure this puzzle out. So, I think I think through this little stretch, win, lose, play well, don’t play well, we’re we’re we’re we’re getting some um really good um good evaluation and and guys get better through this. They get better through some failure, through some some mistakes. 12. Coach, last year at this point, you’re you’re learning through wins, right? And big ones at that. So, this year in terms of what you’re what you’re learning and how it’s different like h how are you learning through adversity to start the year? Yeah, Sereni. Um we talked about it after last game just um getting a better um beat on on um um you know some of our role players and younger players and um you know getting invaluable reps. Um there’s nothing like real NBA games to um you know to make mistakes and to do good things and and u our our young guys are are have been really good um really pleased with them. Um but there there’s some growing pains with that. Um but I think we’re we’re big picture um thinkers and and we feel like this is going to help us down the road. Good defense by the Cavaliers to block that shot. Just hung it there a little bit longer. Tyson draws the foul. He scoops it up and in. Jaylen Tyson has a chance. Missed the shot of Ku. Put it up and Bryant got it again. Here’s Mitchell. Up to Tyson. Tyson for three. Hey, knocks it down. One time every time. Cavaliers using that defense to get out on the offense and knocks it down deep in the rock. It has been a swarming brand of Cavaliier defense. Hi, what’s up? What’s good? I know the season’s only two weeks in and seven games, but how do you feel like your growth has gone through that stress so far? Um, I feel like every game that I’ve played from the first one to now, I’ve learned and grown. Obviously, I have a lot more growing to do, but the biggest thing with me is I’m very, very confident right now. I think that’s the word I use at the beginning of the season. I’m very confident, and my goal this year is just stay level-headed and confident the whole way through. What does a night like tonight where it’s not just that you hit five threes that a lot of them came in big moments in this game, what does that do for that confidence? I mean, obviously it’s a booster. Um, my teammates trusting me making those passes. I don’t think they would make those same passes last year, right? So, to have Donovan, Lonzo F to make those passes and trusting me in those big moments, I mean, it’s it’s a blessing. You love that energy. You love that, you know, competitive nature. Um, and it builds camarader camaraderie and it builds trust. um and he’s been working on that same shot, you know, all summer, all day. So, when we go out there and make the plays, he’s he’s there. Um and that’s just a testament to him. Um to be able to gain chess like that, especially on a team like this, um as a second year player to be able to have that, especially early on. Um and not only that, but succeeding and and playing well in that role. So, it’s big time. [Music] There we go. There we go. There we go. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. [Music] Is seem like Darius is close. Close close. So, he um had some really good scrimmage time with the G-League team. Um like today he goes through the full shoot around. Um so we’re getting we’re getting close here. Um really close. [Music] Don’t touch me. [Music] [Music] Don’t touch me. [Music] He gives us more confidence. Um he he’s um so sure in his abilities uh his abilities and and um even in timeouts he’s got a he’s got a great demeanor about him. Um you know always he always you know has the right messaging for the guys. That’s that’s important. you know, your point guard, you know, it’s like your quarterback. Um, in football, those those guys um you know, they’re calling the plays after free throws and and uh um you know, just um I think we all felt um more comfortable out there with with him him being in the lineup. [Music] Welcome back. But this was just a a cool day as a whole for me. [Music] Um, and obviously to have the night I had is definitely special as well, but I wouldn’t put the game that I had based on the court. I This kid pissed me off today. Only low position out to Mitchell. Mitchell for three. That was gorgeous. Once again, the Cavs go inside out. Re it’s way long and grabbed by Garmin. The Cavs will put Mitchell right around Walker. lost edge and comment lays it in. He’s still to the floor for the Sixers. Giving right back. Mitchell for three. Hey, knocks it down. Skip for like two hours. And I I told him, too. I was like, “Wait, just wait.” He just called me washed up. He called me a bunch of things, but I I love it. You know what I mean? Um he said he ain’t seen a highlight for me in a minute. And I just told him, “All right, we’ll see.” Tell me to go to sleep. Like he he was going in. So this game was uh for that for that kid or grown man, whoever that was. Um, but so I appreciate you. I I told him I’d give him a shout out, too. So that’s what tonight was. Um, but no, as a whole, this tonight was really dope, man. It’s It’s I’m kind of hoping we keep the court, you know what I’m saying? But and kind of keep it for our home games, but we’ll see. right here on your Saturday night. So, everybody, let’s make some noise. That’s good. Yes, Serena. What do you attribute the start that St. Barl has had to I mean, he’s had five out of the six games he’s knocked down at least four threes. The other game was three. I mean, and it’s not like he has, you know, Max and all this gravity out there with him all the time. Yeah. And he’s making um it’s not just catching, right? He’s shooting off to two off the dribble threes last night. uh the escape one and then um and he headed off to pick and roll on the right side. Um I don’t know, you know, you’d have to ask him. I would think being rewarded with a contract um that you’re proud of and and um it gives you more stability and and uh confidence. Um so I think that’s part of it. Serena, you know, there’s no one that matches his work ethic um on on this team. I mean, you know, we have certain guys in that elite bucket. He’s one of them. Um, so it doesn’t surprise me. And what’s great, he’s doing it on the defensive end, too. Like, I don’t, you know, when I’m going through the games, it’s rare that I find him make a mistake. Um, and he’s he’s tough as tough tough tough as nails. Um, so, um, it’s really helped it because, you know, we we need we need his shooting. um needed his shooting especially with guys out here in the early going. They entered Ashton sixth in the league in field goal percentage, fifth in three-point percentage. Billy Donovan’s club is at 50% of their three-point attempts here tonight. Mitchell for three. Big pocket needed that bucket for big lane on defense again. He’s going to want to put his head down. Got to stay in front of him. Got to get some help. Make him get rid of that ball. Make him give it up. This crowd is in full throat. Giddy to the left hand. No. Moley. Was able to poke it over to Mitchell. 75 seconds to go. Mitchell weaves his way inside. He lays it in. Cuts the Chicago lead to one. Mitchell. Here we go again. Get that ball out of Giddy’s hand. Vigil had three points at the break. He now has 26 including five threes. Long lead pass to Auroro. Crunch time here in Cleveland. Auroro stumbled and almost walked. Jones now it is ears splitting in this building right now. Simply earsplitted. Jones triple drive. He wants to turn the corner. Got to recognize everybody’s strength. Jones off to Aoro. Aoro didn’t want it. He fires and missed it. Hunts a rebound. The Cavs can take the lead. 45 seconds to go. Donovan directs traffic. Auroro watches him. A Cororo got screened off. Tyson inside, takes a dribble, peels back out, finds Mitchell. Mitchell through traffic. He puts it up and in. And Don Mitchell has a chance for an three-point play. How about the pass of Jaylen Tyson? Donovan Mitchell absolutely was going to make that happen. Tyson Don’t leave your feet. Turner. Desperation. No. Tipped out. Tyson grabs it now to Merill. Tyson’s foul. What a signature victory in this rivalry here tonight. Kenny Atinson’s Cavaliers overcome a 19point deficit. The defense puts the clamps on the Bulls down the stretch. Donovan Mitchell comes to life and inspires his teammates. And the Cavs are just four seconds away from simply a brilliant victory here tonight. That type of spark is what everyone sees in this team. Hey, uh I just want to say um so Lenny Wilkins all time winning coach in in Cavs history, but the great player that he was um maybe his record as a coach is even better. Um you know, Brad, I don’t want to steal your words, but you know, just what a great how much you learned from him. What a composed um you know um great great coach. Um, I mean, it’s part of Cav’s history. Um, make sure we all remember a great great legend in our league. Last one. Dan, Kennedy, for you, when you are ejected from the game and not on the sideline and a team as intense as this one was and as back and forth as this one was, what’s it like being back and forth having no control? It’s torture. It’s torture. You know, it’s uh you know, it’s like it’s like watching your son play, right? Like it’s your your team and and uh you want to run out, you know, get on a walkie-talkie and tell the assistants, you know, what what to do. But they they they did a good job. It’s just just hard. I don’t I don’t The Cavs look for the tie. Lonzo leans, gives to Merrill. Merryill got knocked down. Donovan Mitchell. Last chance. [Music] Oh, mercy. Goodness. We’re on our heels. They were foot forward. Our guys gave a uh you know, phenomenal effort. Um we played 11 guys. Um 11 guys contributed. Um, but uh we had one heroic performance which I’m sure Dan you’re probably going to ask about you know Craig Porter Jr. That’s um I mean incredible. And not you know, not the scoring, just the whole thing. The defense. Um you won’t see it on the stats. He had 11 deflections, too. Three blocks, four steals. I mean, he was um um like I said, it was a heroic heroic performance. We needed it. What did you think of Jared overall? Oh, man. I loved how we posted him and that was contagious. We just kept getting getting the ball to JA deep in the post and and uh um that was a big part of the win that that prevents them from going small. They had to go back with wear, you know, to to to get bigger. [Music] Helps all our guys. Great great leader. I think he’s one of those those stars that elevates the whole team really because um and not not just his onc court play just how he how he leads in the locker room. There’s um just kind of no ego there as you know doesn’t have an ego. Um he’s at the point in his career where he just wants to win. everything that we were work we’ve worked on and talked about and they put all the work in themselves. But just being around and kind of figuring that out now you’re seeing it come to fruition out there on the floor, right? [Music] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] I think our talent levels is such as we can we can still ek out wins like this. Um but we we all know collectively we got to be better. I don’t want us to lose our confidence. [Music]

The start of the Cleveland Cavaliers 2025-26 season has come and gone. Get an inside look at the first quarter of the campaign, the impact of the young guys, and Darius Garland’s return to the court.