Chapter 369: Solutions Outnumber Problems.
The Cavaliers started their season on the right foot, shaking off last year's championship night disappointment with a 117-107 victory over the Warriors.
Han Sen led the charge with a triple-double: 34 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. Nikola Jokic added 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Derrick Rose chipped in with 18 points and Dwyane Wade contributed 13 points. Even Dewayne Dedmon played a pivotal role, securing 8 points and 7 rebounds.
On the Warriors' side, Stephen Curry put up 27 points and 7 assists, DeMarcus Cousins tallied an impressive 25 points and 15 rebounds, and Klay Thompson contributed 18 points. However, it wasn't enough to overcome Cleveland's determination.
"It was a tough night, but we showed we're committed to winning," Coach Michael Malone summarized in the post-game press conference.
Despite their success, the Cavaliers' 25% shooting from beyond the arc painted a grim picture. What saved them was their dominance on the boards, securing 44 total rebounds, including 17 on the offensive glass—a number that surpassed most games from the previous two seasons.
After the season-opening victory, the Cavaliers strung together wins against the Hornets and Wizards, starting 3-0. However, they faltered against the Trail Blazers before bouncing back with victories over the Nets and Thunder. A subsequent loss to the Bucks left them with a 5-2 record through seven games.
To fans, the opening night struggles seemed like a fluke, just poor shooting. But Malone understood it as a symptom of a bigger issue: the team's rhythm and shot creation had been lacking.
For now, the Cavaliers leaned heavily on their two superstars, Han Sen and Nikola Jokic, to carry them. While Derrick Rose and Dewayne Dedmon showed flashes of brilliance, the rest of the roster struggled to find consistency.
Yet, their problems extended beyond their roster. The league's dynamics, dictated in part by commissioner Adam Silver, added an extra layer of difficulty.
Since Han's first championship in 2012 with the Grizzlies, UA-sponsored players had dominated the league, winning every title for the past six years. While Silver valued Han as a global icon, he wasn't eager to see UA monopolize the league's success or for Han—a foreign player—to become the NBA's ultimate figurehead. The Cavaliers faced unfavorable whistles in critical moments as a result, making it harder to build the dynasty they aimed for.
As if internal and external pressures weren't enough, bad news struck just before their upcoming game against the Pelicans. Derrick Rose, who had been pivotal off the bench, suffered a Grade 3 ankle sprain in the game against Milwaukee after a flagrant foul by Greg Monroe. Initially, Rose thought it was minor, but further scans revealed he'd be sidelined for at least a month.