The Lakers recently brought in Finney-Smith and Milton, and today the new recruits were finally able to play, with promising results that will improve over time. However, their opponents were formidable, as the Cavaliers, ranked first in the league, were expected to win. Despite playing at home, the Lakers faced a fierce Cavaliers team, leaving LeBron James to acknowledge that time is fair to everyone. The Cavaliers defeated the Lakers 122-110 on the road, securing an eighth consecutive victory. There's not much to say about this game; the Cavaliers' number one ranking in the league is well-deserved, as they have earned it through their performance.
Mitchell and Garland in the backcourt, Wade on the wing, and Mobley and Allen in the frontcourt. The bench also boasts strong players like Strus, Nene, and LeVert. The Cavaliers' rise and rebuilding path over the years has been nothing short of miraculous; any misstep could have led to disaster. But the key is that the Cavaliers made the right moves every step of the way. First, in the trade between the Rockets and the Nets for Harden, the Cavaliers used a first-round pick to intercept Allen, a valuable center, and then acquired LeVert.
Following this, the Cavaliers began to tank, miraculously snatching Mobley from the Rockets. The Rockets' scouting department hoped to select Jalen Green with the second overall pick in 2021, while the data analysis department believed Mobley was the ideal choice, given the Rockets' tradition of building around a center. Ultimately, the Rockets' owner's son decided to take Green with the second pick, allowing the Cavaliers to happily select Mobley with the third. Finally, the Cavaliers traded Sexton to the Jazz for Mitchell, solidifying their foundation.
The current Cavaliers share a similar rise trajectory with the top Western Conference team, the Thunder. Mitchell is to the Cavaliers what Alexander is to the Thunder, with Mobley matching up against Holmgren and Garland mirroring Giddey. This year could potentially be the year the Cavaliers and Thunder meet in the Finals. Of course, the Lakers shouldn't be disheartened; while contending for the championship seems unlikely, they can still aim to improve their regular-season record, leaving the rest to luck. At least in today's game, the Lakers were able to keep up with the Cavaliers in the first half, trailing by only six points despite being down by as many as 15. In the second half, James, Davis, and Reeves stepped up, reducing the deficit to just two points at one point.
As the Lakers looked poised to turn the game around, Strus erupted with three consecutive three-pointers to steady the Cavaliers, who once again took a 12-point lead. However, the Lakers showed remarkable resilience, with the help of new recruit Milton and Anthony Davis, closing the gap to one point. The Cavaliers repeatedly engaged in a tug-of-war with the Lakers, ultimately relying on Mitchell and Mobley to break the stalemate and re-establish a nine-point lead in the third quarter. In the final quarter, Mitchell continued his scoring spree, extending the lead to 16 points. The Lakers refused to give up, with James leading the charge, Davis making mid-range shots, layups, and three-pointers. The Lakers managed to cut the deficit to five points. Unexpectedly, Allen sealed the Lakers' fate, scoring six crucial points in the closing moments.
In the end, Mitchell scored 26 points, Allen had 27 points and 14 rebounds, Garland contributed 14 points and 14 assists, and Mobley added 20 points for the Cavaliers. On the Lakers' side, James scored 23 points, Davis had 28 points and 14 rebounds, and Reeves put up an impressive 35 points, 9 rebounds, and 10 assists. Regardless of the outcome, James can accept it personally; if the Cavaliers win the championship this year, he would be happy to see the success of his successors. As Mitchell said after the game, he is a fan of James and wants to emulate his championship-winning path, following in his footsteps. Although they are not on the same team, the legacy continues.
Mitchell stated, "I've been a fan of LeBron since I was young, and being able to wear the Cavaliers jersey is already a perfect ending for me. I hope to replicate the achievements of LeBron and bring a championship to Cleveland."
Reeves has recently emerged as a major player, and James, at 40, still has plenty left in the tank. The new recruits are integrating well. For both the Lakers and the Cavaliers, the future looks bright for both teams.