The Cleveland Cavaliers and their new Big Three have been middling through the first few weeks of the NBA season, showing flashes of an offense that many expect to become perhaps one of the most potent of all time and generally showing as much interest in playing defense as Kanye West does with zip-lining. They've beaten the Chicago Bulls at the Madhouse on Madison and then gotten blown out in Portland. The ship looked to be righting after they dropped 118 points in a win over the upstart New Orleans Pelicans, but then gave up 100 points to the Boston Celtics through three quarters, getting down by as much as 19 points before turning the offense up to 11 and storming back to win.
In the first half against the Atlanta Hawks tonight, the Cavs exploded. Looking spry and energized, Cleveland was clicking on both ends, and the offense was like watching one of those "How to Play Basketball the Right Way" DVDs that you see for 20 percent off in a bin at Walmart.
The team hit their first 11 3-pointers before Kyrie Irving missed one, and their shot chart at the end of the first quarter looked as green as a Christmas tree.
1.
They would hit 13 3's in the first half all together, tying an NBA record, including this one from rookie Joe Harris to end the first quarter.
Head coach David Blatt's offense predicated on ball movement finally reared its head, as the Cavaliers assisted on 21 of their 24 made baskets and headed into the locker room at half up 71-43. Playing this team when they are firing on all cylinders doesn't really look fair. Check out all the first half highlights below.
