Positives for Cleveland Cavaliers in season opener; 3 takeaways

1. Starting five needs more time together

The Cleveland Cavaliers elected to start Darius Garland, Collin Sexton, Cedi Osman, Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson together for the first game of the season. Believe it or not, this lineup proved to be deadly.

The starting five got out to a quick start offensively. Cleveland scored 16 points and shot 7-of-9 from the floor in the first six minutes of the game. Each starter got on the board as the pace and ball movement were on point.

Then, for seemingly no reason, this unit was separated for over 15 minutes of playing time. As a result, the Cavaliers fell to a 20-point deficit late in the first half.

When they finally reunited, good things once again began happening for the Cavaliers. Though it is only one game, it’s clear that this is the best lineup Cleveland has to offer at the moment.

Each starter scored in double-digits besides the rookie, Garland. Even so, Garland had some impressive moments with his stroke from deep, drilling 2-of-4 attempts from beyond the arc.

Of course, balancing minutes and staggering players will be an issue. The Cavaliers’ second unit must bring more to the table as the starters simply can’t play every minute of the game together. Cleveland’s bench scored just 21 points on 8-of-35 shooting.

As this team continues to grow, players like Sexton, Garland and Osman will become the cornerstones of the franchise. Overall, Cavaliers fans should feel excited to watch this starting five develop together.