Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell are "kind of the backup point guards for each other," Kenny Atkinson said, so the Cavaliers' backup spot "doesn't necessarily have to be a point guard." How to split them with James Harden and Jarrett Allen: "we haven't decided yet."
Three preseason games are enough to settle the Cavaliers' rotations, Kenny Atkinson said, plus another intra-squad scrimmage they'll "treat like a preseason game as much as we can." Asked who leads at backup point guard, he named no one: defense first, then shooting.
James Harden was "a little under the weather" at the Cavaliers' scrimmage in Spain and "could have easily just not played," Sam Merrill said. Harden played anyway; Merrill credited the roughly 10,000 fans, mostly kids, cheering him. Kenny Atkinson: "I don't see any slippage."
Mario Hezonja gives the Cavaliers a bigger, rim-attacking option off the bench, Sam Merrill said, naming him a camp standout with Peyton Watson and rookie Meleek Thomas. "Having a bigger guy that can do that should be a nice change-up for us."
Tyrese Proctor has exceeded expectations in Cavaliers camp, Donovan Mitchell said: stronger, and picking up Mitchell and James Harden full court. "He's kind of taken that Jaylon Tyson role last year." Sam Merrill praised his shooting and his defense on the ball.
Jayson Tatum says he is healthy after 16 months with his injury, a year after "not knowing when or if I was going to... be back on the court." The Celtics star admitted: "Maybe I took the start of the season for granted. I just always assumed I would be out there."
Mike Conley, entering his 20th season and yet to play for Joe Mazzulla, on his new Celtics coach: "for some guys, it could be very hard to play for Joe, I'm sure." The reason: how hard Mazzulla gets after players and how much he expects.