Commentary: A win is a win for the Cavaliers ... kind of

"It feels good to be home," said Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson in his meeting with reporters before Sunday night's game at Rocket Mortgage Arena. Four quarters later, the Cavs, and their coach, weren't feeling so good. Nearly losing in final seconds of a game at home is no coach's idea of a day at the beach. Sunday night, in their first home game of the season, the Cavs beat the Milwaukee Bucks 118-113, in a game that either team could have won. The Cavs prevailed, but it was hardly a win for the ages. In their first two games of the season, the Cavs, who memorably broke from the gate 15-0 last season, were a more civil 1-1 this year, losing to the Knicks in New York, 119-111, then, in their second game, beating the Brooklyn Nets 131-124. The start of this Cavs season should be an interesting one, coming on the heels of their Jekyll and Hyde rollercoaster ride last season, when nobody could beat them in the first half of the season. In the playoffs, however, the muscular Indiana Pacers turned the Cavs into Jell-O, not only beating Cleveland in four of the five games of the Eastern Conference semifinals, but making it look like it wasn't very interested in competing. Sunday night's game was partly the Cavs continually trying to get acquainted with their new teammates, partly the Cavs trying to hold off Giannis Antetokounmpo, to the Cavs' continuing Sam Merrill shooting thrill show. The Cavs led for most of the game until they didn't. But they rallied at the end to defeat the visitors in a game that felt like it should have been played in April, not October. Late in the fourth quarter, the Cavs almost gave it away, but instead managed to get away with a five-point victory. At the half, the Cavs led 65-56 and seemed to be sailing to their first home win of the year, looking more like last season's team. That's going to have to be the norm this season if Cleveland wants to return to the playoffs and play the way a team of their talent should play when the lights are brightest. It's never to a good idea to over-analyze the early games in any sport, but it is particularly so when you are dealing with the talent and the egos of some of the better teams. The Cavs are in that group, and if they hope to stay there and make a run at the postseason, they are going to have to do what they did Sunday night, when they finally started to pull away from the visitors. In the first half, Donovan Mitchell missed all but two of his 11 field-goal attempts, which wasn't much help at the time. But Mitchell tends to be Mitchell when he's needed most, and that was the case in the second half, as the Cavs finally started playing like the Cavs. It is going to take some time for this group to learn how to play as a team. There are some new players, and that invariably, brings some new egos and habits to the team that could take a while for their teammates to become accustomed to. Evan Mobley, who once again needs to be one of the prime center pieces on this team if this team is going to go farther in the playoffs this year than last year, is still a work in progress. But he is coming on fast, and that is always a good sign. Jarrett Allen, who has all but become Robin to Mobley's Batman, seems to be resigned to that changing of the guard. The newcomers, such as Lonzo Ball, Larry Nance Jr., Jaylon Tyson and others, will require some time to fit in. But Atkinson proved last season that he knows how to put together the pieces needed to move the team forward. Halfway through the second quarter Sunday night, 10 different Cavs had scored. The team chemistry, which is so vital to the team's success, is still clearly visible, which bodes well for the coming season. It seemed like it was going to be a comfortable night. But then the rest of the game happened. It got a little dicey late in the game, but the Cavs held on for the win. They got to play a solid Bucks team that has some shooters, and they defend, all of which is important in order to remind the Cavs that the regular season has officially started. Contact Jim Ingraham ay jingraham4@gmail.com.