Jim Ingraham: Cavs' prospects are Ty high thanks to players like Jerome

The Cavs won their first 15 games this year. In 1970-71, the expansion Cavs won 15 games for the entire season. In 2015-16, when the Cavs won the NBA championship, their record in their first 15 games was 11-4, and that was without Ty yippy ky yay Jerome, the Cavs' new secret weapon. Well, maybe not so secret, but a weapon just the same. Every budding championship team needs a Ty Jerome, and not just because Ty Jerome is such a cool name. It's not unusual for championship teams, before they become championship teams, to have a Ty Jerome on their roster. In fact, not only is it not unusual, but it's preferred. Ty Jeromes are one reason why America loves sports, and why America loves underdogs. Let's face it. Because who doesn't love an underdog? Underdogs rock! Ty Jerome rocks. The name alone tells you that. When it comes to sports heroes, I will take a Ty Jerome eight days a week. The Cavs' Ty Jerome even plays like a Ty Jerome. Especially when he picks an opposing guard clean, then Ty Jeromes it down to the other end of the court for a smooth-looking layup, a sweet-stroking corner three or one of his signature Ty Jerome-style flushes. Listen to that crowd! The NBA is filled with Ty Jeromes, but the Cavs are lucky enough to have the original. Talk about a gym rat. Ty Jerome wreaks of gym rat-ism. You can tell by the way he plays the game. He is a high-motor, low-maintenance, cerebral baller who enjoys dishing as much as swishing, if it helps his team. Teams win with guys like Ty Jerome. The Cavs have one, so that is good for the Cavs. Ty Jeremy Jerome is a 6-foot-5 shooting guard, who played collegiately at the University of Virginia under coach Tony Bennett. After getting his degree in Bennettology, Jerome became the 24th player selected — 19 picks after Darius Garland, in the 2019 NBA Draft. After two seasons with Oklahoma City and one with Golden State, Jerome showed up on the Cavs' doorstep. This is his second season with Donovan and the Mitchettes, and he could not be a better fit. It is also no coincidence that the Cavs' take-no-prisoners season has coincided with the arrival of Ty Jerome, who can run the offense and play multiple positions. Like the rest of his teammates, Jerome has been a perfect fit for a Cavs team that is flourishing under new coach Kenny Atkinson. You don't win 15 games in a row without a coach who knows his way around a clipboard. Atkinson does, and so does Ty Jeremy Jerome. Jerome fits in anywhere on a Cavs team that already had its share of moveable parts and is now more flexible than ever with the addition of Jerome. Indeed, it is Jerome, Ty Jeremy Jerome, more often than not, who shows up unexpectedly in the Cavs' defense to create his own brand of Jeromian mayhem that has flustered opposing teams. But he is equally adroit at contributing at the offensive end. He is not exactly a dunking machine, but he still gets his share of throwdowns, mainly because he is constantly on the move. Thank you, Tony Bennett. Good teams somehow find players like Ty Jerome, or maybe it's players like Ty Jerome find good teams. Whatever. The Cavs are a good team having a good time with an influx of young talent this season that bodes well for the franchise, not just now, but down the road. In their 128-100 blowout win over New Orleans recently, the Cavs played much of the second half with a handful of bench players who were given extended minutes in the blowout, and the newbies put on a show. The play of Jaylon Tyson (16 points, seven assists), Craig Porter Jr. (four points, seven assists, two blocked shots, two rebounds), Luke Travers (four points, three assists, two rebounds) and JT Thor (12 points, two steals, two rebounds and a blocked shot) were all exciting, even in a blowout. That was especially so coming, as it did, after Ty Jerome led the way with 29 points, seven three-point field goals and three rebounds. In the NBA you win with stars, but you survive with your bench, the players who come into the game and contribute whatever is necessary. It has been a while since the Cavs have had a bench as potent as the current one. The Cavs' 2015-16 championship roster was loaded with productive backups who were instrumental in their own "Cleveland! This Is For You!" way: J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert, Matthew Dellavedova, Richard Jefferson, Channing Frye and Tristan Thompson. The Cavs' current bench incubation is trending in a positive way, as well, led by Ty Jerome. You can never have enough quality backups, but the Cavs are trying. Contact Jim Ingraham at jingraham4@gmail.com and follow him @Jim_Ingraham on X.