After getting off to a decent start to the NBA season, the Cleveland Cavaliers have become what most people thought going into the season. They are one of the worst teams in the league at 5-15.
Only three teams have a worse record: Atlanta (5-16), New York (4-17) and Golden State (4-18).
With three players 20 years old or younger getting primary minutes, the wine and gold’s poor record isn’t unexpected. And we certainly feel John Beilein has done a solid job teaching and guiding the young roster.
That said, here is the good, the bad, and the ugly as the Cavs hit the quarter pole of the 2019-20 campaign.
The Good. Tristan Thompson has improved his offense, averaging 13.9 points (more than two points above his career high) and continues to rebound well, also at career high 10.6 per game. Whether he stays with the Cavs or is moved before the trade deadline, he has been a positive influence both on and off the court.
Larry Nance Jr. has improved his perimeter shooting, hitting 39% of his three point shots. He’s averaging 10.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. We do wish the team would take advantage of his passing more often.
Kevin Porter Jr. has shown flashes enough that we can see him living up to his reputation as being the steal of last year’s draft being the last pick in the first round.
He’s getting 20 minutes per night, usually at small forward where he is usually undersized. And he’s a pretty good passer for a rookie too.
The Bad. Collin Sexton seems to have leveled off, perhaps because he is sharing the playmaking duties with rookie Darius Garland. His three point shooting has dropped to 32% from 40% last year, and his assist total has dropped. There are too many possessions for the Cavaliers where Sexton is the only one touching the ball.
Which brings us to this–Kevin Love is getting the least shots per game of his Cleveland career at 11.4. Love is still the Cavs’ best offensive player. It would help if everyone else on the team realized that.
Granted, he’s missed some time lately with a back issue, but the five time all star has taken more than 14 shots just three times since the sixth game of the season. He took more than 14 is three of the first six games.
The Cavs need more size. They are statistically the smallest team in the NBA, averaging 6-5.5″ per player. The league average is a full inch larger. The tallest Cav is Ante Zizic, who plays little.
Basketball has changed, but you still need big guys to play it at the NBA level.
When Cleveland plays a team with any size at all, they get battered inside. Any move GM Koby Altman makes this season should involve bringing in size, at all positions.
The Ugly. For starters, Matthew Dellavedova’s three point shooting percentage of 9.4% (3 for 32). Perhaps, Delly is better off passing on the long range shot.
Cleveland is third last (ahead of only New York and Portland) in assists. This has to be Beilein’s pet peeve, as he stresses ball movement ad nauseum. Watching games, there is still way too much dribbling and not enough passing.
It might help if the ball were in the hands of guys like Love and Nance, both good and willing passers more often.
And the Cavs’ defense is starting to show signs of returning to last year’s horrific state. Part of it is the size issue as Cleveland is last in the NBA in blocked shots. The wine and gold need a rim protector in the worst way.
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 