It seems odd to be looking for flaws on a basketball team that has a 21-11 record, but for the Cleveland Cavaliers, when you get to a record that good, you get analyzed based on whether or not the team can make a deep playoff run.
That’s why we have an issue with the lack of depth on the roster. Since Kevin Love injured his thumb, his shot hasn’t been there, so there are many nights when Cleveland gets nothing from their second unit. And when that happens, they struggle to win, no matter the opponent.
Adding Donovan Mitchell has been a revelation, as he has played at an MVP level, even though he isn’t mentioned in that conversation nationally. Right now, he is scoring at a career high mark, averaging 29.3 points per game, and is shooting, both overall and three-point percentage are also at highwater marks.
His career high from the floor was 44.9% in 2019-20, but he is currently at 50.3%, and from long range, he is at a mind-boggling 42.8% compared to his previous best of 38.6% in 2020-21. Barring injury, he most certainly will make his fourth consecutive all-star appearance.
Are these numbers sustainable? It could be that because Mitchell is playing with better offensive players than he ever played with in Utah, he has more room to operate. We shall see as the season goes on.
We have seen a lot of talk about Darius Garland not playing up to the level he did last season, and while some of his numbers are down, it looks to us like most his shot is off.
Remember that Garland missed time after being hit in the eye on opening night, and he might lead the league in getting hit in the face this season. Perhaps that has thrown off his shooting, which is down from 46.2% last season to 43% in 2022-23.
Most of his numbers seem on par with his career norms. He’s hitting 38.2% from three (career mark is 37/8%), he is dishing out 7.8 assists, down a bit from 8.6 last year, but Mitchell is sharing some of this responsibility, and although he’s had some key turnovers in close games, he is averaging less per game than in 2021-22 (3.3 compared to 3.6).
And it most definitely is an adjustment for a player to go from being the best on the team to the second or maybe even the third best when all is said and done. Some players can handle it, others cannot, and based on his body language on the floor and off, Garland seems to be fine.
At some point, he might be passed on the pecking order by Evan Mobley, which will take another adjustment. We have seen J.B. Bickerstaff put the ball in Mobley’s hands at time late in close games, and the big man usually makes the correct decision.
That bodes well for the future of this team.
Having a skilled big man like Mobley, who is also a very good defender, makes it difficult for the opposition. And the fact he can be a triple threat offensively, makes it even better.
Last year, we said this repeatedly when asked who was the Cavs’ best player, Garland or Collin Sexton? It doesn’t matter because in a year or two, it’s going to be Evan Mobley.
And when that happens, if the guards can see it, the Cleveland Cavaliers are going to be a very special basketball team. That will be all kinds of fun.
Cleveland Sports Perspective 