The Cleveland Cavaliers have spent the last week or so talking about their new offensive style since the injuries to Darius Garland and Evan Mobley.
They’ve gone 8-3 in the 11 contests without two of their usual starters, and they have increased the number of three-point shots they’ve attempted in that span. In the first 25 games of the season, the Cavs averaged 33 long range shots per game, and in the last 11, they added 10 attempts per game.
Better yet, they’ve been more efficient with the shot, making 34.5% of their attempts behind the arc in the first 25 games, while they’ve knocked down 37% since Garland and Mobley have been out.
The chief reason for the improvement has been Sam Merrill, who since the injuries occurred has received steady playing time and made 44.4% of his three-pointers, taking 72 of them in the nine games he has appeared in.
If you are going to take more three-point shots, the key is putting someone in the game who can make them consistently. And that’s what Merrill is doing.
We have been wary of Merrill’s abilities because in watching him it seemed the game was too fast for him, meaning he shot well in the G League and Summer League, but when he got to the NBA, he was rushing, and the result was his shot was off.
The game seems to have slowed down a bit for him and the results have been very good. Teams can always use players who knock down outside shots at that rate. He currently ranks 13th in the league in three-point percentage.
Unfortunately, the Cavs’ issues are with the players who are taking the most long-range shots per game, Max Strus and Donovan Mitchell.
Strus has attempted the 7th most three-pointers in the league with 294. The problem is of the players in the top ten in the NBA in attempts, Strus has the lowest percentage of makes at 34.7%. The next lowest is Damian Lillard at 35.2%.
However, Lillard is a much more versatile offensive player, having gone to the line 275 times this season. Strus has attempted just 49 free throws.
As for Mitchell, because he’s missed some time with injuries, he ranks fifth in the league with 8.9 three-point attempts per game. And same as Strus, he has the lowest field goal percentage among the top ten in attempts at 35%.
This is not to call out Mitchell, who is one of the premier scoring guards in the league. However, he is knocking down 53.3% of his shots inside the arc. We understand the toll it takes attacking the basket more often (he’s makes 68% inside three feet), but only 10% of his field goal tries are from 16 feet to the arc, but he makes half of those shots.
Meanwhile, 42.8% of his field goal tries are three pointers. We’d like to see him lower that percentage a bit.
We still think a good part of the Cavs’ success since Garland and Mobley went out is due to a nice schedule break. The only real good team Cleveland has played in this span is Milwaukee, and they’ve only played three road games during this time.
When they return from France, they will play the Bucks three more times, as well as Orlando and the Clippers by the end of January. Of course, Garland shouldn’t be that far from returning.
Those games will be good tests.
It’s funny though that Koby Altman signed Strus and Georges Niang to get more three-point shooting, and the player who has been the key was here all along. Sam Merrill’s shooting has been a big factor in coping with the absences of Garland and Mobley.
Cleveland Sports Perspective 