After three early playoff exits, how can the Cavs leap into true title contention?
Any answer begins with your faith in the “Core Four” of Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.
64 wins do not happen by accident. Neither does earning two All-NBA honors and three All-Star selections.
This team is good, excellent.
Offensive Versatility
In Game 5 vs the Indiana Pacers, Donovan Mitchell shot 1/11 when guarded by Andrew Nembhard. While Nembhard has built a strong defensive reputation, 1/11 is unacceptable. Of his 11 shots, seven were three-pointers.
As detailed here, Cleveland’s guards were worn down by Indiana’s ferocious off-ball and point-of-attack defense. Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith were the primary culprits who refused to be screened.
If the guards do not create the necessary advantages, Head Coach Kenny Atkinson must look elsewhere for offensive production.
It’s important to note that Donovan Mitchell had a brilliant start to the conference semifinals. However, as the series went on, he wore down.
Take the Pacers-Knicks series, for example. Jalen Brunson is leading the conference finals in points per game at 33.3. Yet, in the Game 3 comeback, it was Karl-Anthony Towns with 20 fourth-quarter points.
During the regular season, Cleveland led the league in FG% on paint touches. Allen and Mobley’s finishing abilities contributed significantly to this number. Together, they attempted 20.6 shots per game. In the second round, they averaged 17.7 shots per game.
Mobley’s evolution as a shot creator makes this idea realistic. Running more offense through Mobley could look similar to Julius Randle in Minnesota, or even his new rival, Pascal Siakam. Both players have had excellent postseason scoring outbursts.
Mobley shot 6/8 on hook shots and 11/20 on drives in this year’s playoffs. These numbers should increase if the Cavs want to reach new heights. Cleveland Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman feels the same way
“We’re going to go as a franchise, as Evan is going to go,” Altman said.
Bench Production
When it mattered the most, Cleveland’s bench struggled to give a lift.
Of all the bench players who were regular parts of the Cavs’ rotation, only one player shot over 37% from the field. That player was Isaac Okoro, who only averaged 16.6 minutes and 3 shot attempts per game.
When you look at Indiana’s Game 4, Bennedict Mathurin found a way to chip in 20 points in 12 and a half minutes.
Sam Merrill and Ty Jerome, both players whose scoring efficiency dropped in the playoffs, are free agents this summer. Altman has expressed interest in bringing them back.
Jerome, in particular, should find himself a healthy deal to avenge his second-round performance. His regular-season performance was a critical component of the Cavs’ success.
Altman and the Cavs may look elsewhere to replace Merrill. He had a good season as a 3&D wing, but at 6-foot-4, Cleveland might be best suited to look elsewhere to find a better fit for the team.
Some free agent names that make sense for this teams current construction include Guerschon Yabusele, Jake LaRavia, Dante Exum and a reunion with Caris LeVert.
Whatever ends up happening, the Cavaliers must find a way to get some lift from their reserves when the starters aren’t in rhythm.
The Bottom Line
This team is closer to contention than most of the league. As Altman spoke about in his end-of-season press conference, it’s about tweaking just a few areas to use continuity to their advantage.
Health is wealth, and the Cavs found themselves fairly unwealthy in the most important moments. If Mobley doesn’t twist his ankle, if Garland doesn’t injure his toe, then the outcome could have looked much different.
Cleveland has to be prepared to overcome the challenges presented to them from the Pacers series. Navigating extreme ball pressure and finding a balanced offensive attack were obstacles that stumped the team.
With Atkinson reportedly making the film room a “second home”, that could be the difference Cleveland needs to find themselves back in the conference finals.
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