2021-2022 Cavaliers General Discussion: Trade Deadline Edition

[LesGrossman]

After looking at the last few games from a perspective of what could be improved within this roster, i am more and more convinced that the way Garland is running the offense is not optimal for the team. While he has been brilliant at shooting, i feel he is overdribbling without clear purpose and far too many times, the whole team runs up and down the court but noone but him (and sometimes the one guy he passes to to finish) even touches the ball. Its important to quickly either move the ball or penetrate, with the purpose of losing one defender and causing successive defensive rotations and eventually get an open shot, vs. Harden/Kyrie/Trae style hero balling and taking contested long 3's. It is not going to work in the long run.
Also, in my experience its important to distribute the shots so everyone can get a touch. If you lean on one guy so heavily, you become very predictable and cant ask anyone else ot take the final shot. And the opponent knows that too. I'd far more go for the best shot, good to great shot, move the ball Spurs style. Garland will still get his numbers but we shouldnt care more for individual accolades than for the game result.

Of course it isnt Garland freelancing there because he decides too. This is what the coaches deem the offense with the highest probability of success. I am hopeful they figure out that it may be the best way to get a score at a certain point in the game but it shouldnt be the way the game goes 48 min.

 

[cabs]

After looking at the last few games from a perspective of what could be improved within this roster, i am more and more convinced that the way Garland is running the offense is not optimal for the team. While he has been brilliant at shooting, i feel he is overdribbling without clear purpose and far too many times, the whole team runs up and down the court but noone but him (and sometimes the one guy he passes to to finish) even touches the ball. Its important to quickly either move the ball or penetrate, with the purpose of losing one defender and causing successive defensive rotations and eventually get an open shot, vs. Harden/Kyrie/Trae style hero balling and taking contested long 3's. It is not going to work in the long run.
Also, in my experience its important to distribute the shots so everyone can get a touch. If you lean on one guy so heavily, you become very predictable and cant ask anyone else ot take the final shot. And the opponent knows that too. I'd far more go for the best shot, good to great shot, move the ball Spurs style. Garland will still get his numbers but we shouldnt care more for individual accolades than for the game result.

Of course it isnt Garland freelancing there because he decides too. This is what the coaches deem the offense with the highest probability of success. I am hopeful they figure out that it may be the best way to get a score at a certain point in the game but it shouldnt be the way the game goes 48 min.

the last few games where we have averaged over 112 points a game? Think it is working rather well and the shot distribution doesn't look too bad to me

 

[LesGrossman]

the last few games where we have averaged over 112 points a game? Think it is working rather well and the shot distribution doesn't look too bad to me

Its just an observation about something that could be optimized. Obviously the team has had a lot of success but the coaches have the task to continuously improve the playbook through review and video analysis and i believe this will be gradually changed.

 

[Henry Tuttle]

Everyone concerned about DG being overused is just scared he can’t do it consistently. Like this is unsustainable and the rails are going to come off.

That’s not how you handle a young, growing player — especially one who generally excels at getting teammates involved. He’s finally been given the reigns and there’s not one person with the Cavs who isn’t excited about the direction he’s heading.

 

[LesGrossman]

Everyone concerned about DG being overused is just scared he can’t do it consistently. Like this is unsustainable and the rails are going to come off.

That’s not how you handle a young, growing player — especially one who generally excels at getting teammates involved. He’s finally been given the reigns and there’s not one person with the Cavs who isn’t excited about the direction he’s heading.

He has been shooting exceptionally well. Wether that is sustainable or not i dont know, because i did not follow him until now. I dont believe in miraculous transformations but his form looks pretty consistent to me. The concern is more that once defenses adjust - like they did with Mobley already -, it will be much harder for him to get a shot off. The concern is also that this isnt a 1 on 1 game but 5 on 5, and humans unlike computer game caracters typically need a few touches and shots to get into the game. You cant zone them out 45 minutes and then ask them to make shots when Garland is being double teamed late in the game. The result will be him getting huge numbers and the team amassing losses. THen everyone will moan about those incompetent team mates who cant make simple shots. Its kind of what happened in Phoenix until three years ago. Booker made all the shots, and they won 10 games or so overall.

The results we see now are mostly created by a brilliant, tough grinding defense that causes fast break and early offense opportunities. This will be taken away as well at some stage through the season. Then we go to the half court and that is where i observed the abovementioned issues.

 

[Futuredome]

As long as Garland stays at 12-20 shots a game, all is good. If he goes 20+ like he was doing, bad.

 

[Derek]

If you’re really complaining about anything right now, I fear you’ll never be happy as a Cavs fan. These are the happy times, people.

 

[Alec]

Garland’s shooting ability was seen as Curry-esque aka elite (no one is Steph) as a prospect. The stroke is so pure. I think we’re seeing close to the norm here.

 

[bleedwineandgold03]

If you’re really complaining about anything right now, I fear you’ll never be happy as a Cavs fan. These are the happy times, people.

I completely agree.

 

[SoCalCavsFan]

If you’re really complaining about anything right now, I fear you’ll never be happy as a Cavs fan. These are the happy times, people.

Indeed, can't remember enjoying Cavs basketball this much since the Price, Daugherty and Nance years. Of course, the Lebron years were incredible, but ultimately more stress-inducing than enjoyable.

This team is fun to watch. Let's enjoy the ride, wherever it may take us.

 

[cabs]

Indeed, can't remember enjoying Cavs basketball this much since the Price, Daugherty and Nance years. Of course, the Lebron years were incredible, but ultimately more stress-inducing than enjoyable.

This team is fun to watch. Let's enjoy the ride, wherever it may take us.

Bunch of old guys waiting for the playoffs to roll around, the regular seasons felt like a waste of time

 

[LesGrossman]

If you’re really complaining about anything right now, I fear you’ll never be happy as a Cavs fan. These are the happy times, people.

I understand, probably this isnt the right place to discuss observations (there were no complains as such). I'm very much enjoying those underdog wins!

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

With Sexton out the Cavs have nobody who can beat their man off the dribble and create their own shot except Garland.

According to cleaningtheglass.com, the Cavs are 13.2 points better offensively per 100 possessions when Garland is on the floor. This is the highest of any player on the team. Cedi is second at 5.4. That 13.2 number puts Garland in the 95th percentile of point guards. The team's effective field goal percentage is 7.0% better with Garland on the floor which puts him in the 98th percentile of point guards.

Garland beating his man off the dribble, either alone or coming around a screen, puts pressure on the defense and creates open looks for teammates.

Garland has been on fire the last five games, shooting 55.4% from the field and 56.2% on 3's. He's also averaging 8.4 assists per game in addition to the 24.6 ppg. What I've noticed is he's hitting his floaters in the lane and mid-range jumpers from the elbow when his drive is cut off and the lob is not there. He's attempting very few layups which used to get blocked consistently. He's learned to shoot the floater off a one-foot takeoff to avoid getting it blocked and he's developing an effective fallaway in the paint.

I'm pretty sure he won't continue to hit 56% from deep but as teams are forced to press him behind the 3-point line it will create more opportunites for him to blow by opponents and get into the paint for the lob or floater. He also has a nice bank shot high off the glass when he comes in from the baseline.

“He’s carrying us, and he’s accepted that responsibility,” Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff said after Sunday’s loss. “What he’s doing is he’s taking the plays that are there for him. I think he’s taking good shots. When it’s time to pass, he passes.

“So I think what he’s doing is he’s really reading the game. But he started the game out being aggressive, and then making the defense make decisions. Then he makes the counter decision to that.”

Can Darius Garland keep ‘carrying’ Cavaliers’ offense after back-to-back 30-point games?

Darius Garland had back-to-back 30-point games for the first time in his NBA career when he scored 31 against the Jazz on Sunday.

www.cleveland.com

 

[Cavatt]

I don't have an issue with Darius handling the offense, but I do think they should give Mobley a few more playmaking attempts per game.

It just works, and it is a different look than having Darius play high pick and roll. Give it to Mobley at the elbow and let him read.

It is especially effective to buts the 3-2 zone, but he should get some touches there even when they are manned up. HIs guys is almost always shorter and it gives him an advantage.

Not worried about Garland, he is exceeding my expectations. I just think he could make his life easier and maybe get some more catch and shoots out of this

 

[Prof123]

Who knows whether there is any substance to the rumor that LBJ would come back to Cleveland this summer.

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dknation.draftkings.com

Mark me down as NOT INTERESTED! I love rooting for these underdog Cavs. No drama -- just a bunch of young guys growing together, having fun, surprising team after team. It will be so gratifying to become an upper echelon team without James. The total dynamic would change if he were here. It would hinder the growth in leadership of our younger players. Plus, it wouldn't be as fun if were expected to win the title (which we would be). It was fun having LBJ when he was young. (That game against Detroit when he score 29 straight points in the 4th quarter and overtime is one of my all-time favorite games.) It was great when we won a championship in his second stint here, but those were agonizing times.

I admire LBJ and like him as a person. I just don't want him re-joining this team (at least not until he acknowledges he is a bench player like Rubio, and that is a couple of years away yet). Perhaps my mind could be changed -- convince me ...