2021-2022 Cavaliers General Discussion: Trade Deadline Edition

[weepinwillow]

I don't know how I can simultaneously agree and disagree with you completely.

Okoro has the *look* of a good defender--not just his physical attributes, but the way he plays defense, in all the aspects you mentioned. But at the same time, he just seems to get absolutely cooked by whomever he's guarding night to night. And despite the prevailing thought that it's because he's often playing out of position as a SF when he's really a SG, it doesn't seem to matter whether he's guarding a SG or SF.

Just this preseason, with perhaps some admitted confirmation bias in there, I've watched DeRozan, Lavine, and Brogdan torch him when he's been [trying to] guard them one on one, and all of those guys are SG-sized players. He closes hard, doesn't bite on fakes, but they still just blow by him or shoot over him.

The easy and logical excuse has been that he was just a rookie last year and that he was repeatedly thrown to the fire against the toughest wing assignment every single game, but the toughest assignments consistently did exactly what they were supposed to do against him with very few wins in his favor or even stalemates--far more often they looked especially able to get whatever they wanted. And that's fine, but to be known as a good defender, shouldn't you have to slow some guys down? I mean, our much-maligned incumbent starter at SG is just as good at getting torched.

I don't pretend to be some great basketball mind so it very well might just be the case that I'm missing some of the nuance in there that supports him being (or promising to be) a strong defender. In fact, that's exactly what I'm hoping is the case.

I think it's a matter of learning the league.
DeRozen, Brogden and LaVine are phenomenal NBA scorers. They know how to counter when you take away option 1 and/or 2 in most cases. That's why you need good team defense vs guys like that. Being "shot over" isn't a defensive deficiency, it's the hoped outcome of a defensive possession, I agree that veteran scorers probably liked the idea of going against a 19/20 year old kid for sure. In the modern NBA it's pretty hard to "stop" a good scorer. The rules have all but legislated defense out of the game, but you need to be able to force contested shots as best you can and make the right rotations. Okoro does that, and as the team defense gets better I think it will show some in his ability to get some stops as well.
I like what I see from Isaac. I think he figures it out offensively eventually. I doubt he ever becomes a 20+ PPG guy, but I could see him be a consistent 15-17 PPG two way player (especially with a team that pushes the pace and gets out in transition, Cavs had the worst pace in the league last year).
He by and large takes the right shots, makes the right passes, reads the pick and roll well. I'm expecting a somewhat up and down year this year, 11-13 PPG, 2-4 assists, and consistent defense. Jump shot and ball handling will be what determines his career outcome. W/o it, he's a glue guy/role player, w/1 or both? I think a good deal more.

 

[Henry Tuttle]

The main issue I’ve noticed with Okoro is that he just absolutely dies on screens and takes forever to recover. It’s weird because with his build you’d think this would be an area of strength. I’m not sure if it’s a coaching thing or what, but it was painful to watch him get PnR’ed to death by Brogdon last game.

 

[Heat Check]

The main issue I’ve noticed with Okoro is that he just absolutely dies on screens and takes forever to recover. It’s weird because with his build you’d think this would be an area of strength. I’m not sure if it’s a coaching thing or what, but it was painful to watch him get PnR’ed to death by Brogdon last game.

Navigating around screens is very much a skill. It's footwork, anticipation, and body positioning.

 

[avs2000]

The main issue I’ve noticed with Okoro is that he just absolutely dies on screens and takes forever to recover. It’s weird because with his build you’d think this would be an area of strength. I’m not sure if it’s a coaching thing or what, but it was painful to watch him get PnR’ed to death by Brogdon last game.

I believe okoro will settle into a good rotational player off the bench in a couple years.

 

[weepinwillow]

I believe okoro will settle into a good rotational player off the bench in a couple years.

sure.. that is his basement.

 

[avs2000]

sure.. that is his basement.

No it is where he will be.

 

[Derek]

sure.. that is his basement.

His basement is “out of the league in three years”

 

[sailfish]

Why are you all hating on Okoro? He’s a 2nd year guy, who is 20 years old, and who had no offseason last year, leading into his rookie year. All things considered, I’d say he did pretty darn good.

 

[Cavatt]

Played well last night

 

[weepinwillow]

His basement is “out of the league in three years”

eh, kind of a horseshit take.

 

[NMCav]

Tacko Fall amd RJ Nembhard got the 2 way contracts. Kind of shocked Ballock didn't get one. Unless they are cutting Valentine and Ballock made the 15 man roster.

 

[mds]

Played well last night

No positivity, sir. Thank you.

 

[DeeThree]

Isaac Okoro,

I would like to apologize for the fans calling you a bum.
They don't realizes this is your 2nd year.
You will do great kid, just keep your head up.
Be ready to shoot!

 

[daytripper]

Tacko Fall amd RJ Nembhard got the 2 way contracts. Kind of shocked Ballock didn't get one. Unless they are cutting Valentine and Ballock made the 15 man roster.

Agreed. I'd probably prefer Justin James or Ballock over Nembhard based on the little bit we saw in preseason. We can only assume Nembhard must've shown something in camp. I didn't see a huge difference between Guy and Pangos either tbh. Sounds like they want to keep James, Ballock, and Guy for the Charge though.

 

[Randolphkeys]

Tacko Fall amd RJ Nembhard got the 2 way contracts. Kind of shocked Ballock didn't get one. Unless they are cutting Valentine and Ballock made the 15 man roster.

Looks like everyone cut is headed to the Charge. Thrilled for Fall to get the two-way. I haven't seen a fifth string center electrify the fan base like this since the great Matt Fish was scoring on the low block in the Continental Basketball Association.