CavsKermit
NBA Starter
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- Jul 14, 2021
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Some of the dysfunction is just from guys dropping out of the rotation for long periods of time and reintegrating them into the lineup. On more than one occasion last night Mobley and Allen stared at each after a made basket as if to say, I thought you had that. That can get fixed. Garland and Strus haven't played that many games together this season, and as well as Strus played, there wasn't much synergy. That can get fixed.
My chief concern at this point is identifying 8 players to use in an 8 man rotation for the playoffs. I don't know that you can play Merrill and Niang together without just imploding the defense. On a night when they both shot well, their +/- was a combined +1, and once the Hornets shooters got going, it proved too difficult to cool them off. Okoro and LeVert combined for 11 points in 54 minutes last night despite improved spacing.
LeVert is shooting 36% from the field since the all star break and 25% from 3. He's given the Cavs 11.5 pgg in 31.5 mpg. Maybe he can bounce back coming off the bench, but under normal circumstances, that player isn't getting minutes in a playoff series.
Okoro's been more efficient 48% and 39% post all star break, but his March numbers are worse than February 45% FG and 37%. He's averaging 10.5 ppg in 32 minutes ppg. His net defensive rating was 117, which is not what you want to see from your defensive specialist. Maybe that's just a function of the team's play in March, but JBB went offense/defense to close out the game last night and we still couldn't get stops. All of his sub 30 mpg numbers are better, so maybe the answer is as simple as less is more.
Garland's FG% has plummeted since the all star break from 47% to 42%, but his 3 point % rebounded from 33 to 39, and he's at least giving you 18.6 ppg. I expect Garland to perform better when Mitchell is back and he's not the primary focus of the opposing defense.
I'm good with the 5 starters, but it's starting to look like LeVert and Okoro shouldn't play together due to their offensive limitations while Merrill and Niang shouldn't play together due to their defensive limitations. Also, Garland probably shouldn't play with Merrill as that backcourt is just too short. The coaching staff has some work to do as far as making all these pieces work.
My chief concern at this point is identifying 8 players to use in an 8 man rotation for the playoffs. I don't know that you can play Merrill and Niang together without just imploding the defense. On a night when they both shot well, their +/- was a combined +1, and once the Hornets shooters got going, it proved too difficult to cool them off. Okoro and LeVert combined for 11 points in 54 minutes last night despite improved spacing.
LeVert is shooting 36% from the field since the all star break and 25% from 3. He's given the Cavs 11.5 pgg in 31.5 mpg. Maybe he can bounce back coming off the bench, but under normal circumstances, that player isn't getting minutes in a playoff series.
Okoro's been more efficient 48% and 39% post all star break, but his March numbers are worse than February 45% FG and 37%. He's averaging 10.5 ppg in 32 minutes ppg. His net defensive rating was 117, which is not what you want to see from your defensive specialist. Maybe that's just a function of the team's play in March, but JBB went offense/defense to close out the game last night and we still couldn't get stops. All of his sub 30 mpg numbers are better, so maybe the answer is as simple as less is more.
Garland's FG% has plummeted since the all star break from 47% to 42%, but his 3 point % rebounded from 33 to 39, and he's at least giving you 18.6 ppg. I expect Garland to perform better when Mitchell is back and he's not the primary focus of the opposing defense.
I'm good with the 5 starters, but it's starting to look like LeVert and Okoro shouldn't play together due to their offensive limitations while Merrill and Niang shouldn't play together due to their defensive limitations. Also, Garland probably shouldn't play with Merrill as that backcourt is just too short. The coaching staff has some work to do as far as making all these pieces work.
