Game Summary
Christmas came early for the Cavs as they have now scored 139+ points in back-to-back games (the first time all year) and have now won two games in a row for the first time since right before Thanksgiving. It took a month but the Cavs might, kinda, maybe, finally be back? The Hornets and Pelicans are who they are (not good) but they may be the slump busters the Cavs needed during this rough stretch of winter. The return of Sam Merrill may be too coincidental (or it might not be) but the offense of the last two games has looked much more like the offense of last year.
By the Numbers
15: Seconds -- time that New Orleans led during the game
141: Cavalier points, their 2nd highest point total on the year
40: Cavalier assists, their highest mark this year
40.8%: 3P% by the Cavs on 20 3PM
27: Points off turnovers for the Cavs
27: Second chance points for the Cavs
+18: Cavs advantage in paint points against the league's 2nd best team in paint points
77th: Percentile in transition for New Orleans including 25 fast break points
45%: of the Pelicans shots came at the rim (95th percentile)
56.1%: the Pelicans FG% at the rim (15th percentile)
45%: of the Cavs shots came from three (83rd percentile)
41.7%: the Cavs FG% from three-point range (77th percentile)
6: 3PM by Sam Merrill, tying a season high
48.9%: Of the Cavs 49 rebounds came from off the bench
+23: De'Andre Hunter's team leading plus-minus
By the Players
Darius Garland: Even if he wasn't the same player he was last night, which may have been partly due to a quad contusion that left him questionable for the game, the fact that he played in his first back-to-back with his toe not limiting him is progress. 10 points (44% FG%), 8 assists (3 turnovers) and a +14 with a +1.6 oRTG within all that is progress too. Sam Merrill talked postgame about the importance of getting Garland back to help create dribble drive kickouts for them, and it's hard to understate how needed and important that is for this team and why Garland's health is paramount.
-
Donovan Mitchell: Is 27 points on 68.8% shooting and a +19 in under 30 minutes any good? Mitchell was 9-for-10 inside of the arc with all 9 of those FGMs coming inside the paint + restricted area. If Garland's dribble drives open up kick outs for others, the spacing also provides lanes for Mitchell to operate which he took full advantage of against the Pelicans.
-
Sam Merrill: With a hat tip to his assistant coach, Kenny said he liked the defensive matchup with Merrill in the starting lineup along with his shooting. He responded with one of his better games on the year with 22 points (on 12 shots; 60% 3P%), 6 rebounds, 7 assists (1 turnover), 1 steal and a +18. If Garland is the train conductor that makes the Cavs go, Merrill may be the grease on the wheels to make things run smoothly. His presence on the floor enables others offensively so a +8.1 net oRTG shouldn't be a surprise. His shot was useful in some stretches where the Cavs needed it, and even bailed them out of a few possessions. One of the most fun things about Merrill is how quick of a decision maker he is (80th percentile in quick decision making % and 93rd percentile in quick decision making assist %).
-
Dean Wade: Did Max Strus somehow briefly take over Dean Wade's body? Wade followed up a 4 3PM night with a 3PM night and shot 37.5% from behind the arc. Although, not to be outdone by his drives. Wade keeps finding his way on the floor because he's still probably the Cavs best defender. And with Evan Mobley out, the Cavs have benefited from a solid defensive pairing to help combat some of the perimeter and transition issues (Allen + Wade has a 115.7 dRTG on the year) but are a surprisingly 4.4 points better offensively per 100 possessions with the pairing.
-
Jarrett Allen: He had a night. He was battling down low (4 fouls, 3 fouls drawn, and probably as many uncalled) to his credit for most of the night. To a point, he said "eff it" and took and made a three. As the only big, the pressure is on Allen to carry the team. The dRTG was good with him on, but only .7 worse with him off. The dREB% was 28.1% better with him on the floor (good) but the oREB% was 21.2% worse with him on the floor (not great). Don't think the stats will credit him for his overall activity level, but it's a step in the right direction. While only three assists, he has some finds that always make you think why don't they play through their bigs more in the high post?
-
Craig Porter Jr: Is it okay to wonder what CPJ would look like with an extended look in the rotation? Lonzo Ball has been up-and-down, and has provided good defense, but if we're thinking long-term about things, CPJ taking the role would be a boon for the position considering how he plays and what he makes. His step up in his perimeter shot (42.4% on 3s; 2-for-4 vs NOP) has made it a dependable part of his game has changed his offensive profile to an attractive one. He's able to create extra possessions offensively (2 OREBs, 2 second chance points) and defensively (2 steals, 1 block). He's got the dribble drive game they lost with Caris LeVert and Ty Jerome, and what Merrill talked about them needing. And with his shot improved and his willingness to apply full-court pressure, it's a good change up to Garland. The Cavs have a decision to make with Ball as how much do they value this year versus knowing they most likely won't be picking up his $10M this summer with CPJ and Proctor waiting?
-
Jaylon Tyson: What slump? After going 0-fer against Charlotte, Tyson responded with a ho-hum 18 points (on 13 shots), 6 rebounds (3 OREBs), 2 assists, 1 block and a +15. The ball is kind to those who put out energy, and the ball found Tyson on several occasions due to his activity level. He had 7 second chance points and was like a waterbug bouncing around the floor. Tyson's parlayed his activity level into a skill, and that's earned him more minutes and given him opportunities to take advantage of. We'll see if the bench is a permanent or temporary role, but similar to CPJ, his development into a rotational level player is a boon given his production and his cost.
-
De'Andre Hunter: So is he really just a better bench player? That's not to say that's an insult but it's to ask the question about Hunter's role. He's historically been more efficient off the bench (nearly 3% FG% better, and 4% 3P% better) and looked more comfortable despite shooting 38.5% on 13 shots. He led the team with a +23 and was a positive impact player despite just 3 stocks, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 turnover. Hunter as a bench player is not a bad thing, as his scoring is valuable and it may be where he's headed anyway given Tyson's emergence and Strus's eventual return, but can the Cavs afford a $23M bench player?
-
Thomas Bryant: Good Thomas Bryant showed up tonight and was very active around the basket. 7 rebounds, 2 blocks and just a .7 dRTG was on court is a bonus in addition to his efficient 15 points on 8 shots (2-2 3P). Bryant was part of 2 of the 3 best lineups, and that extended over 13 minutes -- far from a small sample size. Even though Zion got pretty much whatever and wherever he wanted, Bryant's length was a rim deterrent -- the Pelicans shot 66.7% in the restricted area with him off the floor and 41.2% with him on the floor.
Game Notes
- The Pelicans were 90th percentile in transition efficiency at halftime and finished the game at the 77th percentile. This is for a team that is 11th in fast break points per game on the year. The transition defense continues to be a real weakenss for the Cavs, and it may have hurt a little worse if the Pelicans weren't 25th percentile in the halfcourt setting.
- There was an example in the 2Q, in the midst of some other poor transition possessions, of what the transition defense can look like with a consistent focus and effort level. Every regular season possession doesn't have to be like this but for a team that has struggled in transition going back to last year, and has been a blueprint for how teams attack the Cavs, it has to be a little more consistent so teams try other things then ramming this down their throat all game.
- It's interesting the Cavs are good about keeping their turnovers down but top-5 in live ball turnovers which is a possession that can lead to easy court flips and easy points. The Pelicans were 84th percentile in pts/poss in transition off steals but 60th percentile off live rebounds. So impactful either way but a lot more damage was done off steals.
- The Cavs have now 8 straight quarters of 30+ points and have two 40+ point quarters in two of their last three games. It may be simple but really it just took some shots starting to fall for this offense to look a whole lot different.
- Speaking of a way to beat the Cavs: The Pelicans applied some early full court pressure that fell back into an extended zone. The zone defense has been a bit of a struggle at times for the Cavs as it's change where and how they attack and switched up their offensive rhythm. Once again, it did just that to the Cavs. They found some openings, and still managed a 37 point 2Q but for awhile it slowed the Cavs offense down and created turnovers that allowed the Pelicans to briefly get the deficit to under double digits.
- Does it sound like the players know what's important and is a basis for what they do offensively? This is why Garland's health is so important and why the spotlight has been on Ball offensively with respect to how his offensive playstyle differs. It's also why playing more CPJ wouldn't be a bad thing and the Cavs might have to evaluate how they view their dribble drive game going into the trade deadline with no Caris LeVert or Ty Jerome.
- Just imagine this bench with Merrill sliding back to the bench and Strus joining him. How many benches have better scoring than Strus, Merril and Hunter off of it?
- Two wins against two bad opponents, even if New Orleans was coming off a 5-game win streak, doesn't change the questions about this team but it at least gives them some breathing room to stand up and potentially regroup themselves after getting knocked down. Winning also helps quiet any chatter of firings or trades. Now, they have a great opportunity over the next four with the Knicks on Christmas, and then on the road against Houston and San Antonio before coming back home to Phoenix, to show what spot they're in heading into the new year.
Last edited: