Meet the Cavaliers: The Weirdest Show In The NBA
Despite major flaws, the Cleveland Cavaliers continue to surprise me. I’ve talked about their best players, but now it’s time to get weird.
My long-overdue analysis of this team is here. The Cavs have been the most surprising team in the league this season. Two season-ending injuries in their backcourt haven’t slowed them down. They remain firmly put in the East playoff picture.
Trying to sniff their first bit of success since the turn of the century without Lebron, the Cavs’ rebuilding project is well ahead of schedule. Darius Garland’s marvelous play never stops. Their weird collection of seven-footers has worked out better than anyone could fathom.
Despite serious flaws that I thought would catch up to them, the Cavs continue to roll. The weirdest team in the league has proven a lot of people wrong, including me. Today, it’s time to talk about the Cavs.
The Flaws
Not to sour the mood from that inspiring introduction, but the Cavs are weird for a reason. I had them as the 13th seed in the East, winning just 30 games. I wasn’t alone in this. Bleacher Report also projected the Cavs are the 13th seed, winning just 31 games and having a 10% chance at the playoffs. ESPN projected them to win just 26 games. My dear friend Zach Harper over at The Athletic also had the Cavs at 26th in his preview to the season. Nobody had this team as being competent.
With their larger-than-life lineup, not a whole lot of depth, and questions at coaching, the Cavs looked like another lottery team. That hasn’t been the case, but this teams’ flaws haven’t gone. They didn’t fall into a pit of eels and start looking like Jamie Foxx.
The Worst Bench In The League (but not by the numbers)
The first, and most glaring problem of this team, is the bench. JB Bickerstaff goes from putting out Garland, Allen, and Mobley to subbing in Brandon Goodwin, Dylan Windler, and Dean Wade. That would be like doing The Empire Strikes Back with Nicolas Cage instead of Harrison Ford.
Kevin Love is the sole reason this bench is ok at best. Not having Ricky Rubio means that the Cavs don’t have a competent backup guard. Trading for Rajon Rondo seemed like a good idea at the time, but not anymore. Kevin Pangos and the aforementioned Brandon Goodwin are forgettable.
Sure, the Cavs’ bench has a positive plus/minus on the year. That’s cool, but talent-wise, I think they’re one of the worst in the league. Of the 12 best teams in the NBA record-wise, maybe only the 76ers have a worse bench.
Shooting 40% from the field displays their lack of talent. They aren’t good enough to win the Cavs games. And that’s why I have a problem with them.
Shooting?
The Cavs aren’t a bad shooting team. They are 17th in 3-PT% and 18th in total 3’s made this season. That’s not good, but it’s not terrible. However, more shooting couldn’t hurt.
On a team with this much size, it’s easier to pack the paint against them. Darius Garland pull-up three’s remain their deadliest weapon behind the arc. If defenses account for that, they don’t have to worry about too much from outside.
Lauri Markkanen is at 34% for the season. Isaac Okoro is at 30%. Evan Mobley doesn’t attempt them often, Jarrett Allen not even trying. Kevin Love’s best shooting season from behind the line isn’t nearly enough.
With the lack of spacing comes less room to operate. Here are a few clips from last night’s game against OKC;
If you pause that video at two seconds, look at all the orange inside the paint. There’s a reason SGA ignores a wide-open Okoro in the corner. Evan Mobley seems alone on the court at the top. Even Darius Garland, on his way to the All-Star game, is uncovered. The spacing sucks.
Pause the video at 2 seconds (again). Five orange jerseys swarm a driving Goodwin. There’s no regard for Cedi Osman, Lamar Stevens, or even Kevin Love. This team needs more dangerous shooters.
With the NBA Trade Deadline coming up, I entertained a few names for the Cavs to get. Eric Gordon would provide some much-needed scoring. Duncan Robinson from Miami would be a deadeye shooter. Joe Harris in Brooklyn is another option.
Adding more shooting would go a long way for this team.
Despite All That…
Even with all that I just laid out, this team is nine games over 0.500 and in the playoff picture. It makes no sense how that is possible. Even with all their injuries and depth issues, if the season ended today, the Cavs would be in the playoffs.
The Cavs have played 29 games against teams above 0.500, tied for the most in the league. They have 14 wins against such teams. For a team projected to win 26.5 games, that’s not too bad.
Now, let’s talk about the good stuff. Why are the Cavs so good?
The Ascension of Darius Garland
Without question, the ascension of Darius Garland has made this team what it is. I’m well aware of the wonders of the Twin Towers down low (more on them later), but Garland is having a season for the ages.
Garland played just five college games at Vanderbilt, the biggest reason as to why he was awful as a rookie. A bounce-back 2021 campaign showed his promise, but I don’t think anybody expected what would happen next.
Garland went from being pretty good in 2021 to f******* awesome in 2022. Everything good about his 2021 season – the improved shooting and playmaking – has gone to a new level this season.
19.8 points / 8.1 assists / 1.2 steals / 58% TS (+2.1rTS%)
The injury to Collin Sexton was a blessing in disguise. Garland could now have the ball in his hands more, leading to the show he’s been putting on. Every single night features some sort of great pass or quirky move. And every night, his campaign for the All-Star game grows.
The Pull-up Game
Garland’s scoring and efficiency boosts aren’t hard to follow. He’s shooting less down low and making more jumpers. Simple.
His pull-up 3-PT shooting has been the best part of his growth. Now, when coming off of a Jarrett Allen/Evan Mobley screen, Garland has a weapon to counter a drop defense.
| 2021 Darius Garland | 2022 Darius Garland |
| 2.4 Pull-up 3’s per game | 3.9 Pull-up 3’s per game |
| 35.7% on Pull-up 3’s | 37.7% on Pull-up 3’s |
Garland’s pull-up game has skyrocketed. His little, child-like hops after he shoots them are even better.
I know this was a mid-range jumper, but it was still smooth.
Good defense from Dejounte Murray can’t affect this beautiful shot.
Magical Playmaking
Garland went from averaging 6.1 assists last season to 8.1 this season. He’s one of just six point guards to average 8+ assists this season. Of those six elite playmakers, Garland ranks 3rd in PPG (19.8). Not too bad.
The additions of Allen and Mobley have given Garland new avenues with his playmaking. The threat of a lob makes it easier for Garland to find open teammates. His partnership with the Twin Towers has been excellent.
Garland has dropped 81 dimes to Jarrett Allen alone this season, 68 of them coming at the rim. In total, Garland has given his dynamic frontcourt 148 buckets. Those two have helped Garland progress wonderfully as a passer. His ability to pass in traffic has improved exponentially.
In 2021, Garland had six games where he had 10+ assists. This season, he’s already had 15 of such games, including an 18 assist performance against OKC. It’s an understatement to say this guy has become a better playmaker.
Not only was this a wonderful pass, Garland’s confidence oozes on plays like this. He’s in control, feeling like he can do wrong. Right now, that feeling is doing nothing but wonders to his game.
It’s a solid move by Garland, but I think this is the future for the Cavs. If Mobley and Allen can become automatic shooters from this LaMarcus Alridge range? That’s game over.
Darius Garland is on his way to the All-Star game. He’s having a second breakout season, leading the Cavs to one of the best records in the East. His playstyle is so fun and energetic, shades of another 2019 draftee Ja Morant.
Garland leads the offense, but a different type of force leads the defense.
The Twin Towers
When the Cavaliers drafted USC unicorn Evan Mobley with the third overall pick, I was ecstatic. This is what I said hours after the draft;
“YESSSSSS! The Cavs didn’t mess this up. They got handed a generational center, who is an elite defender next to Jarrett Allen down low. Allen and Mobley down low is lethal, good luck against that interior. With Okoro on the wing, the small backcourt of Garland and Sexton certainly doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb like it used to. Love this pick for Cleveland.
Grade: A+++++
If you ever need lottery numbers, you know who to call
Not to brag or anything, but I perfectly predicted this pick. Mobley’s versatility was too good to fail, the pairing with Allen destined to shut down opposing offenses. I was more right than I ever could have imagined.
| Cavs 2021 Defense | Cavs 2022 Defense |
| 113.5 Defensive Rating (25th) | 105.1 Defensive Rating (3rd) |
| 61.7 Opp FG% in the RA (5th) | 58.3 Opp FG% in the RA (1st) |
| 50.6 Opp PITP (27th) | 45.2 Opp PITP (13th) |
| 48.4% Opp FG (29th) | 44.2% Opp FG (8th) |
| 112.3 Opp PPG (17th) | 102.5 Opp PPG (2nd) |
The Cavs’ defense has become elite. Their paint defense was good last year, but now it’s the best in the league. Their defense allows 9.8 points fewer than it did last season, an amazing jump in efficiency. One of the league’s best defenses is powered by the Twin Towers.
Allen and Mobley have contested an absurd 981 shots this season. Opponents shoot just 47.2% against the versatile Mobley. Against Allen, the results are hardly better. Allen allows just 47.4% shots against him to drop.
The duo of Allen and Mobley is a +109 this season when they share the floor. Their other-wordly 99.7 defensive rating together is just more proof that they’re impossible to score against.
They Don’t Make Any Sense
Drooling over this combo’s length, versatility, and instincts have been great. The eye test alone tells you that they’re great. The numbers take that a step further.
Even one year ago, I couldn’t imagine this pairing would be this good this fast. It’s a spectacle I can’t keep myself from watching.
This duo will terrorize the Eastern Conference for years to come. This defense is guaranteed to be decent with these two leading the way. That’s a luxury I can’t even begin to describe. We haven’t seen a duo like this before and we may never see them again. So, sit back and enjoy this wrecking crew.
Overview
Which contending NBA team has played the hardest first-half schedule? The Cavs
Who leads the Eastern Conference in point differential? The Cavs
Who is going to have the easiest second-half schedule in the NBA? The Cavs
Yes, they are weird. Yes, they have some flaws that I refuse to ignore. Since 2000, this team has been nothing without Lebron James. Their painstaking rebuild was supposed to last another year and many more years down the line.
Even with every ounce of logic telling all of us they can’t succeed, the Cavaliers do it anyway. Yes, the Cleveland Cavaliers are weird. But you know what? They’re pretty damn good, too!
What Are Your Thoughts On The Cavs? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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