Cleveland Cavaliers: Andrew Bogut Will Help Cavs Get Through Kevin Love’s Absence
The Cleveland Cavaliers newest arrival, Andrew Bogut, will help them get through Kevin Love’s injury.
According to ESPN’s Marc Stein and numerous media outlets, Andrew Bogut is coming to Cleveland after agreeing to sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night.
Andrew Bogut had committed tonight to sign with Cleveland this weekend, according to league sources.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) March 1, 2017
Bogut, who the Cavs have seen a lot in the past two seasons, is expected to have an important but obvious role for the champs. Get Tristan Thompson some rest.
Bogut's role: “get Tristan some well needed rest. X and Os wise didn’t get that far but I’m sure they’ll use my passing as an advantage."
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) March 1, 2017
Thompson, who has played 30.1 minutes per game this season, has played 35.0 minutes per game in February. Thompson’s increase in minutes coincides with Kevin Love’s absence this month. Love, who played in the Cavs first five games in February, has been out of the lineup since Valentine’s Day as he recovers from arthroscopic knee surgery.
So, in effect, Bogut will also be helping the Cavs get through Love’s absence.
Love, who is averaging a team-high 11.1 rebounds per game, is backed up by Channing Frye, Richard Jefferson or James Jones. Frye averages the most rebounds per game and per 36 minutes in the trio with 3.8 rebounds per game and 7.2 rebounds per 36 minutes.
Bogut averaged 8.3 rebounds per game for the Mavericks in 22.4 minutes per game. Needless to say, Bogut will help the Cavs win the rebounding battle without Love available until April.
Bogut will also help the Cleveland Cavaliers during Love’s absence with his passing.
Bogut not only can execute the types of passes that lead to open threes for shooters as defenders gravitate towards him at the rim but he can also aid the Cavs in transition with his ball-handling, dimes to spot-up shooters and fullcourt touchdown passes. Bogut averaged 1.9 assists per game, like Love, in 7.7 less minutes per game.
The last area where Bogut helps the Cavs replace Love is as a scorer in the pick-and-roll and second chance points with putbacks from offensive rebounds. Bogut, who scores more from the left block than the right in either the pick-and-roll or putbacks, will help James hide his tendencies when going left, as screens could lead to points for Bogut as he rolls to the rim rather than shot attempts from LeBron James.
Right now, Thompson is the lone big controlling the paint on a consistent basis. With Bogut’s arrival, that all changes.
Bogut will sign this weekend and make his debut on Monday against the Miami Heat, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical.
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Will Andrew Bogut help the Cleveland Cavaliers in Kevin Love-like ways? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section or Twitter @KJG_NBA.
*All stats referenced from www.basketball-reference.com