It was an impressive start to the Playoffs for the Cleveland Cavaliers as they defeated the Detroit Pistons 106-101 in Game 1 but where was Channing Frye?
The win was highlighted by the performance of the big three, as LeBron James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving all had strong games. However, one member of the Cavs’ regular season rotation did not get a run.
Since his arrival in Cleveland at the trade deadline, Channing Frye has been a vital cog in the Cavaliers’ bench rotations, providing instant offense with his ability to score in the post and from beyond the arc.
In 26 games as a Cavalier, Frye has averaged 7.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game in 17.2 minutes of play and he has also shot the ball well, shooting 37.7% from three-point range with Cleveland.
Cavaliers’ coach, Tyronn Lue, has regularly run bench lineups which feature Frye along with Irving or James as the two scoring threats, but Frye was nowhere to be seen in Game 1 as Lue opted for Timofey Mozgov and Richard Jefferson.
The much-maligned Russian big man has struggled all season, and Game 1 was no different as Mozgov had just one block in five fruitless minutes of play. Mozgov was inserted early in the second quarter and quickly found himself back on the bench as the Cavaliers were outscored by five points while he was on the court.
Jefferson saw court time as primarily the 4, a position Frye is better suited to play and a much better offensive player. RJ’s defense can be better than Frye’s but the latter’s length helps him recover nicely.
After the game, Lue suggested that Frye should see playing time as the series goes on.
“I do see Channing Frye playing in this series, it’s just tonight we had to go a different way because of the way the game went,” Lue told reporters following the 106-101 win.
During the regular season with both Orlando and Cleveland, Frye shot 39% from long range, and his excellent shooting ability allows him to be an excellent pick and roll partner for the primary ball handler, either Irving, James or Matthew Dellavedova.
A notable bench rotation that has worked for the Cavaliers this season has been the five man lineup of Frye alongside Dellavedova, James, Tristan Thompson and Iman Shumpert. This group has played 35:19 together so far this season and has outscored opponents by 43.1 points per 100 possessions.
In comparison, Timofey Mozgov has struggled even in lineups with the starting unit. The Cavs’ starting linup for much of the season: Irving, J.R. Smith, James, Kevin Love and Mozgov has been outscored by 7.6 points per 100 possessions in 250:25 so far this season.
Overall, the Cavaliers’ offensive and defensive numbers see improvements with Mozgov off the floor. With Mozgov on the court, the Cavs’ offensive rating sits at 107.0, while their defensive rating is 105.8. However, when Mozgov is on the bench, the offensive rating has risen to 113.2 while the defensive rating also improves to 104.0.
It is unfortunate for both Mozgov and the Cavaliers that he has been so ineffective this season, especially after the vital role he played in the Cavs’ run to the NBA Finals last season. Clearly the procedure he had on his knee during the off-season never quite healed, and it has taken a toll on the 7’2″ big man’s play.
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Mozgov’s struggles coupled with Frye’s effectiveness off the ball makes it more feasible for Lue to run with Frye as the back up big man to Tristan Thompson off the bench.
The Cavaliers were heavily reliant on the play of the big three in Game 1, and while it is important for the big three to be firing, the Cavs simply need more from their bench.
The insertion of Frye into the rotation from Game 2 onwards should see the disparity in the bench points between the two teams disappear.
Do you think Channing Frye should play over Timofey Mozgov and Richard Jefferson?