Cleveland Cavaliers: David Griffin Says Cavs Don't Need A Big. Wrong.

David Griffin doesn’t think the Cleveland Cavaliers need a big man. That’s either a smokescreen or a woefully ignorant take on the Cavs performance in the paint.

I’m not often critical of Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin but when I read these words from an article penned by cleveland.com’s Joe Vardon, I cringed:

"“I think his comment about needing a big, I’m not necessarily sure we’re on that page, especially from the coaching staff’s standpoint,” Griffin said. “Ironically, because we like to play small with LeBron at the four so much. That may mean he doesn’t like playing four so much, but we’re awfully good when we play that way.”"

Really Griff?

The Cleveland Cavaliers are ranked 19th in total rebounds with 44.3 per game. They’re ranked 27th in the league with 3.9 blocks per game. They’re ranked 18th in the league in opponents points in the paint per game with 43.1 points. Opponents have averaged 46.0 points in the paint over their last three games, numbers that drop them to the 23rd “best” team in the league when it comes to protecting the paint.

All the problems the Golden State Warriors have with lesser teams like the New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings is because they can’t protect the paint. The reason that they have trouble with the Cleveland Cavaliers is because they can’t protect the paint.

Clearly, not protecting the paint is a problem for team’s who want to repeat as NBA champions.

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Tristan Thompson, who has played in every game for the last four and half years, isn’t a superhuman and will miss a game eventually. When that happens, Channing Frye will be the team’s only backup center. Unless the Cavs want to use Kevin Love at center where he’s consistently overmatched physically.

Thompson is an average rim-protector. Love is a below-average rim-protector. Frye is a below-average rim-protector and rebounder.

None of those three are a true center.

So for David Griffin to say that the team doesn’t need a big man, despite all these facts, is ludicrous. LeBron James‘ ability to play the power forward position at an elite level doesn’t change the fact that if one of Cleveland’s true big men go down, they’ll be left in a less than enviable position. Does he plan on throwing Chris Andersen, torn ACL and all, on the floor in case something happens to one of Thompson, Frye or Love? Sure, the Cavs only have one open roster spot but they’ve saved so much money by absorbing Kyle Korver‘s salary into Anderson Varejao‘s $9.6 million traded player’s exception that even if it comes down to waiving Andersen, the Cavs will still have saved more money than they spent to acquire Korver , Point Guard X and Big Man X.

I’m willing to be wrong but it seems like Griffin does need nudging from James if he thinks the Cavs don’t need a big man. How is the same man who consistently keeps the Cavs championship hopes from going up in flames playing with fire and expecting not to get burned?

Do you think the Cleveland Cavaliers need another big man? Let us know in the comments section or Twitter @KJG_NBA.

Cleveland Cavaliers: David Griffin Says He Doesn’t Think Cavs Need A Big But He’s Wrong

By Quenton S. Albertie | Jan 15, 2017

David Griffin doesn’t think the Cleveland Cavaliers need a big man. That’s either a smokescreen or a woefully ignorant take on the Cavs performance in the paint.

More from Cavs News