Cleveland Cavaliers: The importance of pure point guard Jose Calderon

Jose Calderon’s play has been special for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Jose Calderon has been exactly what the Cleveland Cavaliers need. A low-usage, low-volume, high IQ point guard who can be the maestro to the Cavs’ orchestra of talent.

Let’s start off with why Calderon’s low usage rate and low volume (in terms of counting/traditional stats) are important.

Calderon has a career-low usage rate of 11.7 percent this season but he’s never had a usage rate over 20.0 percent in his career despite averaging as many as 8.9 points per game (in the 2010-2011 season). As a starter this season, Calderon’s usage rate only sees a slight uptick, going to 12.2 percent.

The Spanish sensation averages just 4.6 points and 2.1 assists per game this season. He averages 6.4 points 2.8 assists per game as a starter this season. Per 36 minutes, those numbers raise to 10.2 points and 4.7 assists for the season and 10.1 points and 4.4 assists as a starter.

That said, he isn’t low-volume in terms of low impact but because he only plays 16.1 minutes per game this season and 22.4 minutes per game as a starter, there are plenty of others that will have a bigger impact on the scoreboard and LeBron James’ assist averages will continue to hover around the double-digit range (James is averaging a career-high 9.2 assists per game this season).

With the bevy of players the Cavaliers have that are more comfortable in a scoring role and the fact that there are two All-Stars who are first and second in the pecking order, having a playmaker who doesn’t need to be the one to finish the play or get the assist himself keeps everybody comfortable in their role.

That means nobody is stepping on the toes of players like James, Kevin Love, Jordan Clarkson and Rodney Hood can keep their usage rates high when Calderon shares the court with them.

Calderon’s intelligence and experience also results in players like James and Clarkson getting the chance to play off-the-ball. With the threat of his outside shot (47.3 percent from three this season), he also gives the two slashers more driving space to the rim and a ready-made outlet should they find him, or a player who can make the pass to him, behind-the-arc.

While that’s less imperative for James, against the Toronto Raptors the duo showed a level of proficiency and calculation in the pick-and-roll that’s fitting for players of their ilk.

The cerebral ones who have seen it all… or at the very least play like it.

James’ size and strength allow him to set great screens and when you combine James’ gravity (thanks to this insane career) with Calderon’s shooting touch and smarts, it’s truly a beautiful process to watch.

It should be no wonder why the Cavs’ effective field goal percentage (eFG%) raises from 53.8 percent to 57.5 percent when Calderon is on the floor. Nor why their assist percent raises from 56.3 percent to 63.4 percent.

It’s interesting to see that in the top ten two-man lineups featuring Calderon, their field goal attempts per 100 possessions were below average.

That’s not necessarily a negative though, considering that seven of the same lineups had more points per 100 possessions on average and all of them posted a higher eFG%.

That simply comes down to Calderon being the conductor and minimizing the amount of tough field goal attempts being taken.

With James as the lone playmaker, the team tends to stand around and wait for him to make a play.

Hood, while a functional distributor, is looking to score. There aren’t enough cutters to operate around Love in the high-post, nor does the team seem inclined to truly play that style of basketball on offense.

Clarkson tends to play at one speed. Part of the reason head coach Ty Lue wants Calderon to be in the playoff rotation is because he believes Clarkson plays better off-the-ball.

"“We need Jordan to score the basketball, so we need someone to run the plays to get him the ball on the side we want to get him to, and then run pick and roll, or whatever we want to run for him,” Lue said. “He plays a lot better when he has a point guard beside him.”"

While George Hill is out, Calderon can start in his place and play a vital role. When Hill returns, there will then be two heady point guards who can set up teammates.

Though Hill is considerably more reliable on the defensive end, Calderon’s fire and effort on that side have led to offenses posting a lower offensive rating when he’s on the floor (110.6) than off of it (112.2).

*All stats gathered from www.basketball-reference.com