Cleveland Cavaliers: Will Cedi Osman crack the playoff rotation?
In year’s past, we’ve seen Tyronn Lue go with an 8-man rotation for the Cleveland Cavaliers. This year, will the Turkish star and Cavs rookie Cedi Osman make it?
Cedi Osman and his efficient transition to the NBA has been one of the most noteworthy surprises for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Osman, who came over this past offseason from his Turkish home, has started 11 games for the Cavaliers.
On the court, Osman has been one of the most productive Cavaliers. Outside of LeBron James himself, Osman is the best shooting forward on the Cavaliers team percentage-wise. He’s shooting 49.4% from the floor this season. Jose Calderon and LeBron James are the only two non-center Cavs to average a higher percentage.
On top of that, Osman can shoot from deep. However, throughout the season, Osman averaged just 10.6 minutes per game.
Due to his lack of minutes, depicting a more accurate picture of his three-point shooting can be done using the “per 36 minutes” stat, which credits Osman with 1.7 triples. That’d make him the sixth most volume three-point shooter for Cleveland.
However, he does also shoot a solid 38.0% from downtown, fifth-best on the team.
So, scoring-wise, he’s efficient.
The only other above average part of Cedi Osman’s game can be shown through steals. Osman averages 1.7 steals per 36 minutes. While he might not get the minutes that he deserves this postseason, he’s proven to be a spark both offensively and defensively off the bench. Tyronn Lue should be able to use that to his advantage.
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His offensive efficiency and defensive quickness make him a potential member of Lue’s 8-man playoff rotation. The only problem is the depth Cleveland possesses.
So, the starting lineup is obviously all in. The current starting lineup seems to be Jeff Green, George Hill, Kyle Korver, Kevin Love, and LeBron James, a lineup no one would have guessed to start a playoff game at the beginning of the season.
Following those five, one could infer that JR Smith, Jordan Clarkson, Rodney Hood, and Jose Calderon will also get quite a bit of run. Then, for the big men, you have Larry Nance Jr. with Tristan Thompson missing out on the playoff rotation.
As you can see, that’s already a potential nine players in what most Cavs analysts believe will be an 8-man rotation.
Whether it’s with his kindness on Twitter or his passion on the court, Cedi Osman has become a fan-favorite, and while his first postseason might no go the way he has planned, there’s no doubt in my mind that in a few years he could be one of the instrumental leaders of the team.
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In just a few seasons, it will truly be Cedi season. Be patient, Cavs Nation.