Rodney Hood may have saved his career in Cleveland during Game 3

A restricted free agent this offseason, Rodney Hood was already halfway out the door for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Then, Game 3 happened.

After an excruciating 110-102 loss in Game 3 of the 2018 NBA Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers, now in a 0-3, have the biggest mountain in NBA history to climb in order to win the series. That said, one bright spot in Game 3 was the explosion of Rodney Hood.

Hood ended the game with 15 points on 7-for-11 shooting. Hood was the most efficient player for Cleveland in Game 3, shooting over 60% from the field. Along with six rebounds, Hood showcased his unique ability to get to and convert from his spot on the court.

Coming to Cleveland from Utah, Hood was part of a bigger three-team trade that eventually landed him in Cleveland along with former teammate George Hill. The two have been a couple of the more intriguing additions for Cleveland.

For Hood, he’s had his dark days in Cleveland although here just a short time. After poor play forced him out of the rotation, refusing to play at the end of a blowout victory made matters even worse. While no disciplinary action was taken, Hood was clearly out of the rotation for the foreseeable future.

Since then, Hood’s played in the closing minutes of games, but that’s really all the time Lue has alotted the former Jazz swingman. However, we all knew Hood was capable of more.

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With their backs against the wall, Cleveland had to make changes.

In Game 3, Lue benched Jordan Clarkson, who had been averaging 13 minutes per game in the Finals yet has shot just 23% from the field. Hood, who played 26 impactful minutes, took time from Korver and Nance Jr. also. Those two combined for 24 minutes.

Hood will have a $3.4 million qualifying offer on the table, and while his future in Cleveland is still up in the air, he certainly helped his stock in Game 3.

Not rattled by the moment, Hood was calm, got to his spot on the floor, and knocked down his shot. Defensively, just about every Cavalier played well, except whoever guarded Kevin Durant. Durant went off for 43 while every other Warrior was limited to 11 or fewer points.

Many forget that Hood averaged 17 points per game during his time with the Jazz.

While his differences might’ve set him back during his time in Cleveland, he’s still that player. His length, his shooting, and his playmaking force him to be on the court. Of course, being only 25-years-old helps too.

Ideally, his playmaking will be one of the sole reasons the Cavs bring him back. Coming off screens and pulling up at the elbow or behind the arc, Hood’s found his niche in the NBA. His unique talent, that was showcased throughout Game 3, increased his stock.

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It made him valuable again, and it proved that with a little trust and a lot of pressure he can excel.

Overall, Game 3 most likely saved Hood’s career in Cleveland.