Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 takeaways from Game 2 win versus Boston Celtics

Takeaway #2: Osman is Cleveland’s best passer

Osman is going to have his share of pick-and-roll ball-handling opportunities. The Cavaliers need to give the second-year man the ball and let him work.

He’s their most creative playmaker and has a knack for finding angles to execute pinpoint entry passes. That’s been on display in the first two preseason games, and he had four assists with no turnovers on Saturday night.

This wasn’t registered as an assist, but this hockey assist by Osman made this Sexton three-point happen. He’ll do this type of thing on a nightly basis, which bodes well for the Cavaliers.

With a year-plus of mentoring by LeBron James, Osman will only get better and better as a passer both in halfcourt situations and in transition. At 6-foot-8, it helps for Osman to be able to deliver passes over defenders and survey the defense potentially better than other Cleveland playmaking ball-handlers.

It’s very, very early, but Osman leads Cleveland with an assist rate of 36.4 percent, per NBA.com. He also has a turnover rate of just 3.7 percent. Those marks aren’t sustainable, but it’s a glimpse of how effective Osman can be in terms of getting his teammates the ball in their sweet spots on time.

This year, the Osman passing highlight will be fun to watch.

The third takeaway is Cleveland is trying to wear teams out.