Cleveland Cavaliers: Tristan Thompson, the rim protector, and more

Clarkson has been good when’s he been in position, and Hill hasn’t

This may also illustrate some of the issues basing your defensive evaluations on the stat. Clarkson still makes a lot of bad rotations, or gets stuck on picks without expending the requisite effort. Fortunately for him when those players shoot, Clarkson is nowhere to be found.

But when he does contest a shot, the outcome’s been good, whether that’s inside or outside the arc.

In a season where Cleveland’s defensive effort’s been spottier than cell reception in the Dakotas, the idea that Clarkson’s turned any defensive metric on its head is welcome news.

On the less-welcome-news front, is a different Cavaliers guard who could be auditioning for the role of Superman from the way his red cape’s fluttering in the wind. We’re of course talking about George Hill. There is no doubt that Hill’s capable of being a productive cog for Cleveland; the offense clearly runs better with him facilitating, inasmuch as the ball moves more and there’s less directionless dribbling.

However there’s reason to wonder if his heart’s in it on the other side. Sure the perimeter defense has been bad, but Hill’s DFG percentage (+11.6 percent) is nearly 50.0 percent worse than Collin Sexton’s (7.9). George Hill is allowing nearly 71.0 percent of all two-pointers shot over him to go in. (Hill is better than Sexton within 6 feet – barely – 80.0 percent versus 81.3 percent, both over 20 points above expectation.) Hills overall fall-off compared with last season is the largest in the NBA, just above Trevor Ariza, another vet that appears to be phoning it in for a losing squad.

This is of course is just another reason for the Cavaliers to free themselves of Hill’s contract sooner than later and hand the keys to Sexton. When it comes to defense, it really doesn’t seem he could be any worse.

Given the team’s defensive outcomes so far, it’s surprising that anyone is doing well. These early numbers offer some hope going forward – so long as human turnstile Sam Dekker (allowing 79.3 percent shooting inside 10 feet) doesn’t see the floor for the Cleveland Cavaliers.