As we just pass the halfway point of the season, the Cleveland Cavaliers haven’t had a ton go right.
Take a look at some of the most shocking statistics from the first 42 games of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ season. These tell a whole heck of a lot.
8: The Cavs currently have just eight wins on the year and come just over the halfway point with a dismal record of 8-34 for a winning percentage of just .190.
-10.6: The Cavs average point differential, meaning the average result of a Cavs game is a 10.6 point loss for the Cavs. This is worst in the league by over a full point, per NBA.com.
113.0: The amount of points the Cavs are giving up a night.
While this number isn’t the worst in the league (its 23rd), it leaves plenty of room for improvement. Defense has been a struggle over the past few years, and while this year for the most part the effort has been there, the results are sorely lacking.
102.5: The amount of points the Cavs are scoring a night. In a year where we are seeing points scored in record numbers, the Cavs rank 28th in the league in scoring. This can be attributed to not having the one “go-to” scorer.
In the past, the Cleveland Cavaliers had Kyrie Irving and LeBron James. With no true star, no one player has emerged and shouldered the load.
4: Five-time All-Star Kevin Love has played just four games all year after suffering a reported toe injury.
Love signed a huge extension in the off-season (a four-year, $120.4 million extension, per Spotrac) and hasn’t had the chance to live up to that deal.
Love’s future in Cleveland still remains in question as the annual trade rumors are beginning to swirl.
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18: Cleveland head coach Larry Drew has utilized 18 different starting lineup combinations this season, per NBA.com.
A lot that can be attributed to that are key injuries to Love, Tristan Thompson and Larry Nance Jr. The roster has already seen a lot of turnover, and George Hill and Kyle Korver both got traded.
It is also important to remember Collin Sexton began the season in a reserve role.
3.2: Nance is leading the Cavs with an average of 3.2 assists per night. Sure, there’s been turnover at the point guard position, but a reserve forward shouldn’t be out-assisting the guards.
Sexton has struggled to distribute the ball and needs to continue to improve, especially in that area.
<.1%: The chance ESPN’s Basketball Power Index gives the Cavs of making the postseason. With a record of 8-34, the Cavs are essentially eliminated from playoff contention. The season being over in mid-January is a tough pill to swallow coming on the heels of four straight trips to the NBA Finals.
14%: The chance that the Cavs would have the #1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft if the season ended right now. It is important to note the NBA did revise the process for getting the #1 overall pick, and now the bottom three teams all have equal chance at the coveted first selection.