Cavs: Kevin Love-Cedi Osman two-man game is a reliable one

Though wing Cedi Osman doesn’t have nearly the role he had last year, his two-man game with star big Kevin Love is one the Cleveland Cavaliers will be able to rely on for stretches in games in most instances.

With the Cleveland Cavaliers having more viable offensive options to go to to make plays for themselves and others in 2019-20, it’s understandable for wing Cedi Osman‘s workload to decrease from 2018-19.

Osman had 13.0 points on 11.1 shot attempts, to go with 4.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game, as was noted by Basketball Reference.

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With star big Kevin Love and key big Tristan Thompson out for a combined 99 games last year due to reported injuries, and with Cleveland not having rookie primary playmaker Darius Garland though, it was clear that Osman wouldn’t have nearly as much responsibility as he had last season.

Osman only has 8.3 shot attempts per contest to begin 2019-20 as was documented by NBA.com, but has been very efficient, with an effective field goal shooting clip of 58.9%. That includes a three-point shooting clip of 47.1% on a healthy 4.9 attempts per outing.

Considering Osman was inconsistent as a scorer last season, even as a three-point threat when open, and had a 34.8% clip, him keeping that pace up is highly unlikely for long stretches of this season.

Nonetheless, it’s apparent that Osman, who moves really well without the ball and is a highly capable passer, has a really effective two-man game with Love, who is one of the Cavs’ best passers as well, and with his presence alone, frees up players such as Osman more often.

Love, who is leading Cleveland in scoring with 18.9 points per game, has been re-established as a key passer in halfcourt offense, this year, too, for Cleveland Cavaliers head coach John Beilein, as evidenced by Love leading the Cavs in assists per game with 4.1, as is referenced by NBA.com.

With the Cavaliers’ young starting backcourt of Collin Sexton and Darius Garland working the kinks out likely for a good while, which is understandable, Love and Osman’s two-man game is one that Beilein and company can rely on and should use a fair amount in games.

Though Garland and Sexton are going to have the ball in their hands a bunch, which is obviously necessary for their growth, and I believe both are doing fine and Garland is doing a good job of getting his teammates involved, it’s clear that both Love and Osman work well off one another.

Factoring in that, again, Beilein should go to that well a fair amount in games to take the pressure off of Garland and Sexton.

Last season, though Love was only active in 22 games mostly due to reported toe surgery, he developed quality chemistry with Osman.

You could see that by Love having the most assisted field goals he had in 2018-19 from Osman deliveries, according to NBA.com’s tracking data.

That trend has continued thus far in 2019-20, as Osman leads in that category assisting Love again, and with Osman’s vision and passing ability, that again, is a duo the Cleveland Cavaliers should utilize more than they have been at this point.

This demonstrates that sort of thing with Osman driving and kicking to Love here against the Indiana Pacers, which is nothing earth-shattering, but Cedi gets it to Love on-time and right in the shooting pocket. Get more of this going, Cavs.

Now with more players to go to for offense than last season, and again factoring in bench bucket-getter and an improving passer in Jordan Clarkson, I get Osman having the ball in his hands less this year.

However, Osman is able to make plays for others, and additionally, he’s done a good job of curling around screens and making solid plays when getting downhill, which has led to nice floater attempts and as a cutter, Love can hit Cedi consistently throughout games, or with Osman as a spot-up threat after Love kickouts from Love occupying defenders inside.

The majority of the time in relation to this two-man game, it’ll still be with Cedi setting up Love, Cleveland’s best scoring option, but anyhow, the two again have a growing chemistry, and their two-man game is one the Cavs and Beilein will be able to rely on throughout games.

Granted, Osman had an off night on Tuesday against the Boston Celtics and Gordon Hayward (who tied a career-high with 39 points), where the Cavs lost by six and Osman went four-of-13 from the field, as was noted by ESPN. A few opportunities off spot-ups and cuts he received from Love just somehow rimmed out a tad, though.

Osman did end up knocking in three-of-seven from three-point land even with having a tough go of it as a scorer, but he did have three assists, and again, you could see that Osman and Love play off each other well, despite there not particularly being a ton of two-man game for them in that one.

Osman did space the floor for some post-ups for Love, too, though, which also plays into that with his willingness to move continuously without the ball.

Anyhow, with Osman’s quality timing as a cutter, leak-out player after Love defensive rebounds, and feel to space the floor to receive skip passes, with Love’s vision, Cedi should find more quality looks from the perimeter from Love going forward.

I’d look to see the Osman initiate more offense here for Beilein and company as Cedi gets more time in Beilein’s system, and hitting Love, along with Sexton and Garland, is something Cedi can do a good amount with his passing feel.

The bottom line is Cedi is a much better passer than the 7.9% assist rate NBA.com shows he currently has, and I can guarantee Love would attest to that from Osman.

Again, though, keep an eye on that Osman-Love two-man game as the season progresses, and the two get more and more comfortable with one another on the floor together in Beilein’s system.

It could get Sexton, Garland and others, such as Jordan Clarkson or Larry Nance Jr. better opportunities, too.