More aggressive defense from Cavs lately sets right precedent

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been more aggressive defensively as of late, and that sets the right precedent for them going forward.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been more aggressive recently as rotators, as they seem to be double teaming and hedging/stunting harder in recent games.

Considering newer head coach J.B. Bickerstaff was essentially running the defense before under prior head coach John Beilein, it’s a bit unclear as to why rotations have been more timely since Bickerstaff’s taken over outside of a blowout loss at the Miami Heat on Saturday.

Regardless, Larry Nance Jr. emphasized how recently, Bickerstaff has been prioritizing being unselfish and giving the team constant energy, via Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor. I understand that it’s been a four-game sample size with Bickerstaff as Cleveland’s head coach, but we’re even seeing the likes of Kevin Love giving multiple efforts on closeouts and rotations defensively.

Now, I’m a bit hesitant still to really embrace lineups featuring Nance at the 3 position, which has had success in Cleveland’s last two games.

To be clear, tough, those featured a big fourth quarter comeback over the Heat on Monday, of which KJG’s Corey Casey hit on, but they didn’t have Jimmy Butler due to personal reasons, and there was also a win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, who were without Ben Simmons (reported impingement in lower back) and mostly without Joel Embiid (reported left shoulder sprain).

Anyhow, I understand in some matchups, Nance could be utilized at the 3, and when Darius Garland and either Collin Sexton or Kevin Porter Jr. have appeared down the stretch with Nance at the 3, Love and Thompson, the Cavs have been loaded with rebounders.

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Additionally, Sexton, throughout games post-All-Star break, has done a solid job on plenty of occasions pressuring primary playmakers at the point-of-attack, and with pieces such as Nance and/or Thompson hedging hard and looking to double when that’s feasible, it’s closed off penetration more. That’s the right precedent to set moving forward for the squad in general.

Plus, from there, the Cleveland Cavaliers have been making disciplined closeouts at the three-point line, and they’ve forced their share of tough late-clock shots.

Again, I understand it’s a four-game sample, but the Cavs’ better discipline on closeouts and having more crisp rotations has paid dividends.

Of teams post-All-Star break, only four squads have contested more three-pointers per game than the Cavaliers, according to NBA.com.

Cleveland is 17th in opponent three-point percentage in that stretch, which is not world-beating, but it’s still better than on the 2019-20 season, where only four teams have given up deep balls at a higher clip. Sticking to that script, only seven clubs have contested less three-pointers per game this season than the Cavs, per NBA.com.

Moreover, Cleveland’s defensive rating on the season is the second-worst in the league, but post-All-Star break, under the direction of Bickerstaff, it’s been a respectable 15th.

Again, it’s been four games, but we’re seeing the Cavaliers be much more decisive on their doubles/stunts into driving lanes, and that’s forced opponents to make extra passes more, which has bought time for rotators to come.

Here in this situation, Porter pressured Kendrick Nunn on the pass hard, Darius Garland did not stay glued to Jae Crowder in the corner on the weak side, and had high hands on a Bam Adebayo pass and Nance cleaned the play up behind DG, and Cleveland was off an running.

That sort of effort and anticipation from Garland was encouraging to see.

Here’s another instance of a young guard showing growth on the defensive end. This quick stunt by Sexton as a helper led to a run-out going the other way for him in the Philly game, which is always a good way to get a scorer going or keep them in-rhythm.

The Cavs’ defensive communication appears to have been better, too, and with more effective contests, players such as Sexton above, Porter, Cedi Osman and Nance have been able to get more man advantage transition opportunities.

Here in this situation, the Cavaliers actually went with a 2-3 zone near the end of the first quarter against the Sixers, and forced a late-clock look and Nance contested this Josh Richardson look well, and it led to a run-out the other way. Matthew Dellavedova then found him right away, leading to an easy bucket.

Anyhow, while the sample size has been four games, more aggressiveness in looking to double/stunt/hedge harder with the adjacent rotation coming as well as of late is setting the right precedent for the Wine and Gold going forward.

Furthermore, with Bickerstaff insisting on how he and the Cleveland Cavaliers are eventually going to negotiate a long-term deal in the near future in an interview with The Undefeated’s Marc J. Spears, this defensive aggression and hopefully more transition opportunities will be more of a mainstay in coming years.

Plus, if the Cavs were to add a player such as USC’s Onyeka Okongwu in the 2020 NBA Draft, a player with incredible defensive instincts and versatility in pick-and-roll coverage, as Andre Drummond insurance/a developmental piece, that’d play right into this aggressive defense.

Or, a switchable defender such as Auburn wing/potential small-ball 4 Isaac Okoro could work well, too, and with either, or Deni Avdija, of Israeli Premier League club, Maccabi Tel Aviv, the defense could be set up better for the future and help make up for Garland’s physical individual defensive deficiencies more.