Damyean Dotson is helping his case looking onward for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Damyean Dotson has proven to have been a quality signing by the Cleveland Cavaliers. In a general sense, I know Dotson has been playing more than would normally have been the case had players such as Kevin Porter Jr. and Dylan Windler have been in the fold.
That hasn’t been the case, though. Porter has not appeared yet this season for the Cavs due to personal reasons, and the team is seemingly going to gradually bring him back into things.
In relation to Windler, he has not been in action since Cleveland’s first game versus the Charlotte Hornets because of a fourth metacarpal fracture in his left hand.
And on the subject of perimeter/backcourt players dealing with injuries, Darius Garland has been sidelined Cleveland’s past three games at the Orlando Magic (times two) and Memphis Grizzlies due to a right shoulder sprain. He’ll seemingly be back at some point next week.
Plus, unfortunately, Dante Exum is set to miss six-to-eight weeks as of Wednesday due to a right calf strain. Matthew Dellavedova (concussion) has not been in active to this point, either, and there is no current timetable for him for a return; he’s had a history of those.
The Cavaliers, of which you can view more on, will reportedly apply for a hardship exception this weekend, too, and a lead guard is stated to be who they’ll target.
Circling back, though, while injuries have played into it, and Dotson injured his ankle to an extent earlier in the week but seems to be getting healthier, the silver lining to me has been seeing Dotson affect games for the Cavs. Dotson has only hit 27.6 percent of his 3.6 three-point attempts per game thus far, which hasn’t been ideal. Albeit when the Cavs get guys back, Dotson will get some easier looks in that regard game-to-game, I’d think.
On the plus side, he’s made some occasional drives/nice cuts, leading to interior finishes. In the pull-up game/push shot game, Dotson has aided Cleveland, too; he’s hit 64.7 percent from two-point range.
And I believe he still can create for himself off-the-bounce in spurts as the season progresses/Cleveland gets more guys involved.
Anyhow, while his perimeter defense I think has been solid when he’s had opportunities for the most part, too, one area that’s jumped out, realistically, to me regarding Dotson has actually been his passing.
Dotson’s passing contributions for the Cavs shouldn’t be discounted.
More from King James Gospel
- 3 possible starting lineups for Cleveland Cavaliers in 2023-24
- The Cavaliers may have snagged a hidden gem in Craig Porter Jr.
- 4 players the Cavaliers should pursue in 2024 free agency
- 6 players Cavaliers might replace Jarrett Allen with by the trade deadline
- This stat is one to keep an eye on for Cavaliers’ Max Strus in years ahead
I obviously acknowledge that Dotson, given the injuries, has had more of an expanded role in recent games for the Cavs, and without even Sexton on Thursday, who was Cleveland’s interim 1 without Garland and Exum both, for instance.
Dotson had six assists in that game, and Cedi Osman, with an increased playmaking workload in recent games, had seven assists, and he’s done a really nice job in the last few outings creating open looks.
He’s had three straight games of seven assists, and I give him his credit for that.
Albeit when it comes to Dotson, who I know struggled as a shooter versus Memphis and went three-of-12, in an overall sense, his passing feel/ability has been a welcomed addition.
I recognize the recent inflation/that DG has missed the last three games, but Dotson’s made heady hockey assists/extra passes when he’s been in in a number of situations, and that’s aided guys such as Collin Sexton, Darius Garland, Osman and Larry Nance Jr. I’d think it could more so for Isaac Okoro, who is now back healthy, too.
In Cleveland’s last six games, Dotson is fourth on the Cavs in assist rate at 16.3 percent, and among regular contributors in that span, he’s had the lowest turnover rate as well at just 6.6 percent.
We’ve seen Dotson handle some pick-and-roll ball handling duties, and though at times he’s occasionally gotten into the lane himself and scored, or gotten to his spot-ups for a pull-up, Dotson’s feel for hitting passes to Drummond or Nance has been great to see.
As the season progresses, I’d think that could lead to quality offense when Damyean is in there, and could aid in taking some playmaking burden off of Garland, for instance, and lead to high percentage looks.
And these two buckets down the stretch at the Grizz initially coming from from Dotson were good to see, and these sort of passes, while not being highlight reel ones, just essentially show how Dotson has the feel/willingness to get bigs involved throughout games. That’s no matter what his minutes-share is in-game.
https://twitter.com/cavs/status/1347379106514522113?s=20
Moreover, even though Dotson needs to get it going more consistently from deep, and normally, he won’t be tasked with nearly as much playmaking responsibility as the past few games, his passing has been a real positive so far. Looking onward, that shouldn’t be discounted, either.
Dotson’s demonstrating he can affect games by aiding the team defensively, as a cutter and passer.
And his passing feel/recognition should help out Sexton, Garland, Okoro, Nance and others, such as Kevin Love and Kevin Porter Jr., when they’re back in the fold.