Thus far this season, I’ve been largely pleased with how Damyean Dotson has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Coming into the season, it seemed as though Dotson would’ve been in a reserve role where he’d get some minutes at the 2 and/or potentially 3, albeit the minutes-share was uncertain.
That said, given that the Cavs have often been so thin on the perimeter/at guard, Dotson had to play more of an expanded role. Darius Garland previously had a stretch when he missed eight games due to a right shoulder sprain and Collin Sexton previously missed five outings because of a left ankle sprain.
Plus, regarding the 2/3 position, Dylan Windler missed the majority of the season to this point due to a fourth metacarpal fracture in his left hand, but Windler has been back for six games since, and looks to be fitting in really well off the bench.
And in relation to another guard for the Cavs/the injury thing, Matthew Dellavedova has not been active yet this season due to a concussion and his timetable is still an unknown, as he’s had a history of concussions.
Anyhow, with the injury pileup from before especially with Garland on the mend in that stretch, Dotson and Cedi Osman were often tasked with key playmaking duties, whether or not Sexton was available. And given that Dotson is not a natural point guard, and obviously Osman is naturally a 3, it was commendable that they helped out in that way for a then-so depleted Cavs squad.
Again the injuries certainly factored into it, but in Dotson’s case, and with Osman, them having an assist rate of 16.8 and 16.2 percent this season, and turnover rates of only 7.9 and 8.3 percent, have been a nice lift.
Albeit in Dotson’s case, with the Cavaliers’ perimeter players looking mostly healthy, his role/minutes-share has typically been smaller, as we’d imagine would play out. They still need him to be ready to roll if/when needed for more significant stretches game-to-game, though, and they can count on him to be.
The Cavs can always count on Dotson to stay ready.
Since Garland and Windler have been back in the fold in recent games, Dotson’s minutes have dropped considerably. That’s factoring in Isaac Okoro, too.
Dotson overall this season has played 22.3 minutes per outing, but in the last six games, he’s only appeared in 11.8 minutes per contest, and that’s been in five outings. With Garland in foul trouble earlier on in Sunday’s loss at the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Sexton a bit banged up regarding his ankle in that one as he once left in-game to the locker room, Dotson did play a quick burst but not after that.
Generally, though, considering the Cleveland Cavaliers have had their litony of injuries this season, they need Dotson to stay ready and keep making sure he is more than good to go, involving his approach, in case issues were to arise again. And although I wouldn’t expect it much from this point onward, with Dellavedova’s timetable being an unknown, Dotson at the de facto reserve 1 would still appear maybe to be needed from time to time.
Hopefully it that duty calls, Dame is still ready to go, and is able to help generate some interior looks and/or some solid catch-and-shoot opportunities, as he seemingly did well when playmaking from him was more so needed.
Either way, though, on a positive note for Dotson/his role, while he is only shooting 28.8 percent from three-point range on the season, him being able to feasibly have more of his triple attempts via catch-and-shoots looking onward should definitely help him out efficiency-wise.
Again, the three-point shooting hasn’t been there as one would’ve hoped for overall for Dotson, but in a smaller role now with the Cavaliers being healthier, that should aid Cleveland in that realm in the catch-and-shoot game, more. On the season, him hitting 38.3 percent of his catch-and-shoot triple attempts, per NBA.com’s shot tracking data, has been a plus, too.
Moreover, while there’s been perimeter shooting struggles in an overall sense, Dotson, who has averaged 8.3 points per game, has done a solid job, and that’s regarding his perimeter defense, too, for the Cavs thus far this season.
But to drive it home, though his role will be smaller looking onward, the Cavs can always count on Dotson to stay ready and he’s able to contribute/play a significant chunk of minutes if that’s needed once again. And I’d expect he will be, anyhow.