3 things the Cleveland Cavaliers must do to make the playoffs

#1: Improved Cavs playmaking and ball movement

The final and possibly the biggest issue that the Cavaliers need to take care of to make the playoffs is improving their playmaking and ball movement. While the team got off to a hot start with their ball movement at the beginning of the season, that has come to a screeching halt.

The Cleveland Cavaliers rank 23rd in assists per game. Along with this, they have been very sloppy with the ball. This is something that is to be expected with such a young team, but, if they want to make it to postseason play it is essential that they become more disciplined with the ball.

Cleveland has the third-most turnovers per game in the NBA. This arguably has already lost them a handful of games and is one of the biggest downfalls of the offense they run.

Because the Cavs play at such a slow pace, it makes each and every turnover just more costly as it takes away one of the fairly minimal possessions they see each game.

It will be crucial that young ball-handlers like Garland, Sexton, and Okoro step up to the plate and play more disciplined and team-oriented basketball on the offensive end. With two legitimate rolling threats in Drummond and Allen on the roster, it gives the young guards a go-to play that allows them to get their assists up along with easy baskets at the rim for the Cavaliers, albeit more so with Allen.

Nance, when hopefully he is back in the fold and healthier, regarding his right wrist sprain, should aid Cleveland’s playmaking and rolling, too, for what it’s worth.

As a quick side note, I acknowledge, in relation to the assist/turnover rates, that obviously Cleveland having such a tough bout of luck involving injuries for much of the year played into those issues, but there’s been ongoing issues in recent games even with Garland and Sexton back.

Moreover, if the Cavs can do these three things we hit on consistently, it should give them a shot at navigating their way to postseason play/getting through a play-in scenario.