Cavs: Larry Nance Jr.’s return should help cutting efforts

The Cleveland Cavaliers have not had Larry Nance Jr. in game action since Feb. 6 due to a fractured fourth metacarpal on his left hand, which was clearly unfortunate. Nance has had a very solid season so far, in which he was mostly starting at the 4 for Kevin Love, who hasn’t played since Dec. 27 because of a high-grade right calf strain, of which he aggravated.

Fortunately, Nance is reportedly expected to be back in Cleveland’s second half opener on Friday at the New Orleans Pelicans. We’ll have to see involving when Love is ultimately back in game action, to go with Matthew Dellavedova (recovery from concussion/symptoms).

Nance has again done a nice job filling in for Love this season when he’s been in there, though.

Jr.’s had 9.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and has thus far tied a career-best with 3.2 assists per game. And even after a tough start, thanks to him rebounding from that, he’s hit a career-high 38.1 percent of his 3.3 three-point attempts per game, which have been a career-high, too.

Additionally, getting Nance back should be big for Cleveland’s defense. He does commendable work, typically, on-ball against 3’s and 4’s, and is often capable of switching out on to guards even in pick-and-roll situations when needed.

Plus, though he’s only been in active in 19 games, which wouldn’t allow him to qualify in the leading/near-leading realm, Nance has tied for second in the league lead in steals per game with 1.9. To go with that, he’s tied for the league lead with 3.9 deflections per outing, per NBA.com’s hustle data.

Point being, getting Nance back, regardless of when Love is ultimately back, will be a lift for Cleveland. And he’ll help Cleveland’s cutting in settled situations, too.

Nance’s return should help the Cavs’ cutting efforts.

Nance is one of Cleveland’s most effective cutters, for one, which should lead to a quality target in that realm for Darius Garland, Collin Sexton and perhaps Isaac Okoro.

Nance’s feel for timing up his cuts has always been outstanding, and while it will take some time for him to get comfortable shooting on the perimeter, his finishing on the interior should help Cleveland right away upon his return. So there’s that element, for one.

In addition, with Nance being a capable passing big, as evidenced by a solid 13.4 percent assist rate in 2020-21, that should bode well for Garland, Collin Sexton, Love (when he’s back) and Dylan Windler, as catch-and-shoot threats. But players such as Okoro, Jarrett Allen, Windler again and two-way wing/forward Lamar Stevens should benefit greatly from Nance’s ability to hit cutters on the interior when he’s out there.

The Cavaliers’ ball/man movement should be aided with Nance back, I would think, which should help get some easier baskets via extra passes to cutters countering hard closeouts to off-screen threats. That’s as a reaction to relocation looks, for what it’s worth, of which Nance should help in the off-ball/passing sense, too, though.

And lastly, while Nance reportedly has his share of interested trade suitors, of which you can view more about here, the Cavaliers themselves it seems haven’t expressed any interest in dealing him.

Moreover, when Nance is back in there for Cleveland, which is expected to be on Friday, it should be a key boost for them in a defensive and playmaking sense.

Albeit as we also alluded to here, with his feel for both cutting himself effectively, and for his ability to hit cutters on-point as a passer, he should aid the Cavs’ cutting efforts when he’s back as well.

The more ways to look at it, the Wine and Gold should benefit considerably from Jr.’s presence back in game action, hopefully on Friday.

The squad has seemingly gained some momentum heading into the second half, too, having won four of five, although we’ll have to see regarding a left groin strain for Garland.

But the extended break may have been key for that/him not maybe having to miss time, if he does.