Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 things to watch during rest of season

#2 The Cavs assist totals: Remember the number 19

When you start breaking down the different team statistics for the Cavaliers this season, you start to see a few interesting, but important categories, that usually lead to team wins. The number is 19!

Not only was that my number when I was a sixth grader at Parkview Elementary School in Wooster, Ohio when we were given a number and used it for everything we did that year, but it’s also the number the Cavs seem to need to get from their starters with assists and distributing that basketball and earning a victory.

Usually when the Cav starters fall short of that lucky number 19 they haven’t won very often, but when they do, it’s almost guaranteed a win!

When the season started, and the Cavaliers got off to that 3-0 record (remember that?) the starters were passing the “hot potato” around a lot! Cleveland’s starters had a staggering 28 assists in their opening day win against the Hornets. They followed that up with 23 assists against the Pistons and racked up another 20 assists against the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Cavs starters, since then, have had five wins with 19 assists, and three more wins with 20-plus assists. When that assist total has gone down it usually shows how these young Cavs are trying to do too much on their own. Not everyone is LeBron and can go one-on-five and still score baskets all day long!

From there, lastly, who will be making the difference defensively?