Cavs: Evaluating 3 deep reserves pressed into service

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Denzel Valentine, Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images /

Cavs: Evaluating 3 deep reserves – Denzel Valentine

Through the first 13 games of the Cavs’ season, one of their final signings of the offseason saw the court only in garbage time, part of Cleveland’s clearing of the benches when the game was out of reach. That changed last Saturday when injuries mounted enough for Valentine to see his number called to enter the rotation.

Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff immediately took a liking to him, playing him over 22 minutes in each of his first two games. That playing time tailed off a bit the last two games as he logged around 19 total minutes.

Perhaps the reason why Valentine got those minutes was his aggressiveness on offense. For a team with multiple players hesitant to shoot — understandable for Isaac Okoro, baffling for Dylan Windler — Valentine stepped in and immediately was willing to shoot if he was open, or if he saw a lane to drive into.

The problem for Valentine is that those shots haven’t gone in. He shot 2-of-9 in his first rotation appearance, then 2-of-7 in his second. In total, he has gone 6-for-23 from the field (26 percent) in those four games, including 4-for-16 (25 percent) from deep.

To his credit, Valentine has done his best to impact the game in other areas. In the second Boston game last Monday night in particular he was relentlessly attacking the glass, tallying three offensive rebounds (including this important one late) and nine total. His motor and fight gave Bickerstaff confidence playing him at power forward in some small-ball lineups, a curious choice for the 6’4″ guard.

If a player is going to come off the deep bench to step into a game for a few minutes, he has to be willing to shoot and keep the defense honest. That’s a point in his favor. He brought energy and aggressiveness to his appearances. That being said, Valentine showed little as a playmaker or truly even as a defender to make up for his terrible shooting numbers. With Markkanen back, Valentine should see his role return to staying ready on the bench most nights.