It really is a credit to the Cleveland Cavaliers team that they have been in virtually every game this season right down to the last minutes. They have taken several teams, like the Milwaukee Bucks the other night or the Phoenix Suns shortly before Thanksgiving, to the very last moments of the game. They’ve also thrown in a recent four-game win streak that has them now at 13-12 on the season.
Cavs fans like myself seem to be going back and forth on just how good this team is. I want to say they are on their way up and headed toward a playoff run, but then I see some of the inexperience and youth pop back into play. We know that winning can be contagious and when that happens everything in the world seems better, but at the same time losses like the recent ones to the Bucks and the Utah Jazz are tough.
You want to take solace in moral victories, but a loss is a loss, and you don’t want these young Cavaliers to lose that spirited energy they seem to be bringing every game. The NBA season is a grind, and it takes patience and an avoidance of long losing streaks.
Hopefully, the Cavs correct their mistakes and get back in the win column against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. It’ll be their first meeting this season. The Bulls are even hotter than the Cavs and stand at 17-8 after an impressive win against the Denver Nuggets on Monday. Cavs big man Lauri Markkanen will get to go up against his former team so that will be interesting to watch.
So, with that, let’s review what was this last week for the Cavaliers as they went 3-2. There were definitely more high marks for this team as they hit the quarter turn of the season.
Jarrett Allen Grade: A
We’ll start with the top of the class. Jarrett Allen has been playing lights out over the last few weeks. Last week was no different. His attempt for 14 double-doubles ended against Milwaukee, but he still went for 25 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. In the previous games he went for 28 points and 14 boards in a blowout win at the Dallas Mavericks, 19 points and 11 boards down in Miami and had another 28-point performance at the Washington Wizards.
He seems to have turned a significant corner and has been very consistent in his efforts on the court and that has a lot to do with where this team stands today. It’s as if something or someone lit a fire under him because, his once tentative approach has disappeared recently.
Darius Garland: Grade A-
Darius Garland would have earned an A if he had thrown up a couple brinks in the game against Milwaukee. He came down to earth in the game against the Bucks after two games where he was on the plus side of 30 points scored.
He had a game-winning shot attempt against the Jazz that just rimmed out. His ability to keep defenses off balance is ever growing. Is he going to lob the ball to Jarrett Allen for the dunk or is he going to dance around the three-point line or push the ball into the lane off the dribble and throw up a tear drop from five feet out?
It’s helping create more opportunities for the Cavs offense and leading the way to more victories.
Evan Mobley Grade: B
Another solid week for the rookie. Evan Mobley was even named NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for October/November for his outstanding play. In the five games in the last week, he continued playing well. His shooting was a bit off, but he was helping in other ways as usual. His defense and altering opponents’ shots continues to be impressive. Having Mobley on the court makes this Cavs team so much more dangerous.
For the week he averaged 12.2 points and 8.6 rebounds and just over two blocks. If he can get his shooting back up a bit and try to get to that double digits in rebounds a few more times, then his B this week will certainly go up again.
Lauri Markkanen Grade: C
The third wheel of the towering Cav trio of big men in the starting five had a pretty solid week. Lauri Markkanen’s numbers for the week were a bit up and down. He had a season’s best 24 points in the Mavericks game, however he followed that game up with a subpar six-point effort in Miami going 1-for-5 from beyond the three-point arc.
Isaac Okoro Grade: D
Isaac Okoro continues to struggle in his starting role. In the game against Milwaukee his minutes shrank as he was 0-for-6 from the field. He was a minus-20 when he was on the court in the game, and it just seems he’s the odd man out when it comes to this starting group. He hit 10 points twice this past week but single digits the rest of the way.
He’s not grabbing boards or dishing out more than two assists a game. His defense can be good, but it seems he’s having a difficult time overall in his second year. He’s not scored more than 15 points in a game all season, nor had a game where he’s dished out more than three assists.
He’ll have to contribute more, especially in other ways like assists or rebounds if his shot continues to struggle. I still don’t know if Okoro should continue in the starting group.
Should the veteran guard Ricky Rubio be the starter instead? With Darius Garland taking on more of the scoring duties, would Rubio in that point guard spot be more useful to the team right now from the outset of games?