One stud and one dud for Cavs in win over Pacers on Sunday

Cavs dud: Lauri Markkanen

Of the guys that have been affected most by Garland’s absence due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols, nobody has been impacted more then Lauri Markkanen. Markkanen has been solid for the Cavs, as he’s been in the best point guard position in his entire career. With that Markkanen has been able to truly show off his skill set and show the kind of impact he can make on a good team. With Garland out and the Rubio injury the looks have been a bit tougher on him, unfortunately.

For the game Markkanen had 12 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists, while shooting 2-of-6 from three and 5-of-12 from the field overall. Markkanen has been in a dry spell from three lately, as KJG’s Dan Gilinsky demonstrated, admittedly, but the absence of Garland and Rubio have made the looks a lot tougher.

It was a big struggle for Markkanen especially early in the game; even still, to his credit he was still able to have an effect on the game in other areas. He was still able to get to the rim a couple times, he hit some post-ups and is able to do damage in the mid-range game. And he was able to come to life with his outside shot and hit a big three in the fourth, too.

Garland should be back soon, while the Cavs just traded for Rondo from the Los Angeles Lakers. Getting those guys in the lineup should help Lauri and I’d expect him to bounce back and start hitting shots again from the outside far more consistently, as he had been in a stretch of games prior to this slump, as the aforementioned Gilinsky hit on.