1 stud and 1 dud for Cavs from their ugly win over the Pelicans

Cavs stud: The bench

The Cavs certainly needed some players to step up after they got word point guard Darius Garland would be out for the last night’s game, due to lower back soreness. The starters did not come out ready to play, but the bench made up for it with a huge game.

Overall, the Cavs bench consisted of Kevin Love, Brandon Goodwin, Lamar Stevens, and Rajon Rondo. Love was once again brilliant coming off the bench. He shot 6-for-15 from the field and 3-for-8 from three. He also collected 11 rebounds. While Love’s play was great, the real spotlight in the win should be on point guard Brandon Goodwin.

The young man out of “Dunk City,” or as it’s really known, Florida Gulf Coast, had a wonderful outing last night. When the Cavs needed someone to step up in Garland’s absence, Goodwin was that guy. He was 8-for-11 from the field, including 3-for-4 from deep for, as we noted, 21 points, which tied a career-high.

If anything, this game showed that the Cavs need try and make a move at the deadline, though. The team just can’t self-destruct without it’s point guard Darius Garland.

So with that being said, it was a good sign from the bench, and an even better sign for two-way contributor Goodwin, who I would think has cemented himself some playing time in head coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s rotation.