3 key Cleveland Cavaliers players to watch post-All-Star break

Heading into the All-Star break, which is being held in Cleveland this go-round (which is pretty darn cool), the hometown Cleveland Cavaliers are 35-23 on the season. That’s far exceeded everybody’s expectations, and led by the league’s fourth-best defense (in relation to defensive rating), the Cavs are currently fourth in the Eastern Conference standings.

The team defense for the vast majority of the season has been what the Cavaliers have hung their hat on, and the likes of rookie Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen have been difference-makers, for the most part, on that end of the floor. Those two are the main reason why Cleveland has conceded the lowest opponent field goal percentage at the rim this season (58.7 percent), per NBA.com’s tracking data.

Mobley’s versatility, and him often being able to handle perimeter threats and at times even primary playmakers in switchout situations, along with his team defensive feel, has been incredible to watch, too, and Allen has made strides on the perimeter.

I also have to credit guys such as Isaac Okoro, before he went down and was eventually traded, Ricky Rubio, Dean Wade, Lamar Stevens and others, too, for the team defense of Cleveland. Plus, Darius Garland himself has improved his team defensive play, and has led the club in steals throughout the season.

Now, the Cavs defense has had some rough performances in the past few games, but I do believe the All-Star break will allow the team to look at some things, and I’m not necessarily overly concerned.

And on the offensive end, Cleveland has gotten great play out of Garland, who was initially named an Eastern Conference All-Star and will be on Team LeBron. The Year 3 leap has been there for Garland, who has had 20.3 points and 8.0 assists per contest, and his connection with both Mobley and Allen (who was named as James Harden’s All-Star injury replacement), has been on-point much of the season.

Garland’s helped out perimeter threats too, which has been crucial with Collin Sexton out for most of the season to this point, and with him likely out the rest of the campaign.

Other significant contributors have been Kevin Love, who has had a resurgent season in a shift to a bench role, and rotational guys such as Cedi Osman, Stevens and Wade have made a difference for the team, too.

It was evident that with Sexton and Rubio’s injuries, that the team seemed likely to make a trade for another shot creator, though, and I’d think as he gets more time with the Cavaliers, near-deadline trade acquisition Caris LeVert will get going in that way more.

So, when looking past the All-Star break/festivities then, who are a few Cavaliers players to keep an eye on, in particular?

We’ll take a closer look at three Cavs, in that realm, here.

Let’s get started with the first.