After a few weeks missing in action, the weekend viewing guide is back this week, and just in time I might add. As we draw closer to the NCAA Tournament in March and April, conference play is heating up and the best players are playing their best basketball during this stretch. While college basketball has been as unpredictable as ever this season, the three players atop most big boards hasn’t changed much.
Duke’s Paulo Banchero, Auburn’s Jabari Smith, and Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren will most likely be the top three players drafted in June. Even having said that, Purdue’s Jaden Ivey is quietly poking his head up at the top three with his outstanding play this season. With that being said, it’s also time that we confront something that most of us have been procrastinating over for about two months. The small likelihood that the Cleveland Cavaliers miss the playoffs.
There are a number of reasons that this thought has come to the front of people’s minds, less than a week after a great All-Star Weekend in Cleveland. On Wednesday, Cleveland.com reporter Chris Fedor tweeted that both Caris LeVert and Darius Garland were listed as out for last night’s matchup versus the Detroit Pistons. That was Cleveland’s first game since the All-Star break, and the Cavaliers lost a close one, albeit to a bad Pistons team. To make matters a bit worse, the Cavaliers released a team statement on Thursday that LeVert would miss 1-2 weeks with a right foot sprain, though the injury is not considered major.
However, the bigger issue in all of this might be Darius Garland’s health. The All-Star point guard played both games before the break, both being losses. Fortunately, he performed pretty well. I hope this isn’t a sign of something worse, but it does seem like Garland’s back might be a little more injured than originally thought. It is something that the team will have to manage from here, either way.
The other reason it’s possible the Cavs miss the playoffs is the fact that the Eastern Conference also got a lot better around the trade deadline. To be more specific the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers did, who ended up trading two very good disgruntled players for one another most notably, with other pieces involved. Now, both teams look even scarier heading into the final stretch of the season.
With all of that unsettling news I do have some good news, we get to watch some awesome college basketball this weekend. I know we love the NBA and the Cavaliers, but there’s something special about college basketball in March.
A quick update on the Cavaliers picks in the 2022 NBA Draft
I hope everyone remembers that first-round pick that the Cavaliers traded away for Caris LeVert? Well, on top of the fact it landed us a key contributor, it’s also lottery-protected. Meaning simply, if the Cavaliers fail to make the playoffs this year, they will still have the pick.
For anyone who doesn’t know, you can put different protections on picks, with a top 10 or lottery protection being examples that are common. So, again if the Cavs unfortunately do fail to make the playoffs, they will have a first-round pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
On top of that, for this weekend viewing guide we’re going to take a look at some of the guys the Cavs may find in the early second round. They do own the San Antonio Spurs second-round selection this year, which right now would be pick 37.
In the Big Ten this weekend it’s a good time to take a look at Michigan State’s Max Christie and Ohio State’s Malaki Branham. They are two very young wings, who have a lot of potential at the next level. Also, I’ll briefly touch on two G-League prospects who are trending in opposite directions, but still have my attention.
Big games in the Big Ten
What: (4) Purdue at Michigan State | When: Saturday, Feb. 26
Time: Noon ET | Where: Breslin Center, East Lansing, MI
Coverage: ESPN
This is a huge game for Tom Izzo and Michigan State on Saturday afternoon. The Spartans have lost three straight, and according to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi they are currently a six seed. However, they really need to pick up their play, and so does freshman guard Max Christie. Once viewed as a possible late lottery pick, Christie has fallen into the second round in most mock drafts.
He leads the Spartans in minutes, playing over 32 a contest. But, he is averaging under 10 points per game and shooting under 40 percent from the field and from deep. His 31 percent shooting from three-point range has been very bad, considering he has great form and a solid release. I still like Christie’s game, and think he may turn into a Kevin Huerter sort of scorer in the NBA.
The coming weeks will be huge for him, though. If he’s starts to pick up his game, he could very easily slide back into the first round.
What: (22) Ohio State at Maryland | When: Sunday, Feb. 27
Time: 4:00 PM ET | Where: XFINITY Center, College Park, MD
Coverage: CBS
After a tough loss to Iowa last week, Ohio State bounced back on Monday night by beating a good Indiana team. Freshman guard Malaki Branham led the Buckeyes with 27 points, and he is definitely a player to watch. After starting the season pretty slow, he’s averaged 25 points per game over his last three games. He’s a silky smooth shooter, who has a great mid-range game, along with decent range.
He was 9-of-13 against Indiana from the field, so he’s a very efficient scorer, and in a Thursday win over Illinois, poured in 25 points. On top of everything he’s an above average perimeter defender, and has more explosiveness than he’s been given credit for. Ohio State looks like they’re in the clear for the moment, but they need to close out the regular season strong. That starts on Sunday.
Dyson Daniels is rising, Jaden Hardy is falling, but shooters shoot
Before the season, current G-League Ignite guard Jaden Hardy looked to follow in the footsteps of Jalen Green before him and take the G-League by storm for a season before taking his talents to the NBA. However, it has not gone as well for Hardy.
The guard is averaging over 17 points per game this season but his efficiency has been poor. Hardy is only shooting 35 percent from the field and an even more lackluster, 27 percent from three. He did appear over All-Star Weekend, but did not make much of an impact.
But, even though folks are down on him, he’s fallen to 22 in ESPN’s latest mock draft (subscription required), I still like him for the simple fact that he’s a great shooter. If you watch his form and his release, its quick and near perfect.
Just five months ago, we were seeing endless highlights of Hardy shooting from literally a step inside halfcourt. So if there is one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that shooter’s shoot. I think the Cavs would be very wise to add a player with his shooting regimen to the squad, say if they end up having their first-rounder.
With Hardy falling down most draft boards, another G-League player has started to rise. Dyson Daniels, the 6-foot-6 guard from Australia, is starting to turn some heads.
He’s incredibly athletic and explosive, and does a little bit of everything on the court. His stat-stuffing reminds me of another Australian playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder in Josh Giddey, but his game isn’t quite on that level yet. Daniels is a great perimeter defender as well, which really bodes well for his game, as he excels in the open court.
He’s a raw player right now, and he’s only 18, but his NBA ceiling might be very high, so I’d keep an eye on him if I were you!