1 stud, 1 dud from disaster-averting win over Magic

1 dud from Magic win: Caris LeVert

The best version of Caris LeVert is as a jumbo guard creating his own shot and setting up teammates, methodically breaking down defenses in isolation or pick-and-roll and finding space for his pull-up jumper or slinging the ball out to the perimeter for an open 3-pointer caused by his penetration.

The worst version is as an inefficient, streaky scorer who demands touches and settles for long 2s and doesn’t hold up his end of the bargain on defense.

LeVert has oscillated between those two versions for much of his career, and it has been no different with the Cavs. After a couple of solid games he went back to some of his worst tendencies in this one, hitting only four of his 15 shots and finishing a game-low minus 13 on the night.

The 6’6″ shooting guard was active on the glass with seven boards and did dime up his teammates for six assists, including a couple of transition opportunities when he pushed the ball. But too often possessions ground to a halt as LeVert probed his way into a tough shot that clanked off the rim. This team traded for LeVert because they needed someone to create efficient shots for himself and others while Darius Garland saw, and unfortunately, LeVert has struggled to do that.

In the end, the Cavs got the much-needed win and now can turn their gaze forward to a tough closing stretch of the season. Facing that test without Jarrett Allen and potentially Evan Mobley will be difficult; hopefully, one or both return before too long to help this team find late-season and postseason success.