I don’t want to overreact, but if the Cleveland Cavaliers keep playing as they have been over the past week or so, they won’t have a shot at getting out of the play-in tournament. Two months ago if you told me that about the Cavs, I’d call you crazy.
With Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, and Rajon Rondo sidelined last night, the Cavs lost an ugly game to the Dallas Mavericks at home. The Cavs were led in scoring by Caris LeVert who put up 32 points on 11-for-19 from the field. Darius Garland also pitched in 25 points for the wine and gold. The Mavs were led by none other than Luka Doncic, who had 35 points and 13 assists, coming up only one rebound shy of a triple-double.
Multiple players had big games on offense last night, but ultimately the Cavs continued their slide in a loss to the Mavs on Wednesday
The Cavs core players are all young and haven’t really experienced success in the NBA. It’s been evident in the past couple of weeks as the Cavs defense just seemed to be non-existent. On top of that, outside of Darius Garland, the Cavs have very few players who can create their own shots. Like I said I don’t want to overreact, but this is a nightmare for Koby Altman and the Cavs front office.
With all that being said, Cleveland is still in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, with six games remaining in the regular season. Even though last night’s loss was tough, there were still some who impressed, along with those who disappointed. Let’s take a look at one stud and one dud from the Cavalier’s loss to the Mavericks Wednesday night.
One Cavs Stud from last night’s loss to the Mavs: Lamar Stevens
I’ll be the first to admit I’m not a huge fan of Lamar Stevens. He’s an athletic wing, but at times he looks out of place and out of control. However, last night, and the past couple of games if we’re being honest, Stevens played a big role in keeping the Cavs in the game. He finished with 16 points on 6-for-9 shooting. He also grabbed four rebounds and was 4-for-4 from the charity stripe. Over this entire season, it’s pretty easy to see Stevens’ progression.
Ultimately, Stevens might be one of the luckiest players in the NBA. Not because he stinks and is lucky to have a job, but things just seem to go well when he’s on the court. He makes things happen. I don’t know how to explain it any better than that. He’s always winning the hustle plays and seems to be in the right spot more often than not. It will be interesting to see if Stevens will stay with the Cavs long-term. He’s not a superstar, or even a star really, but he’s been a great helping hand for the Cavs down the stretch.
One Cavs Dud from last night’s loss to the Mavs: Defense
Remember when the Cavs were one of the top teams in the NBA defensively? Boy, I miss those days. Over the last five games, the Cavs have given up an average of 113.4 points per game, which is horrible. Without Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen in the center of the paint protecting the rim, Cavs defenders are less likely to take risks and instead play safer on the perimeter. This takes away the Cavs’ fast-break offense, which is when I personally think they are at their best.
Injuries definitely played a role in spoiling the season for the Cavs. Losing the Rookie of the Year and an All-Star big is no easy task. However, the real issue with the Cavs right now is their defense. Luka Doncic shot over 50% from the field last night and scored 35 points as well. If the Cavs want to have any chance in the 2022 playoffs, they need to pick up their defense.