3 reasons Isaac Okoro should start at SG: Defense
Isaac Okoro came into the league as a raw offensive player, a guy who handled the ball a lot at Auburn but had a lot to prove as a shooter and scorer. That has carried through across his first two seasons in the NBA, and he is still a reluctant shooter and low-usage scorer overall.
His defense, however, has been just as advertised. He isn’t particularly long, but he is strong and plays really hard. He is not afraid to bulldog opposing guards, hounding them into a poor shot or giving up the ball. He also has fast hands and loves to jump passing lanes for steals and deflections.
The Cavs have some other solid backcourt defenders, but they are found in the point guard column of the depth chart. Ricky Rubio, when he returns, and Raul Neto are both solid defenders. Among the candidates to start at the 2, however, Okoro stands out as the lone reliable defender.
Caris LeVert and Collin Sexton are both defensive sieves, both practically and in their impact on the team’s defense. Sexton competes but dies on screens and his short wingspan makes it a challenge to match him with larger players. LeVert is much larger than Sexton but simply exists on defense instead of making his presence felt. Ochai Agbaji has real defensive potential but is a rookie and like most rookies will need time to adjust to the league’s pace of play; Okoro was a bad defender as a rookie too before putting it together last season.
The Cavs want to be an elite defensive team that smothers opponents. Having Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen on the backline is an excellent start, but starting three average or worse defenders at the other positions erodes that identity significantly. Starting Okoro would give the Cavs a strong defensive option in the backcourt to help bring a balanced effort to their defense.5