The Cleveland Cavaliers are halfway through their preseason slate of four games. They’ve spread things out too, giving them a slow ramp-up and now three games in five nights to close things out. The Cavs’ first two games, a close loss and a blowout loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, have been without rising star Evan Mobley, who may return for one or both of the remaining games.
It’s been disappointing for fans not to see Mobley on the court, and it’s likewise been disappointing for Dylan Windler that he has missed both games with an ankle injury. Yet for the players who have suited up, some have fallen short of what many fans hoped they would bring.
These three Cavs players had the chance to earn a bigger role this preseason. Instead their performance through two games has been disappointing
Yesterday we looked at the players on the Cavs who had impressed through two games, including Donovan Mitchell’s effect on the offense and Mamadi Diakite fighting for a roster spot. Now we will pivot to see the opposite side of the ledger; who has disappointed in the first two games?
A couple of quick caveats. We’re trying to look specifically at the performance of the roster in the games. Windler missing both games is disappointing, and Lamar Stevens clearly being outside the rotation could be seen as a disappointment likely stemming from camp performance. That being said, let’s hone in on three players who haven’t done what they needed to in two games thus far.