This season, the Cavs have started 6-1, currently riding a six-game winning streak. This is most impressive for a team that didn’t even make the playoffs last season, and now is one of the top teams in not only the Eastern Conference but the NBA in general. Donovan Mitchell looks like a real threat to make an All-NBA team, as he ranks 3rd in the MVP race, according to basketball reference. In his one full game, Darius Garland looked amazing, with 29 points, 12 assists, and 45% shooting from the field and from deep.
Many Cavs players are doing really well, including the players mentioned above. J.B. Bickerstaff has also done a great job as the Cavs’ head coach and might get some love for Coach of the Year. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley still look like one of the best defensive big men duos in the league, and they have done well to start the season.
However, there are players on the Cavs roster who have not met their expectations for this season. The season is only a couple of weeks old, so I don’t expect these Cavaliers to keep missing my expectations. Without further ado, here are my two Cavs players who have disappointed so far this season.
Disappointing Cleveland Cavaliers #1 – Isaac Okoro
It pains me to put Isaac Okoro here, but I really have no choice. His playing time has dropped substantially, as he only averages 15 minutes per night, which is a far cry from last season, where he averaged 29.6 minutes per game. The reason for his drop in minutes may have to do with the fact that the roster has improved, especially in the wing position. Dean Wade and Caris LeVert look even better than last season, and obviously, Donovan Mitchell is now on the team.
Also, Okoro’s offensive game has taken a dip, it seems. He has made exactly zero 3-pointers this season on 10 total attempts. He is also shooting 4-for-18 from the field, averaging 22.2%. I hope, for his sake, that he can bounce back on the offensive side of the floor.
However, his defense is still solid, having a 108.3 defensive rating in total. He also had a +24 against the New York Knicks last week, even with only two points. This shows that his defense is still solid, meaning he will continue to have a place in the league, at least in my opinion. As I did mention, his offensive game seems to have taken a hit, and I don’t blame him. He is now a catch-and-shoot player, more so than a catch-and-drive player, which is his main skill on offense.
Disappointing Cleveland Cavaliers #2 – Lamar Stevens
This one isn’t Lamar Stevens‘ fault. He just hasn’t gotten a lot of playing time, as he has only played in 2 games, with an average of 2.2 minutes in the two games. This is probably because the wing position is loaded with talent, as I did mention earlier. He has missed his singular shot that he attempted this season, and has only grabbed one rebound.
I wish that Stevens got more minutes, as I’m a fan of his. I really like his hustle and his defensive ability. However, he’s not the best shooter in the world, and there are a lot of players he would have to outperform to be able to be in the regular rotation.
If the regular season keeps going the way it has been for Stevens, I am not sure if he will be able to get a long-term extension from the Cavs. Dean Wade got an extension because of his solid perimeter defense for a big man and his great shooting ability from deep. Stevens, however, might not be able to get an extension from Cleveland, and I personally do not think that it will happen.
Either way, both of these players for the Cavs have somewhat disappointed in the first 7 games of the season, and I am curious to see how their season will finish out for both players.