Going on the road can sometimes nurture the soul and give you a new perspective on things. In the case of the Cleveland Cavaliers, they are standing at 7-1 on the season but getting to travel to California and face off against some of the greatest players in the NBA can be looked at as a real treat.
Cleveland started their road trip first in Detroit on Friday night against the Pistons. Playing without Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, who were questionable coming into that one, the team still managed to beat up the Pistons 112-88, so it was a good beginning. The Cavs now travel to play the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, who are trying to escape from their horrendous start. The Lakers have a player named LeBron James and that will be interesting to see how the night plays out.
James was the Cavalier franchise for years and helped the organization capture its only NBA title in 2016. Now Cleveland has a new group of young and talented youth, led by their new star Donovan Mitchell, so these games out in sunny California will be fun to witness.
There have been outstanding performances by several Cavs players so far this season. Let’s take a look at a few players whose stock is rising with every made basket and another impressive defensive stop.
Cavs Stock Up: Donovan Mitchell
Mitchell has come onto this Cavs team swinging. To say he’s been awesome so far is an understatement. I’ve heard that word awesome more than once in describing the newly acquired Mitchell, who’s been nothing short of spectacular in helping his team get to 7-1 and the talk of the Eastern Conference.
He’s scored more than 30 points in five of the first seven games and carried this group when they needed him most. In the recent New York Knicks game this past weekend, the Cavs were down by nine points entering the fourth quarter, but behind some impressive play by many, Mitchell led the way in the team’s great come-from-behind win.
We knew that having Mitchell joining this upstart Cavalier squad would be a benefit to the team, but we didn’t necessarily think he’d make such an impressive impact so quickly.
The Cavs were fun to watch last season and now it’s even been better. Odds are growing much higher that the team will make it to the playoffs this season after missing out by a few games a year ago and much of that prediction has to do with Mitchell joining the Cleveland roster.
Cavs Stock Up: Dean Wade
Dean Wade is in his fourth season with the Cavs. That’s something that many fans of the team seem to forget. He recently signed a new, multi-year contract with the team this offseason. The former Kansas State Wildcat hangs his hat on his excellent defense and now his offensive skill set is growing and he’s earning more time on the court.
Wade has started many games over the past two seasons and this year, he again has stepped in when needed. He’s started four games so far and done a nice job in the role. He had a career game last Sunday in that win over the Knicks when he scored 22 points, and knocked in six three-point shots. He’s averaging nearly 25 minutes a game and has just under a 9-point scoring average this season which are all career bests as well.
Wade’s defense continues to be his bread and butter and likely why Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff is playing him more. Wade often times gets pitted against the opponent’s best player.
In the Cavaliers’ big win against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday he guarded Celtic Jaylen Brown on his closing shot and Wade’s defense helped alter the Celtic stars’ jumper just enough.
Cavs Stock Down: Isaac Okoro
When you think of a player on the Cleveland squad that has fallen off the face of the planet, you might think of Isaac Okoro. He’s beginning his third season with the team. He was a regular starter the last two seasons. Part of that had to do with injuries to other players like former Cavalier Collin Sexton, but Okoro nonetheless filled in well.
The biggest issue though with Okoro was his lack of offensive talent and despite having two years to correct that, he’s never really improved. Now his minutes on the court have been cut in half and his offensive production has been nonexistent.
He’s only scored 19 points through the first eight games. He’s not helping much in any category at this stage in the season. He’s grabbed only 12 rebounds through those same eight games.
Okoro has played good defense over the years and that is still the better part of his game. He did come into the Knicks game last Sunday and played a great fourth quarter to help the team turn around the game in the Cavaliers’ favor.
Will Okoro see the court more moving forward? That might be based on how healthy the team can be? With the Friday night game against the Detroit Pistons Okoro did get the start because both Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell were sidelined, but were questionable, as we alluded to.
Time will tell, regarding Okoro’s minutes.