Cavs bench getting back on track is key to watch for during homestand

During the Cleveland Cavaliers’ eight-game winning streak, they were meshing stingy defense with brilliance from Donovan Mitchell, but the group also had its share of balance throughout games as well.

Unfortunately, the Wine and Gold have slipped up since. Some games, more so of late, have had slow starts for Cleveland. Others, such as at the LA Clippers and Golden State Warriors last week, during Cleveland’s five-game road trip, featured the Cavaliers having issues finishing out games in which they should’ve wrapped up.

Fast forward, and the Cavs are amid a five-game losing streak, after a 113-98 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in Wisconsin on Wednesday night. Despite Milwaukee being without Khris Middleton still, along with Jrue Holiday and Pat Connaughton, among others, the Cavaliers did not have a strong half, and Milwaukee did them in from three-point range in the game, with Brook Lopez himself hitting seven threes.

What has been a storyline unfolding more so recently, such as in the Bucks loss, has been the Cavs not getting much from their key bench guys. In Cleveland’s current losing streak, they’ve had 21.4 points per contest from their bench, which has been the worst mark in the NBA in that span, and in that stretch, only five benches have had a worse shooting percentage.

From my perspective, how the crucial bench guys do in the Cavaliers’ upcoming four-game homestand is a key to watch, as they need to give the squad a lift for stretches.

The Cavs bench getting back on track is a notable storyline to watch during this homestand ahead.

The Cavaliers’ bench guys are going to be the offensive players of the clubs’ stars, such as Darius Garland and Mitchell, and we know that. Having said that, Cleveland needs players such as Kevin Love and Cedi Osman to step up in this homestand, as they did plenty in the squads’ win streak.

Love and Osman haven’t had as many looks of late, and have had 10.8 and 5.4 points per outing in this current losing streak.

Now, they’ve shot 39.3 and 42.9 percent from three-point range in that span, but I just personally would like the Cavaliers to get those guys more opportunities off-ball in-rhythm. In Love’s last outing, he had just three shots, and shot three-of-10 and three-of-11 in the two games prior. Osman, meanwhile, had only two shots at Milwaukee, and had only three triple attempts in losses at the Clippers, Sacramento Kings and Warriors.

Needless to say, in upcoming games, I’d look for those guys to make their presences’ felt, and at least with Love, maybe the Cavs play through him a bit more to open up other guys.

As for how others can factor in for Cleveland’s bench, Caris LeVert moving there could give the team a lift for stretches, both in the scoring and playmaking sense, and that could provide better balance between the starters and bench, particularly with Dean Wade banged up. LeVert has done alright, and there’s been positive flashes as a slasher, but he’s underwhelmed as a scorer in the past couple of weeks, and I question his fit for extended stretches with him Garland and Mitchell, anyhow.

Wade’s absence (knee soreness) as a shooter, and defender, for that matter, has been greatly missed by the Cavs in the past few games, and perhaps if the Cavaliers move LeVert to the bench, which is seemingly a legit possibility, that could be a boost. And if that were to play out, particularly sans Wade, Lamar Stevens being kept in the starting lineup, for his defense and cutting/finishing would be sensible, and could give this team a different element.

Lastly, while he can give the team a defensive spark at times, in this homestand, the Cavaliers might want to scale back Isaac Okoro’s minutes a bit, given how he’s struggled mightily offensively. His defense has been inconsistent, as well, for a defensive specialist, notwithstanding. We’ll have to see on that front.

But, overall, I’ll be keeping an eye on the bench efforts in these four games ahead, as when the Cavs have been at their best this season, those key guys there have often given the club quite a lift.

Somewhat along those lines, factoring in their impact in general, on the year, while Cleveland’s bench is fourth in total plus-minus, per NBA.com, in this five-game skid, the Cavs bench is 20th in that metric.

So, hopefully, the guys coming in as subs can find their footing once again, and maybe the home crowd helps in doing so, to assist players such as Mitchell, Garland and Mobley in the grand scheme. During the homestand ahead, the Cavaliers take on the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, have a back-to-back versus the Miami Heat on Sunday and then Atlanta Hawks on Monday, and face the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.