3 reasons the Cavs have been hurting with a key player sidelined

3 reasons Cavs are hurting without Dean Wade: Basketball I.Q.

This final quality is hard to quantify, but it is unequivocally true: Dean Wade is an incredibly intelligent person, and his combination of smarts, instincts and experience meld together to give him an edge on the court that few other players possess.

Many players in the league thrive because of elite athleticism, or an elite skill, or sheer size. Wade has none of those factors working in his favor. Instead, he takes a decent physical package and elevates it through something hard to acquire. He sees the court, he knows how to react, he knows where to be, he knows what to do.

That’s why lineups with Dean Wade absolutely thrive. When he has been on the court the Cavaliers have had a +15.3 point differential per Cleaning the Glass, in the 92nd percentile league-wide. The starting lineup when Darius Garland was out, with Donovan Mitchell, Caris LeVert, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen alongside Wade, had a +24.5 point differential.

Wade’s knowledge of where to be on the basketball court elevates him above so many other role players. He’s the perfect fit alongside other stars, with his shooting, defense and basketball I.Q. Lamar Stevens and Isaac Okoro take away on offense; Caris LeVert has a redundant skillset; Kevin Love is a defensive liability. Of the Cavs’ role players it’s Dean Wade who is the best fit with the other stars, and he absolutely deserves to start when he returns.

The Cavs ultimately went 3-3 without Wade, and went 8-3 with him. When Wade started the Cavs went 4-0. They miss his defense, they miss his shooting, and they miss his ability to always be where he is supposed to be. They have been hurting without him; now they could absolutely soar when he returns.