Cavs News: Mitchell’s elite creation, Cavs to step up

Looking solely at points per game, it is clear that Donovan Mitchell has been one of the league’s best scorers this season. He is averaging 28.4 points per game, tied for eighth in the league, and his 625 total points are seventh-most in the association. Only Stephen Curry and Anfernee Simons have hit more 3-pointers.

A recent tweet from @beyondtheRK, who has a daily NBA strategy newsletter, highlights another way that Mitchell has been dominant offensively. He is among the league leaders in points per play in both isolation and, especially, pick-and-roll possessions. In other words, he has been one of the league’s truly elite perimeter creators this season:

When a certain, crucial part of the game places you third on a list behind Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant you know you are crushing it. Mitchell’s reps with Rudy Gobert in Utah helped to build this muscle, and now that he is on a team flush with talent around him like the Cavs he is soaring.

Also, note Caris LeVert among the league leaders in efficiency out of isolation. He seems perfectly suited for his Sixth Man role.

More Cavs news

After missing five games with a back injury, Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor reports that the Cavs have elevated Jarrett Allen to questionable for tonight’s game. Having Allen back would be huge, not just to try and slow the Lakers’ Anthony Davis but to both shore up their defense and give Mitchell and Darius Garland a pick-and-roll partner. He has been sorely missed.

Speaking of missing players, Dean Wade will be out for four to six weeks (at least) with a shoulder injury, which is an opportunity for other players to step up and fill the void. The former undrafted forward out of Kansas State has been the best 3-and-D option for Cleveland this season. Dan Gilinsky takes a look at three players that have to step up while Wade is sidelined.

NBA news

Kawhi Leonard’s knee might be damaged beyond repair, but for at least one game it was limber enough for Leonard to suit up and drop the game-winning shot in the LA Clippers’ 119-117 victory over the Charlotte Hornets last night. Andrew Nembhard, fresh off a game-winner of his own last week, had a career night in leading the Indiana Pacers over the Golden State Warriors. And the Houston Rockets and Philadelphia 76ers went two overtimes in James Harden’s return before the Rockets finally stole the win.

Off the court, both Nate McMillan and Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks addressed the controversy surrounding their fight over the weekend, a showdown about how Young was managing his shoulder injury ahead of their game Friday night. Young missed the game entirely, allegedly because McMillan told him he could come off the bench or not play. Last night, before the Hawks lost at home to the Oklahoma City Thunder, both said the necessary words to smooth things over to the public.

Coming up: LeBron James comes to town tonight as the Cavs and Lakers play for the second and final time this season. Can the Cavs slow Anthony Davis, and can the Lakers slow Donovan Mitchell?