The 3 Cavaliers: Can these CLE players continue to rise while on the road?

No. 1: Raul Neto

Born in Brazil, the all hustle 30-year-old is an eight-year vet who’s been in “every position you can imagine,” according to Raul himself. Playing for his now-fourth team, experience can go the distance for injury-riddled teams like the Cavaliers at the moment. There are rumors that the club will have their eyes peeled to add another consistent scorer via the trade market.

Until then, the team has to find ways to win with the pieces that they have. The 47th pick in the 2013 draft has been nothing short of solid off the bench as of late. In his last 5 games he’s averaging (18.4) minutes, and (0.3) turnovers per game with the highest net rating of any player over that time frame.

To be frank, over the last two games, Neto has been a spark off the Cavalier bench. He’s averaged 10 points per game, led the team in total field goal percentage (63.6), and has had a team-high offensive rating. His high motor when he enters the ball game is everything this Cavalier team should lean on during this away stretch.

It’s the plays like drawing an offensive foul in Friday night’s game against the Nuggets that stand out. Guarding the ball high at the top of the key, staying up on the defender and fighting through the ball screen to give the Wine and Gold possession. He’s a liability on defense if teams can get the right matchup on him, that’s part of the game. At the same time he’s a pest, harassing opponents with his on-ball presence like an over-excited pup.

He did receive the Junkyard Dog Chain following Wednesday’s W where he was 5-of-7 from the field finishing at (71.4 percent). For his second game in a row he was seen attacking the cup, being aggressive, not to mention taking smart shots from range where he went 2-of-4 in Denver. With the possibility of Darius Garland missing more time, the Cavaliers could and should call on No. 19 for a continued veteran presence while away from home.