Pinch me if we’ve seen this movie before: The role for Cedi Osman has been reduced in a number of games in a recent stretch for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Yes, once again, that bit is upon us, as in the past nine games, Osman has played in only 12.3 minutes per appearance for the Cavs, and has averaged 3.3 shot attempts in that span.
In a shocking result, his numbers haven’t been nearly what he’s shown he’s capable of in other instances when he’s had more opportunities to establish a rhythm. In this last nine-game span, Osman has had 4.2 points per contest, and has shot 31.3 percent frm three-point land, and his plus-minus in said minutes-share has been minus-2.9.
There’s other guys that factor in as well, with Isaac Okoro doing a fine job and there’s been good signs from him lately on offense, and Caris LeVert is a player that can aid the team in spurts at the 2 or 3. Plus, Dean Wade has been back from injury in the past two contests, and when right, he can be one of Cleveland’s best two-way options.
Nonetheless, it’s still puzzling when one sees Osman register single-digit minutes regularly in a chunk of several games, of which has occurred in recent weeks. In this aforementioned span, he’s played single-digit minutes in four of those nine games, and on Tuesday night at the New York Knicks in a frustrating 105-103 loss, Osman played less than three minutes.
The Case of the Missing Cedi is here, yet again, Cavs fans.
Osman has his limitations, and defensively, he can be a tough fit in some lineups. There are some possessions where he does force the issue a bit in transition or on-ball in trying to get through gaps too, as an aside.
That said, Osman is a player that has proven in recent seasons when he’s had regular burn, that he can provide a spark for the Cavaliers off the bench, and he’s far more deserving of playing several single-digit-minute games in a nine-game stretch.
A sub-three-minute outing for him on Tuesday in a game when the Cavs bench mightily struggled was inexcusable from J.B. Bickerstaff and company, and if Cleveland needs to have Osman at times at the 4 for Kevin Love, so be it.
Love is still reportedly bothered some by his thumb injury, which has affected his shooting, and despite that, his spacing and rebounding matters. Love’s a quality passer, too, but here and there, Osman could fill in there, if the matchups call for it, or he’s especially off or ineffective.
The gist is, while Osman has his warts, when he has ample chances to make plays off Cleveland’s bench, he can give the team a jolt, such as in his two previous games.
In those, he was a positive in the Cavs’ loss to the shorthanded Golden State Warriors on Friday, and in Cleveland’s win against the Milwaukee Bucks, albiet sans Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton (but the Cavs were without Donovan Mitchell). In those outings, either way, Osman had 13 points apiece on five-of-nine and then four-of-seven shooting, and was a plus-two and plus-five, respectively, in 25 and then 22 minutes.
Prior to those outings, Osman did not register a 20-plus-minute game since Jan. 6, in a loss at the Denver Nuggets. He was a minus-seven in that game, but he did have 15 points in that one on six-of-10 shooting, and Cleveland generally had a clunker then defensively, and Osman in the previous nine games before that, had 12.9 points in 24.8 minutes per contest. And he had a plus-minus of plus-5.9, and connected on 37.8 percent from three in that stretch from Dec. 16-Jan. 4.
The recent takeaway seems clear. Despite some blemishes in his game, other Cavs wings have their flaws as well, and even with other times dealing with minutes variance, Osman can be an impact shooter for the Cavs, and they have to find ways to get him opportunities. Ricky Rubio’s return has played some into that, too.
Sure, it’s understandable that Cleveland is rumored to be seeking out wing help via trade, and Osman is seemingly a player that could be dealt by the deadline of Feb. 9. However, he still is a glue guy for this team, is now in his sixth year with the Cavaliers, and has proven when he has role clarity, he’s a bench sparkplug-type player.
The Cavs need to stop the Case of the Missing Cedi from rearing its ugly head more and more in upcoming games. Do better, J.B., and keep your C(j)edi from being swayed by the dark side.