3 reasons why the Cavaliers won’t go far in the playoffs

Reason No. 3: Three-point shooting

Throughout the season, ESPN analyst Kirk Goldsberry showcases all NBA teams based on efficiency. As of Feb. 17, the Cleveland Cavaliers were the #1 Net Rating team (over the last 15 games), which is quite an accomplishment for such a young squad.

While the Cavaliers’ defense is perpetually at the top of the list, the team’s offense tends to fall behind. A predominant issue in Cleveland’s offense is their long-range accuracy, only ranked 12th in the league shooting 36.2%.

Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland are commonly great threats behind the arc. In recent weeks, Dean Wade has returned from injury, and Isaac Okoro has developed a more consistent three-point shot. The rest of the roster, though, often shoots inconsistently from deep at best.

Ultimately, one or two strategic trades or signings can shift three-point shooting from a weakness to a strength for the Cavs. Evan Mobley’s continued attempts to develop a three-point shot additionally can help answer this dilemma. Since the Cavaliers remained silent in the trade deadline, however, this obstacle is likely to continue throughout the rest of Cleveland’s schedule.

To reiterate, this Cleveland team is showing signs of something special and long-lasting. Their young core puts in work on and off the court.

There is certainly a reasonable chance that all these concerns are proven insignificant through clever game planning and individual growth.

Hopefully, the Cleveland Cavaliers can find themselves the final team standing this summer, but it’s probable their weaknesses will hold them back for the time being.