Cavs elated for Okoro, show why many have tons of appreciation for him

When watching the end of their last game on Thursday night versus the Brooklyn Nets, many probably were not expecting Isaac Okoro to be shooting a shoot nearly at the buzzer.

For a quick refresher, the shot came after a scrambling sequence following Caris LeVert tracking down a loose ball after a Jarrett Allen tip-out. This was after a Donovan Mitchell missed second free throw attempt which would have tied the game at 114, for clarification, and after a missed follow of his own free throw miss.

LeVert was double teamed by the Nets in that sequence, and then he found Okoro alone in the weak side corner, made the skip feed to the third-year wing, and then Okoro knocked down the corner triple. It was not exactly how one would’ve envisioned it happening, but big props go out to Okoro for canning that three, and given the well-documented extensive work he’s put in on to improve in catch-and-shoots, it’s paid off more as the season has progressed.

Further, he cashed in that look, and one could feel how heart-racing it was for the youngster immediately in postgame with team sideline reporter Serena Winters.

It was clearly a gratifying moment for Okoro, and one could feel how big the moment was for him and his teammates, too. Okoro is probably always going to be known for his defensive work on the perimeter, and it’s tough to foresee that changing.

However, he’s been working and working and working over the course of his time with the Cavaliers on improving his three-point shooting capabilities, and hitting corner threes has reportedly been a point of emphasis for him. The tireless work came in handy there, and for his big-time shot, he was rewarded with the latest Cavs Junkyard Dog Chain, and the reaction from his Cavs teammates had was something else then.

The Cavs were elated for Okoro, and their reactions showed why so many fans have tons of appreciation for him.

This was a situation where Okoro was subbed in for Darius Garland at the time, with the anticipation of Mitchell making his second free throw, one would assume, and Cleveland having to defend. Of course, the aforementioned sequence played out, and Okoro in improbable fashion after a scrambling play hit the game-winner.

The Cavaliers were so pumped for him, as one could see in the above team tweet, how the work he’s put in to improve his shooting had to have been a huge reason as to why that was the case. And in postgame media availability, J.B. Bickerstaff credited Caris LeVert for finding, trusting and delivering the dish in the closing seconds to Okoro, who made it, and Bickerstaff gave him his flowers for hitting the shot, and for the work he’s put in to help his shot progression. Jarrett Allen had his share of praise for Isaac as well, and echoed the sentiment about Okoro’s work ethic.

With Okoro, defense is his calling card, and he’s made continual improvements on that end of the floor. He often has to handle the toughest perimeter matchup for stretches from opponents, and his tenacity there is something nobody will discount.

But as his teammates and Bickerstaff alluded to, this last shot at Brooklyn was one he’ll never forget, nor will they. He shot it confidently, and even while he needs to develop more offensively looking onward on-ball, one can respect the work he’s put in to become a more capable shooter off the catch.

In his last 35 games, he’s connected on 43.9 percent of his three-point attempts, and his strides made as a finisher inside have led to him hitting on 54.5 percent of his shots overall in that span. Granted, the volume of deep attempts in that span has been only 2.8 per game, and realistically, the Cavaliers should still use Cedi Osman and/or Lamar Stevens to help provide supplemental offense.

All of that being said, Okoro should still receive his share of credit for his improvements over the course of his third year, and Thursday night was one a culminating moment for him.

Props to Ice for coming through in the clutch, and it’s easy to see why the Cavs and so many fans of the team have so much appreciation for a grinder in the 22-year-old Okoro.