The Cleveland Cavaliers have rarely had any good news this season as injuries have halted any real momentum the team has tried to build this season.
When both Darius Garland and Evan Mobley were announced to miss multiple weeks with injuries, the Cavaliers looked like a team one bad stretch away from falling apart. Donovan Mitchell trade rumors surfaced near instantaneously, and everybody was ready to wave this season off as a failure - except the Cavs.
Maybe the best example of Cleveland's grit and determination came against the Dallas Mavericks when the Cavs took over the second half in Dallas, completing a 20-point comeback to reclaim the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference over the New York Knicks. Jarrett Allen nearly reached a career high in rebounds, finishing the night with 24 points and 23 boards to help the Cavaliers' frontcourt maintain without Mobley.
The Cavaliers are defying expectations
Somehow, the Cavaliers are not only surviving without their three best players, they are rising in the standings. At the start of the season, Cleveland's depth was undoubtedly better than a year prior. To overcome these obstacles, though, has been miraculous. Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff is showing a willingness to overhaul his entire offensive system in favor of a free-flowing style with seamless set plays. With an 18-13 record, the Cavaliers have clawed out of the Play-In Tournament and into playoff contention.
Without Garland and Mobley, Cleveland sits 5-1 (including 3-1 without Donovan Mitchell). The entire offensive scheme shifted to a next-man-up mindset, swinging the ball around the perimeter and kicking out of drives until the defense scattered and allowed for an easy basket. On the season, the Cavaliers sit twelfth in the NBA for 3-pointers made, but they are first overall in the last six games since Garland and Mobley went down, connecting on 38.1 percent of their 45.5 attempts per game.
Not only have the Cavaliers shot the lights out from deep, they are relying on a balanced attack, going even deeper into their bench than they had with a mostly healthy team. Two-way rookie Emoni Bates has appeared in each of the Cavs' last three games after nearly a month without touching the court.
In this prolonged absence, the Cavaliers have not won due to random chance. They have gratefully had an easier stretch than earlier in the season, but their recent successes have been thanks to a number of players taking it upon themselves to step up and lead Cleveland.
Craig Porter, Jr. is the secret weapon Cleveland needed
Of any possible headline for the Cavaliers, finding the perfect backup point guard in an undrafted rookie that cannot reliably shoot from deep is one nobody would have expected.
Somehow, that is exactly what happened for the Cavs this season. When Ricky Rubio announced he would step away from basketball with no timetable for his return, the Cavaliers looked to newly-signed Ty Jerome as Darius Garland's backup. After appearing in only two games, Jerome has been on the injury report with no news of a coming return.
In lieu of the unpredictable luck, the Cavaliers have entrusted Craig Porter, Jr. to play heavy minutes and lead not only the bench unit, but the starting five now that Garland is out. Against the Mavs, Porter showcased his innate athleticism, grabbing 12 total rebounds and dishing out 7 assists alongside a stellar defensive night with 3 steals.
In the prior win against the Chicago Bulls, Porter had 19 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds. The Wichita State graduate has not only given the Cavs a spark when they need it, but he is consistently producing at a veteran level in his rookie campaign. His basketball IQ is undeniable when he is running an offense. Going around a screen, Porter has often used his speed to get in front of a defender and put them on his hip, leaving an open mid-range shot or pass in front of the crafty guard.
Currently, Porter is on a two-way deal, meaning he has a limited number of games he can play for the Cavs until he either needs a full contract for at least the rest of the season or will return to the Cleveland Charge. With an open roster spot available, the Cavaliers should have no choice but to ensure Porter can stay with the main roster for the foreseeable future.
Isaac Okoro is silencing the doubters and making big plays for the Cavaliers
Isaac Okoro and the Cavaliers did not come to an agreement on an extension before the deadline in the offseason, meaning Okoro will enter restricted free agency in 2024. The young wing joined Cleveland as the fifth overall pick in the 2020 draft but did not progress into the 3-and-D talent the Cavs envisioned when they selected him.
The defense has always been there for Okoro. His ability to drive and finish through contact at the rim is almost always present. His 3-point shot, a skill the Cavaliers desperately need from him, could not consistently appear until this season. The former Auburn forward has shot a career-high 37.9 percent from deep alongside a career highs in both assists (2.0) and rebounds (3.5) in 26 minutes per game.
In half of his appearances this season, Okoro has come off the bench. Since entering the starting five with the current injuries, Okoro has showcased an improved talent for playmaking, as well. His developed shooting range has allowed him to create for his teammates, giving even more value to the young wing. With his increased productivity, Okoro is a difference maker for the Cavs right now and deserves to continue in a larger role once the stars return.
While Okoro deserves more responsibility, he is still likely best in the second unit for Cleveland. As great as he has looked, he is still an undersized forward that does not provide the level of value that Max Strus has offered in the starting five. Okoro's tough playstyle is invaluable to Cleveland's depth, though, suggesting that re-signing him could be a priority for the Cavs in free agency at the right price.
Sam Merrill deserves a chance to play with the full roster soon
One player who has had perhaps the biggest leap for the Cavaliers in this stint but may not actually get a major role eventually is veteran sharpshooter Sam Merrill. Merrill came to the Cleveland via the Cleveland Charge last year and signed a non-guaranteed contract for this year and next. When Garland and Mobley first went down, Merrill shocked the world with back-to-back career nights from deep against the Houston Rockets and Utah Jazz.
Merrill's jaw-dropping 45.3 percent from 3-point range on 4 attempts per game is an astounding statistic, and it is a big reason why the Cavaliers have found success from deep over this time. As tremendous as Merrill's heroics have been as of late, his long-term fit on the Cavs is not an easy answer.
Over his career, Merrill has proven his consistency as a shooter without failure. The impressive statistics typically end there, though. He has never averaged more then one assist per game in a season and cannot earn reliable minutes with any team he has joined. Defensively, he is a liability with a 6-foot 4-inches build and poor decision making.
In the modern NBA, it is hard to find a real role on any playoff contender without being a factor on both ends of the court. When the Cavs signed Strus and Georges Niang this summer, they were banking on their offensive growth being less drastic than the defensive drop they knew they would face. Thankfully, Strus has been much better on defense than anybody expected. For Merrill, however, the Cavs are reaching their limit on shorter wings.
With Okoro's offensive growth and continued defense, finding a nightly spot in the rotation for Merrill could prove difficult. What he has earned, though, is a chance to play with the stars as a 3-point specialist. The Cavaliers likely signed Merrill for that specific purpose, coming off the bench to get hot from deep whenever he is called upon.
One lesson the Cavaliers have learned in this time is that they have shooters, and they need to use them more. The jump from twelfth to first in 3-pointers attempted is not a meaningless statistic. Merrill and company have unlocked the offensive versatility the Cavaliers could not find last season. Giving up on Merrill entirely once Garland and Mobley return would be a sorely regrettable decision.
For now, the Cleveland Cavaliers should be overjoyed with their sudden success. When Garland and Mobley return, Cleveland will be positioned for a strong push in the latter half of the regular season thanks to the contributions of each of these players and more.