1-2 looking 'back'

 Looking back on the two weekend games:

Coaching issues fall into two categories, first are figuring out how to get the team together- scheme, buy in etc.  In the first two losses the Cavs had rebounding problems despite their size due to giving up penetration, making mistakes on rotations and occasionally being lazy when the ball was near or in their hands.  These things need to be resolved over time.  The other issue is just dump play calling, and that needs to stop straight away.  Against the Hornets the Cavs opened up the game with Allen handling the ball on the perimeter, which led to a TO and a layup.  Then early in the 4th coming out of a timeout the Cavs had Allen handling on the perimeter which led to a turnover and a dunk.  These are play calls out of stoppages, not middle of the game slog where the team sort of freezes up and only one guy is going out and getting the ball.  These play calls are also inexplicably bad, Allen is the worst ball handler in the rotation and the Hornets are filled with lengthy guys who like to poke at the ball, while Charlotte’s biggest hole is their lack of size inside.  Why are you pulling Allen out intentionally on those plays?

At 1-2 there is a fair amount of bad through 3 games.  Their defensive rebounding has been garbage- their 70.9% is 2nd last to the Timberwolves while playing 3 bigs.  Even in the win against ATL they didn’t improve here (71.2% DRB rate).  Actually that is kind of it, along with the aforementioned playcalling.  

Encouragement:  The Cavs don’t lack mid level talent anymore, though they don’t have the upper end or upper, upper end right now (Mobley’s potential notwithstanding).  We don’t have to watch Lemar Stevens’ ball handling as a matter of course, we don’t have huge question marks everywhere.  Even missing their starting point guard last night (plus a hopeful back of the rotation piece) they still managed an 8 man rotation with 7 quality NBA players plus whatever you think Cedi Osman is.  That is good depth.

Speaking of 8 man rotations- I loved it.  Coming off a loss like they did, in a b2b against a playoff team going hard for the win with your best lineups is a move I heartily endorse.  

Shooting:  The Cavs are 27th in made 3 pointers a game, but it looks far better than last season.  Rubio is crushing it at 45% while leading the team in attempts and only Osman is at close to his expected rate otherwise so basically it's a team wide cold streak.  What is good is that the Cavs are getting an acceptable number of 3s (23rd in 3s per 100) and getting them from the right shooters.  Their leaders in 3pa/100 (ignoring 5 min guys and less) goes Garland, Osman, Rubio, Markkanen, Sexton, Love and then Okoro at 3/100 and Mobley at 1.8, with this distribution they should be a solid, averagish 3pt shooting team in terms of makes.  

Turnovers:  They have been ugly at times, the opening of the 4th vs CHA and they spewed it on almost every play (6 TOs in 2:16 of playing time) cost them that game as they turned a 1 point deficit into an 18 point chasm.  However, their actual turnover rate has been slightly better than average (12% good for #10 vs 12.8% average) thus far which would be a large improvement over both last season (29th, 13.9%) and their awful preseason games.  

Evan Mobley:  He looks great, the early leader for rookie of the year and basically everything (and then some) that people hoped for.  Of the many things I like, one is how he uses his frame.  You hear about big men who use their frame to push people around, to protect the ball, to play bully etc, but Mobley takes his slender frame and uses it to slip between or behind defenders without tipping them off and giving easy looks at the basket for his guards.  Considering he can also (occasionally) drop his shoulder into a defender’s chest and move them out of the way, and also get up and finish with authority he can really use either finesse or power when it's called for.   

The road ahead:  It’s going to be ugly in Denver, the Cavs are going for their 3rd game in 4 nights, their 4th in 6 and have two travel days on their two off days in that span, while Denver will be on game 3 with two days off at home after a home game.  Oh and I hear good things about this Jokic guy.  This one is going to be tough, they will need someone with energy (Garland and Windler back please?) to hope to pull this one out.  

After that it’s the Clippers who so far have struggled on defense and don’t have a big man.  LAC has Portland on Monday and could be 0-3 at that point in time.  It definitely could be a winnable game but none of the upcoming 6 games are comfortable and the Cavs don’t start an actual no travel homestand with rest days until November 10th.