Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson has plenty of reason to be positive. After all, he’s seen his team take off over the course of the last month, winning 11 of their last 15 games. The Cavs have the best record in the Eastern Conference over that period of time and have climbed themselves out of the Play-In portion of the standings and into 5th place.
Cleveland’s biggest change has been with their offense as the Cavaliers have seen their shot-making improve significantly as of late. They are 3rd in FG% over the course of the those last 15 games, in comparison to 14th over the course of the full season. They’re 6th place in both Points per Game and True Shooting% over the same period of time, as the Cavs’ offense has spurred their resurgence.
The contributions have come up and down the Cavaliers’ roster. Before injuring his right foot (the one that wasn’t injured last summer), point guard Darius Garland had started shooting the ball much better from the floor, especially at the rim and from mid-range. While he doesn’t shoot that often, forward Dean Wade has gone from a brick-layer to reliable in the attempts he is taking, including going a perfect 4 for 4 from the field this past Monday vs. Orlando.
Meanwhile, guard Sam Merrill has been superb whenever he has been able to stay of the floor this season. The sharpshooter is making threes at a clip of 45.5% on the year, which would be a career high. His volume per game is also up, as he has featured more commonly as a weapon in Cleveland’s offense than he ever has in his career across three teams and six seasons. His total number of three point shots attempted is below the last two seasons only because he has missed time… due to an ongoing injury to his shooting hand. When Merrill has played it has been despite that ailment, making his success all that much more impressive.
And of course, Cleveland’s star guard Donovan Mitchell has been one of the best players in the league again this season. Mitchell has gone for 40 or more points five times during this campaign, including in the Cavs’ most recent game on Wednesday at home vs. the Magic. The 29.5 PPG he is averaging would be a career high if he can keep it up. His current 61.9% True Shooting% would also be the best of his career.
Last season Mitchell seemed more deferential. The 18.6 shots he took per game were the lowest he’d taken since his rookie season.
This year though, with the Cavaliers’ roster going through ongoing injury turmoil, Mitchell has been the biggest mainstay. He has played in and started 44 games for the Cavs, the most of anyone on the team. The Cavaliers have leaned on him offensively. Following last season’s downturn in shot attempts, he’s actually taking the most shots per game of any season in his career (21.1). Yet, when opposing defenses have strategized around shutting Mitchell off, he hasn’t forced bad shots. Instead, he’s kept the ball moving, as evidenced in the Cavs’ two games against the Philadelphia 76ers this month. Mitchell combined for 21 assists in those two contests as Philly’s defense prioritized getting the ball out of Mitchell’s hands. Mitchell simply obliged, trusting in his teammates as Cleveland’s improved offense did the rest.
Admittedly, whether Mitchell came into the season deciding to be more aggressive or his aggression came from necessity based off of the inconsistent nature of the lineup around him, the Cavaliers seemed to need a little bit of time to calibrate to a new season. As fans, it is easy to look at home this current season has gone and compare it to the absolute juggernaut that the Cavs appeared to be last season. In doing so, it is natural to be disappointed. I know I’ve been guilty of this at times. However, Mitchell spoke about this very simply and very astutely just earlier this week. When interviewed, he essentially stated that last season is over. This is a new season with new challenges and that comparing to last season doesn’t do any good. Simple, but truthful words.
I acknowledge that it is a little easier to say it now that the Cavaliers are on a much better roll, but I have to say he is right. What’s done is done. This is a new season with new challenges. The Cavs aren’t in the same stratosphere as last year when it comes to health. They’ve already used more starting lineups this season than they did last season and lead the league in starting lineup variations.
There’s only so much they can control, but at the same time, they seem to be getting a handle on things and getting better at rolling with the punches when they do come. That’s good too, because another punch landed on Tuesday when it was announced that reigning All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley will miss one to three weeks with a calf strain.
That’s a shame for obvious reasons. Mobley had been playing his ever-present lock-down defense both in the paint and on the perimeter and was looking more aggressive offensively. Mobley has simply looked more comfortable attacking the rim and taking shots derived from his back-to-the-basket game. This all culminated in a 29-point effort against a defensively weak-willed Sacramento Kings’ front-court this past Sunday.
That effort was one of Atkinson’s recent sources of positivity. The Cavaliers’ coach glowed about Mobley after the game, even making the comparison that he was playing in as dominant of a fashion as Shaquille O’Neal. Mobley downplayed the comparison. To be fair, Mobley is very much not the same body type as O’Neal was in his heyday, but Mobley did directly state he felt dominant on that night, all the same. Quite frankly, he was.
And apparently, Cleveland’s recent success has Atkinson in the mood for comparisons. After their most recent win vs. Orlando on Monday, the one that saw Mitchell once again eclipse 40 points, Atkinson compared the Cavaliers’ star guard and part-time Carmax spokesman to NBA Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade.
Reading this today, with such a short time span between the Shaq comparison for Mobley and the Wade comparison for Mitchell struck me. Of course, both O’Neal and Wade played on the 2005-2006 Miami Heat, a team that brought Miami their first NBA Championship. And now, part of me expects that Atkinson will come out and say that Jarrett Allen is Udonis Haslem or something if the Cavs are able to take care of business against the Lakers on Wednesday night.
In all seriousness, these comparisons by Atkinson are interesting. I can’t help but wonder how purposeful they are. Perhaps they are in an effort to boost the confidence of a team that seems to be gathering momentum. If nothing else, there do seem to be some coincidences between the Cavs of today and Heat of twenty years ago.
In the previous (2004-2005) season, the Heat were the 1-seed in the Eastern Conference and failed to make the NBA Finals (sound familiar?). Only three players on the 2005-2006 Heat started 60 or more games (Haslem, Wade and former Cavaliers assistant coach James Posey, for those that were curious). The Cavs, who are similarly oft-injured, are on pace to have 3 players start 60 games or more as well (Mitchell, Mobley and Allen). The Cavaliers presently stand with a 28-20 record at the 48-game mark in this current season. The Heat’s record at the 48-game mark in 2005-2006, you ask? 29-19. Not exactly the same, but darn near close.
So, Mitchell is right. This season isn’t last season. And that’s okay. Teams have been in similar positions as the Cavaliers and still found the pinnacle of success. It helps to have players that have the caliber of Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade, but at least according to Atkinson, that just might be the talent ceiling for this Cavs’ team.
Pick-Up Sports Talk: Cleveland 