The Cleveland Cavaliers picked up a win on the road against the Milwaukee Bucks. Let’s go over today’s winners and losers.
LOSER – Perimeter Defense
I’m not sure how this gets better. Cleveland’s shown a general lack of interest in defending the perimeter this season. It’s probably due to a combination of poor effort and not having the right personnel. All I know is it’s something to be worried about.
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The Cavaliers should be able to impose themselves over a team like the Bucks. No disrespect, but a 28-39 team that ranks 21st in offense and doesn’t have Giannis Antetokounmpo should be easy enough to bully. So when the Bucks started to look comfortable operating their offense, I started to get anxious.
Three-point variance is one thing. I believe the Cavs have lost a few games this season due to simple bad luck. It happens to everyone. But tonight was no such case. The Cavs didn’t contain the point of attack or recover to contest three-point shots. Not at a winning rate, at least.
The sample size is large enough to call this a legit trend. Not only do we have their last few games against the Dallas Mavericks and Orlando Magic as examples, but the Cavs are allowing opponents to shoot the third-best three-point percentage in the NBA against them.
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That’s… startling.
LOSER – Donovan Mitchell
Mitchell has had a brilliant season. Perhaps the best he’s ever played. So please, do not interpret this section as slander. I’m not getting swept up in the moment. But Spida is having trouble spinning his web right now.
It’s not just his 4-14 shooting from tonight. Every star player is going to have games where shots don’t fall. The problem is his decision-making. Mitchell’s taken some unnecessary shots that would feel bold even if he was rolling. They look truly bad when he’s struggling, as he did in Milwaukee.
There’s value in recognizing when it’s not your night and instead shifting your attention to playmaking. Using yourself as a decoy to create for others. This is something we’ve seen him do in the past. He didn’t do it in this one.
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Mitchell’s process has been questionable for a few games. He’s felt quick to call his own number and is possibly feeling some growing pains next to James Harden. The offense hasn’t felt as seamless as it did in their first weeks together. And, the defense has fallen off a cliff, as we highlighted above.
WINNER – Rapid Fire Round Up
I wouldn’t say that any individual player stole the show tonight. Not when it took this much effort to beat the Bucks. But I do think it’s worth highlighting the names who helped secure the win.
Evan Mobley finished with 27 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks. The easiest offense of the night came whenever the Cavs played through Mobley. He had a major advantage in the paint and made quick work whenever he drew a mismatch.
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James Harden was also decisive on offense. He came out aggressive, scoring in bunches to start the game and carrying Cleveland’s backcourt with his playmaking. The Cavs don’t get over the hump without Harden keeping them alive throughout.
Finally, Sam Merrill, Max Strus, and Keon Ellis hit key shots. Merrill ended the game with 17 points while Ellis hit two big threes in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Strus, in just his second game of the season, helped Cleveland close the door on this one. It says a lot about how much Kenny Atkinson trusts Strus to lean on him — and he delivered.
