The Cleveland Cavaliers are on a scoring hot eight game winning streak. Including a league comparison (some caveats) and a big stretch of standout performances, here’s a look at Cleveland’s eight game winning streak.
Before getting into the messy numbers, Jarrett Allen has been on a tear and deserves recognition. Averaging 18.2 points (12th in league for centers), 14.3 rebounds (second in league centers) and 4.3 assists (eighth in league for centers) over the last eight games, he’s snagged 12 consecutive double-doubles. Despite Donovan Mitchell still scoring in abundance, Allen has been the highlight of this run for the Cavs.
Over the last eight games the Cavs have averaged 121 points, 49.5 rebounds, 29.5 assists, and 41 three point attempts while shooting 50.2 percent from the field and 40.5 percent from behind the arc. This places them at eighth in field goal percentage, sixth in assists, fourth in points per game and three point percentage, third in three point attempts and second in rebounds amongst the entire league over these eight games.
What’s interesting about these numbers, aside from that Cleveland is amongst the top teams in almost every category, is what the standings imply about Cleveland’s play style. Cleveland places fourth in points per game trailing the Jazz, Bucks and Thunder. They’re also fourth in three point percentage trailing the Clippers, Pelicans and Timberwolves, and they’re third in three point attempts behind the Celtics and Grizzlies. Obviously more three point attempts means more threes, meaning more points. But with one of the highest three point percentages in the league, and the fact that none of the teams listed outpace Cleveland in any more than a single of these categories, Cleveland has been playing some of the best basketball across the whole league.
This also indicates, on paper, that Cleveland’s playstyle is more sustainable than most of the rest of the league. Though the Cavs aren’t first in the east, and far from anyone’s pick to win the finals this season, they are playing better than the top contenders and quickly gaining on the spot.
Another important factor is that Darius Garland and Evan Mobley have been out for this run. Despite Cleveland’s depth problem, the bench has been stepping up.
There are some aspects here that don’t work in Cleveland’s favor. Over Cleveland’s eight game winning streak they certainly haven’t had the highest quality competition. Though challenges were there, like managing players like Tre Young or Paolo Banchero, teams like Atlanta, Orlando and Washington aren’t exactly litmus tests for the postseason. Cleveleland is, however, winning games on this stretch by an average of 22.5 points, so they’re playing exactly how they should be against teams like these.
They also just lost backup center Tristan Thompson for 25 games due to him violating league policy, so the lacking bench gets even thinner for Cleveland.
Cleveland has a tough stretch coming up, playing the Buck both Wednesday and Friday followed by the Clippers on Monday, so fans should get a better sense of how this team will do against top contending teams. The game Wednesday night (January 24) tips off at 8:00 PM in Milwaukee.
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Featured photo courtesy of NBA.com
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