The Cleveland Cavaliers are good, but how good are they against the best? Here’s a look at the Cavs’ performances against the NBA’s best this season.
Against the Celts the Cavs are averaging 108.3 points, 38.7 rebounds and 25.3 assists per game with a 46.4 field goal percentage. They’re also carrying a 41.7 three point percentage off an average of 12.3 attempts. The obvious standout here is the minuscule amount of three point attempts. For perspective, this amount of attempts didn’t become common until a little before 2000. This makes sense, with the Celtics employing a top three defense in the league.
Aside from increasing their three point attempts, their defense and ball control could also use some tightening. The Cavs have a 119.8 defensive rating against the Celtics this season and are averaging 12 turnovers. Although the eight steals and 2.7 blocks Cleveland is averaging against Boston is nice, it’s going to take more to dethrone arguably the best team in the league. The Cavaliers are 1-2 against the Celtics this season.
The Cavaliers, having only played the Nuggets once this season, scored 121 points, grabbed 47 rebounds and dished 30 assists on a 54.9 percentage from the field. They also shot 40.7 percent from behind the arc on 27 attempts.
The defense wasn’t as impressive, as Cleveland finished with a defensive rating of 117.2 and accrued only six steals and five blocks. Their 13 turnovers isn’t ideal either. However, the Cavs did manage to win this game. It’s a small sample size, and not the best performance, but at least Cleveland showed they can still grab a win through a rough performance.
In their two games against the Thunder, the Cavs are averaging 112.5 points, 44.5 rebounds and 23 assists per game. They also have a solid field goal percentage of 45.7 percent. Three pointers, though, are a different story. On an average of 37 attempts per game, the Cavs are averaging an abysmal 28.4 percent from behind the arc. Getting the shots up isn’t the issue, like with the Celtics, but getting the shots in. They’re also turning the ball over an average of 15.5 times per game against the Thunder.
The Cavs are averaging an impressive 9.5 steals per game with six and a half blocks. Despite this (and their decent 114.1 defensive rating) Cleveland is 0-2 against Oklahoma City this season. The Thunder are the only team listed that the Cavaliers have yet to defeat this season.
Cleveland is averaging 118.5 points, 45.5 rebounds and 27.5 assists this season against the Bucks. They’re also averaging a 49.6 field goal percentage and a 31.0 three point percentage on 36.3 three point attempts. On the defensive end, Cleveland is averaging seven steals and five blocks.
The numbers may not look overly good or bad, and that’s largely been indicative of the Cavs play against the Bucks this season. Splitting the season series 2-2, neither of these teams has been able to dominate the other. The Cavs defensive rating of 108.9 against Milkwaukee is promising, as is their average of only 10.8 turnovers. Unfortunately, a team with two top-15 players cannot be counted out.
Another team the Cavs only played once, Cleveland was also able to snag a win in this game. Scoring 113 points, 46 rebounds and 27 assists with a 43.2 field goal percentage, the Cavs looked overall good against Minnesota. One of the few games this season where neither team reached 100 by the end of regulation (Cleveland won in overtime), the Cavs finished with their lowest defensive rating against any team at 99.8. Cleveland also showed decent ball control and awareness with only 12 turnovers paired with seven steals and eight blocks on the defensive end.
Beating them in their one matchup, the Cavs scored 118 points, 46 rebounds and 28 assists per game against the Clippers. Cleveland’s shooting was also nice with a 48.8 percent field goal percentage. They managed to get up 40 three point attempts, but made only 32.5 percent of them.
They are averaging a low six steals, three blocks and a higher-than-average 13 turnovers, but still managed to pump out a defensive rating of 111.5.
Performing arguably the best against the Mavericks, the Cavs have won both their matchups this season. Cleveland is averaging 117 points, 52 rebounds and 34 assists against this Dallas team. Offensively outstanding, the Cavs are shooting 48 percent from the field and 44.6 percent from behind the arc on 41.5 attempts. The highest percentage on the most attempts is an impressive feat.
Defensively, however, the Cavs could use some cleaning up. Averaging only four and a half steals and four blocks, Cleveland is also turning the ball over an average of 16 times. These games are fast paced and sloppy, but the Cavs snagged a dub each time. No matter how improbable it seemed.
Possibly the toughest matchup for this Cavaliers team, they’re 1-2 against the Knicks this season. Averaging 94.7 points, 43.7 rebounds and 24 assists, the Cavs struggle against New York. Cleveland is shooting 42.3 percent from the field with a 34.2 percent three point percentage on 38 attempts.
They are averaging a passable 6.7 steals and 5.3 blocks, but their average of 14.3 turnovers kind of nullifies those numbers. The Cavs 109.1 defensive rating against the Knicks is low (would be a league-topping average defensive rating) but their 94.7 average points doesn’t surpass that. If Cleveland doesn’t want a repeat of last years postseason exit, they’ll need to execute much better against the Knicks.
The Cavs play next against the Rockets this Saturday (March 16) at 5:00 PM in Houston.
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Featured photo courtesy of NBA.com
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