5 Reasons The Cleveland Cavaliers Aren’t Locks To Win The East
5. The Bench
Last season, the Cavaliers powered their way to the title with a six-man core. Their bench was virtually unplayable in the Finals, and the focus of general manager David Griffin’s moves ever since has revolved around supplying his star-studded starting five with extra depth.
But as much as Griffin was lauded for adding Kyle Korver, Derrick Williams, Deron Williams, Andrew Bogut and Larry Sanders, Cleveland’s bench has been as underwhelming as ever.
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On the season, Cleveland’s bench has posted a point differential of -0.5, which ranks 15th in the league. That’s not too terrible considering how much firepower is in the starting five, but it’s mattered over the last few weeks with Kevin Love and J.R. Smith out of the lineup.
The Cavs’ second unit is only averaging 29.8 points per game on the season, which ranks them 28th in the association among bench units. They’re shooting a league-leading 40.2 percent from downtown, but they rank in the bottom three teams for rebounds per game, assists per game and defensive rating.
Bogut might have helped in those areas, but he’s done for the season. Korver is not a great defender, for all his shooting prowess. Deron Williams looks washed so far during his Cavs tenure, and though Derrick Williams has been solid, Cleveland’s bench is not as improved as we thought it’d be.
Come playoff time, when the rotations shorten, this may not matter as much. But in a tougher Eastern Conference, every minute the starters can rest is a gift. If the Cavaliers can’t provide LeBron, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love with decent breaks from the action to recharge, things could get more interesting as we advance deeper into the postseason.