Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 takeaways from the 2018-19 NBA season

By Tony Pesta | Mar 31, 2019

CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 22: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers smiles before the game against the LA Clippers on March 22, 2019 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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5. Larry Nance Jr. belongs in longterm plan

One of the most important things that the Cleveland Cavaliers should have realized this season is that Larry Nance Jr. deserves to be on this team long term.

Nance has always had physical talent but it wasn’t until this season that he began to polish his game. Before, Nance relied solely on his jumping ability to score and create highlight-worthy plays. This made him an exciting player but not the type that could stay on the court for extended periods of time.

This season, Nance became a semi-consistent scorer and displayed an improved IQ on both offense and defense. He averaged career-highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals while also shooting a career-best 34.1 percent from the 3-point line.

Nance did a great job of expanding his range and knocking down jump shots. This opened up the court for the entire roster as there was more space for the offense to operate. His shooting range helped separate him from the other forwards on the team and make him a more valuable asset.

Of course, Nance’s most valuable skill was his rebounding ability. With an average of 7.9 rebounds a game this season, Nance was a player that was on the verge of recording a double-double on any given night.

He has already signed a multi-year extension deal with the Cavaliers, but this season should solidify his place within the team as a vital member of the roster.

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