Positives, negatives for Cleveland Cavaliers so far

Positive: Defense

The 2018-19 Cleveland Cavaliers were one of the worst defensive teams in NBA history. With a defensive rating of 116.8, the Cavs posted the worst rating of any team this century.

The addition of Darius Garland made many assume the Cavaliers defense would only get worse. Another undersized guard to start alongside Collin Sexton would surely jeopardize the entire team.

However, this has not been the case at all. As of now, the Cavaliers have a top 15 defensive rating and have held opponents to a league-worst 12.5 percent shooting from 15-19 feet.

The only way to explain their success is through a change of effort. Rookie head coach John Beilein has clearly made it a point of emphasis for each player to give everything they have on this end of the floor. A lack of talent can be erased by a strong work ethic.

The most impactful players on defense have been Matthew Dellavadova and Kevin Porter Jr. These two have the best defensive rating of any player on the roster to play more than 18 minutes per game.

Meanwhile, players like Sexton have improved drastically. Last year, Sexton ranked towards the bottom of the league in every advanced defensive statistic imaginable. This season, he has held his own with his explosive lateral quickness and hustle.

The team is still far from being an elite defensive team. However, they have exceeded expectations. An all-around team effort helped hold reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to just 14 points.

It’s clear that Beilein is exceptional at formulating defensive game plans. Let’s see if he can continue to make this a positive aspect of the Cavaliers season.