Cleveland Cavaliers need to utilize Cedi Osman more often
By Tony Pesta
Cedi Osman has been having a quietly strong season for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are working hard this season to form their identity. One player who has been lost in the mix despite solid performances is Cedi Osman.
Osman joined the Cavaliers in the 2017-18 NBA season as a 22-year-old rookie after spending five seasons with Anadolu Efes in Turkey’s top-tier domestic league, playing in EuroLeague action the last four of those seasons.
In his rookie campaign, Osman received limited minutes as the Cavs reached their fourth consecutive NBA Finals behind an unreal postseason run from LeBron James.
Once James left for Los Angeles, Osman was bumped into the starting lineup as the franchise’s hidden gem. The sophomore player had just spent an entire season learning from James and other veterans and was ready to show off his talents.
In his first run as a legitimate piece of the rotation, Osman averaged 13.0 points and 4.7 rebounds as he earned a spot on the World team in the NBA’s Rising Stars Challenge.
Although he showed bright flashes of potential as a rookie, concerns of consistency and effort still plagued Osman. He was quick to become disengaged during poor shooting nights and his confidence was extremely hit or miss.
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Entering his third season, Osman hoped to take another step forward as a scorer. The Cavaliers clearly had faith in him, offering him a four-year $30 million dollar deal before the season began.
So, how has the Rising Star looked this season?
Well, the inconsistency is still there. Osman has a tendency to disappear at times during games, only occasionally making his presence felt when he is on the court. However, this may not be all Osman’s fault.
Of the five players in the starting lineup, Osman plays the fewest minutes and is the only one of the bunch attempting under 10 shots per game.
This is due to a combination of a few factors. For starters, Osman is not aggressively pursuing the ball or looking for his own shots. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as a player who understands his role is very important in this league.
But what if Osman deserves a bigger role in the Cavaliers offense? He leads the team in 3-point percentage and has been on fire from beyond the arc lately. In his last five games, Osman is shooting a scorching 17-of-24 from deep.
Since the start of January, Osman is averaging 14.1 points on 49.8 percent shooting. Nonetheless, Osman still appears to be an afterthought in the Cavaliers offense at times.
Typically, the Cavaliers feed Osman the ball heavily in the first quarter. The same goes for Kevin Love. These two players both score a majority of their points in the first 12 minutes of playing time.
After that, the Cavaliers begin to force the issue with an abundance of isolation plays. The Cavs currently rank in the top 10 for isolation possessions and their two guards, Collin Sexton and Darius Garland, are the biggest offenders.
It seems head coach John Beilein has made it a point of emphasis to focus on the development of his young guards. As a result, Love and Osman can frequently be iced out of the offense for good stretches of the game.
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There is no telling how many times Osman has found himself wide open on the perimeter only to be left empty-handed as Garland or Sexton attempt a contested floater in the lane.
Considering that Osman is now shooting above 40 percent from the 3-point line, it’s time the Cavaliers begin to utilize him more often. This can either be by running more plays for him off-ball to generate open looks or simply instructing the guards to hit him when he is already open.
Osman’s peak may not be very high. It is unlikely the 24-year-old ever becomes an All-Star. Regardless, it makes no sense to not ride the hot hand in this situation and give Osman a chance to have more responsibility within the offense.
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If the Cavaliers have already put their money on Osman by signing him for the next four years, they may as well maximize his talents. Hopefully, the Cavs find a way to get him more involved moving forward.