The Cleveland Cavaliers recently started their 2021-22 season this week, and at this point, are 0-2. They’ve been a part of two very entertaining contests, one of which was a 132-121 loss at the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, and for three quarters, an L against the Charlotte Hornets. They lost that one 123-112.
At this juncture, while it’s not exactly something I’d have expected from the jump, Cleveland has been utilizing Lauri Markkanen for real stretches at the 3, the position he’s played to start games.
I get where Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff is coming from there, with Markkanen’s shooting and offensive abilities, but if the Cavs are going to keep doing so in that realm, they do still need to get Isaac Okoro plenty of rotational minutes. That’s for defensive purposes, for his defense at times against opposing primary playmakers, and for ball pressure against opposing wings.
In some other instances when Markkanen is in there, though, particularly when he’s at the 4, the position he should be guarding mostly, and I’d think he will, I could foresee Lamar Stevens factoring in some in the rotation.
With others involved of course, I’m not suggesting Stevens, whose deal is non-guaranteed, will be an every game-type player, but for his defense, the Cavs might want to get Stevens in there some. That’d be perhaps for a few spurts of playing time. Stevens is a very switchable defensive player, and could help Cleveland’s defense of key opposing options, to some degree at least.
The Cavs might want to get Stevens some PT in coming games for a defensive boost.
Stevens is not a player that you’re going to put in there for offensive purposes, as compared to Lauri Markkanen, or say, a Kevin Love for instance. Stevens had 4.1 points in 12.5 minutes per outing in 40 appearances as an undrafted rookie last season, and hit just 4-of-25 three-point attempts (a 16.0 percent clip).
But the Penn State product, who was initially on a two-way deal last season before being signed to a non-guaranteed multi-year deal following the year, is a sturdy defender that can hold up against opposing wings. The same goes for some 4s, even, and at times, Stevens can do apply ball pressure against opposing primary playmakers, too, which, maybe in a few spurts here and there for Cleveland, could provide a lift.
Of course, Markkanen seemingly, for his shooting/offensive abilities, Isaac Okoro and Cedi Osman are factoring in on the wing at the moment for the Cavs, and I’m not suggesting Stevens could necessarily be an every game-type guy. Dylan Windler (hip) will seemingly be involved, provided he’s available, at the 2 and 3, as well, for what it’s worth.
From a wing defensive standpoint, though, and with Stevens legitimately being able to guard 1-4 with his 6-foot-6, 230-pound frame, it would behoove Bickerstaff and company to get Stevens in some for work on the money end of the floor. He had success last season in that realm.
Stevens is very switchable as a big wing defender, can wall up in the mid-post if needed, and does a solid job off-ball as a rotator. Him having a block rate of 2.3 percent last season was impressive, from my estimation, and he’s a quality defensive rebounder; he had 6.9 rebounds per-36 minutes last season.
And defensive rebounding, to that point, has been an issue for the Cavs. So, that, combined with Stevens’ defensive prowess, could give Cleveland a lift in say, a few spurts per game in upcoming games, such as Saturday’s against the Atlanta Hawks.
Lastly, while it’s tough to say if he’ll get the opportunities (he’s played just two garbage time minutes), Stevens is a timely cutter off-ball, can create as a rim pressure guy some, and is fantastic in transition getting downhill.
To drive it home, though, for a defensive boost, it could pay dividends for the Cavaliers to find ways to get Stevens some minutes here, and he provides energy for this team, rim pressure and helps defensive rebounding.
We’ll have to see if the 24-year-old gets opportunities.
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Cavs: Team might want to give Lamar Stevens some PT - King James Gospel
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