The Cavs went 0-2 this weekend, dropping games to the Bulls and the Bucks. I was only able to catch bits and pieces of both games, but the one thing that I can conclude is this: The Cavaliers desperately need a better bench if they want to contend for a playoff spot. Playing Luke Walton at all does nothing for a team aiming to win games.
So far in three games, I've watched big leads reduced and lost with the Cavaliers' second team on the floor. If by chance Cleveland is close to the eight seed around the trade deadline, I hope Chris Grant makes a move or two to strengthen the bench, and if by doing that Walton and his expiring contract go out the door, I would feel mighty fine about that. Otherwise, C.J. Miles really needs to start playing like he did in the preseason. If he can do that, one of the problems goes away.
The other is still Luke Walton. Against the Bulls, I watched him airball about a 10-foot jumper. Ball movement temporarily stops when he gets the ball at the top of the key, he passes up open shots and takes bad shots. This guy can't seriously be an NBA player. He needs to be dressed in a suit on the bench and used like the asset he truly is, an expiring contract.
On to the Bulls game. I was only able to watch the first half, but let's be honest, that's all I needed to see. Too many turnovers and bad shots. In my opinion, the best player on the court all night for Cleveland was Samardo Samuels. Seven points on 3-of-5 shooting and five rebounds. Him and Tyler Zeller were the most efficient shooters all night. He was tied for the most rebounds with Tristan Thompson and Anderson Varejao. Varejao played 30 minutes and Thompson played 24, Samuels only played 18. I personally, 100% wish that Samuels would come in with the second team at power forward instead of Mr. Walton. I think it's time he got that chance.
Now on to the Bucks game. I admittedly only saw Jennings' "game-winning shot." The only reason I knew it was a shady play is because Byron Scott brought up the fact that the clock started way late. Going back and looking at the replay, sure enough it started probably about 4/10 of a second late, meaning the shot shouldn't have counted as the game clock had only 7/10 of a second left. Regardless, it was a great shot and you still don't know what would have happened in overtime, though I still liked Cleveland's chances. The starters played very well in this game, the bench, not so much. Kyrie Irving and Varejao added impressive statlines to their already impressive seasons.
I was going to do it's own separate post for this, but at this point it'll fit in fine here. Three games in so far in this young season, C.J. Miles has gone 4-of-22 from the field. This guy is supposed to be the strength of the second team. It's no wonder why these big leads are being erased. I'd like to see Omri Casspi get more time with the second team until Miles can figure this out.
So instead of the second team being Sloan, Gibson, Miles, Walton and Zeller, let's give Sloan, Gibson, Casspi, Samuels and Zeller a shot. It's got to be more productive than what Scott keeps putting out there. That group erases leads far to fast, then the starters are asked to run away with the game. Well guess what, it works against teams like the Wizards, but it won't work against playoff teams, like the Bulls and Bucks.
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