The Cleveland Cavaliers were boat raced by a Boston Celtics skeleton crew 105-125. It was a game defined by the Cavaliers’ poor defensive effort and energy on the glass.
Grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Donovan Mitchell
15 points (5-12 shooting), 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 turnovers
What appeared to be another chapter in the hot start from Mitchell turned out to be the only semblance of quality play. Mitchell started the game 5-5 from three, and if you stopped watching after that point, you would
have thought Mitchell could have ended somewhere around 50. Nope, that was it. Fifteen points.
Fits the theme of the game. Disappointing.
Grade: C
Evan Mobley
19 points (7-19 shooting), 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 turnovers
Mobley might have led the team in points, however, he was arguably their most disappointing player. The rebounding? Terrible, inexcusable, and lacking any energy. The fact that Mobley felt invisible on the glass despite the fact that he had 11 boards is somewhat surprising.
The shot selection was another huge problem. There is a big difference between being aggressive and forcing shots up. Mobley was taking a lot of ill-advised triples. It felt like Mobley was trying to do his best Mitchell impression with all the transition pull-up threes. Just an absolute buzzkill of momentum for Mobley.
Grade: D
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De’Andre Hunter
18 points (5-17 shooting), 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover
Hunter is the definition of a magnet ball player. If the ball touched his hands, everyone on the floor knew that the next time it would leave them is when it gets shot.
Hunter needs to find a way to become a more selfless player because this iso-ball style on a team lacking facilitators is a problem.
Grade: D+
Jarrett Allen
16 points (4-7 shooting), 6 rebounds, 1 assist
Allen has had a turbulent start to the season. After coming off a few solid turnouts, Allen decided to deliver a throwback performance to opening night. Rebounding was far from Allen’s priority as Neemias Queta and Josh Minott simply cared more, and it showed.
Grade: F
Dean Wade
6 points (2-5 3pt shooting), 3 rebounds, 0 assists,
Wade looked like he was willing to shoot more than normal. Unfortunately, the “aggression” did not lead to great results. However, if a positive is needed to be pulled from this ugly loss, the volume would be something to build upon.
Grade: B–
Larry Nance Jr.
0 points (0-3 shooting), 2 rebounds, 2 assists,
Nance has been shooting the three decently well thus far to start the year. I guess that led to Nance deciding he should take the unnecessary pull-up threes in a pivotal stretch for the Cavaliers. Those shots did not fall, and they were not close.
Grade: F
Jaylon Tyson
19 points (8-11 shooting), 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover
I’ve honestly seen enough. Tyson’s defense was criminal. The guy cannot move horizontally on the defensive end. Tyson plays with such a lack of confidence on both sides of the ball. On most possessions, it feels like he is second guessing shot selections, passing routes, defensive assignments and rotations.
They say sometimes the stat line doesn’t tell the full story. Brother, this stat line isn’t from the same book.
Grade: D
Craig Porter Jr.
7 points (2-4 shooting), 2 rebounds, 4 assists
Porter played the prior four straight games as a positive contributor. Unfortunately, Porter isn’t a player who can swing a stretch of possessions. It currently seems like CPJ is a player who benefits when the opposition has a lot more to worry about.
Grade: C
Lonzo Ball
3 points (1-5 shooting), 3 rebounds, 5 assists
Lonzo Ball is the team’s only facilitator, and it shows. When Ball is in, the bigs are getting a lot of action off of pick and rolls. When Ball is off the floor, it is like the team is playing isolation ball.
The shot for Ball is still something that isn’t hitting yet. I won’t be concerned about Ball once there is an opportunity for him to share the floor more with Mitchell and Darius Garland.
Grade: C
