Kenny Atkinson finally picked up his first preseason win with the Cleveland Cavaliers, beating the Detroit Pistons 118-100. It feels good to be done with the preseason with real basketball on the horizon.
Grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Lonzo Ball
9 points (3-5 shooting), 9 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 blocks, 20 minutes
This was the best game Ball has played in a Cavs uniform so far. He delivered a masterclass of two-way play, racking up assists, rebounds and blocks. This type of all-around
performance is the reason Cleveland sought out Ball in the offseason.
The Cavs were at their best tonight when Ball was freestyling in transition. He found a groove, parading up the floor and darting passes to open teammates for a long stretch in the second half. The Pistons had no answer for him — and he wasn’t even the one scoring the points.
Grade: A+
Donovan Mitchell
17 points (6-11 shooting), 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 3 steals, 29 minutes
Mitchell opened this game strongly with 13 points in the first quarter. He scored in quick succession, ending the first period with a flurry of shots that put the Cavs in front by 11 points. Mitchell’s scoring slowed down as the game went on, but this opening statement set the tone.
He also swiped three steals tonight. One indicator that Cleveland’s defense is being more aggressive in trying to generate turnovers. The Cavs had 13 steals as a team.
Grade: A–
Sam Merrill
10 points (4-7 shooting), 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, 20 minutes
Merrill made his preseason debut tonight after missing the previous three games with an abductor injury. He joined the starting lineup and immediately showed a new side to his game — attacking a closeout and converting a floater in the lane.
The Cavs are hoping that Merrill can become more of a dynamic offensive player while continuing to be a reliable shooter from deep. He won’t have to isolate and create for himself. But simple reads on the ball from time to time would be more than enough. He did that tonight.
Grade: A+
Tyrese Proctor
7 points (2-5 shooting), 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 13 minutes
Kenny Atkinson said that Proctor ‘changed’ this game when he took the floor. His stats won’t reflect that — but his gravity as a three-point shooter was certainly felt. And the rookie has fit in seamlessly into Cleveland’s defense.
The Cavs aren’t in a position to give Proctor any minutes that he hasn’t absolutely earned. At this rate, that won’t be hard. Proctor is quickly turning heads and earning the respect of his teammates.
Grade: A
De’Andre Hunter
14 points (3-6 shooting), 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 14 minutes
Hunter missed the second half of this one after suffering a knee injury in the first half. Even so, he poured in 14 points on 3-6 shooting in his 14 minutes. Hunter has been an automatic bucket throughout the preseason and is in a perfect place to have a career-best season with the Cavs.
Grade: A–
Evan Mobley
8 points (3-13 shooting), 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks, 33 minutes
This wasn’t the best offensive game from Mobley. He struggled to shoot the ball for the first time this preseason, shooting 3-13 from the floor. But he kept shooting. That’s the key.
Mobley wasn’t afraid to press the issue and work his way out of a slump. He’s going to have nights where he isn’t making shots. But can he continue to be aggressive and unload the clip? That’s what will make him an elite player.
What he didn’t do on offense, Mobley more than made up for on defense. He smothered the Pistons on numerous possessions, contesting shots at the rim and dipping his hands into the passing lane to break up plays.
Grade: B+
Jarrett Allen
15 points (5-12 shooting), 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 28 minutes
Allen had a weird preseason. He wasn’t super involved in the offense, and it often felt like he was receiving the ball in the wrong spots. An above-the-break three-point attempt and numerous jumpers from the baseline are not the type of stuff we’ve come to expect from Allen.
Some of this will change when the real games start and everything speeds up. Allen will get more opportunities at the rim when everyone around him is playing a bit faster. Still, at least some of this is due to Darius Garland’s absence. Until DG returns, Allen will have to work harder to get his points.
Grade: B+
Jaylon Tyson
10 points (4-7 shooting), 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
Tyson was in somewhat of an offensive lull this preseason. His jumper had looked totally lost for stretches, including an airball from the corner tonight. But then, after cutting hard to the basket for an easy layup, Tyson finally settled into a groove. He finished the game shooting 2-4 from deep and 4-7 from the floor.
Cleveland will hope that Tyson can offer more as a catch-and-shoot threat throughout the season. Until then, he’s doing his best to become a deterrent for opposing ball-handlers. He’s been aggressive when defending the point-of-attack and is shaping up to be one of the Cavaliers’ more physical defenders.
Grade: B+
Craig Porter Jr.
2 points (1-3 shooting), 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Porter will have to clean up his defense if he’s going to earn consistent minutes in the NBA. His improved conditioning over the offseason should help him at the point-of-attack and chasing around screens — but there are still too many defensive breakdowns that begin with him on the ball.
Nonetheless, Porter had a few solid moments in the preseason. He’s still a good finisher in space and can capitalize on broken plays. And while he isn’t a sturdy defender, he’s got enough juice to make the occasional highlight play.
Grade: D
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Larry Nance Jr.
11 points (2-10 shooting), 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 1 steal
Nance has shown us what to expect from him during the regular season, filling in the gaps as Cleveland’s glue guy on any given night. He didn’t do anything spectacular, but he checked most of the boxes. I’m excited to see how he’ll look when he’s playing more staggered minutes with Cleveland’s stars.
Grade: B
Dean Wade
15 points (5-10 shooting), 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block
The Cavs have been pressuring Wade to increase his three-point volume for quite some time now. He’s accepted the call in preseason, getting up 10 field goal attempts tonight for 15 points.
Wade is hard to ignore when he’s playing like this. He’s one of the better, more switchable defenders in the league. And when he shoots with confidence, Wade is a bona fide 3-and-D wing. The Cavs haven’t figured out how to unlock this version of Wade permanently — but the flashes are always impressive.
Grade: A+
