Player Grades: Cavs at Thunder – Sam Merrill’s best efforts aren’t enough

The Cleveland Cavaliers lost a gut-check game to the shorthanded Oklahoma City Thunder.

All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.

Donovan Mitchell

20 points, 5 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 turnovers

This has historically been a tough matchup for Mitchell. He was able to break free for a relatively efficient game (compared to his previous efforts vs OKC), but there’s no doubt the Thunder remain the best defensive team in the league at hounding Mitchell. He had to fight for everything today and went 0-6 from downtown.

Grade: C–

James Harden

20 points, 9 assists, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 5 turnovers

Harden can handle OKC’s ball-pressure a bit better than Mitchell because of his size at 6’5”. But this is still a difficult matchup even for Harden. The Cavs struggled to get the ball into the paint, and it’s largely because the Thunder’s strong point-of-attack defense and willingness to drop on pick-and-rolls.

I like the Cavs’ chances in this matchup better with Harden, but clearly, beating the champs isn’t going to be easy at any point. Five turnovers knock him down half a grade.

Grade: B–

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Jarrett Allen

11 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers

Allen went scoreless in the first quarter as the Thunder’s frontcourt dictated the terms of engagement. Allen eventually found his groove and played an otherwise strong game.

He’s predictably being maligned for the Cavs rebounding issues (though they tied OKC on the glass today). So, I think it’s worth pointing out that Allen had a game-high 6 offensive rebounds.

But… I do have to remove half a grade for airballing that free throw.

Grade: B

Evan Mobley

15 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal (25 minutes)

Let’s get some context out of the way before I trash Mobley’s game.

This was only his second game since January 24th. And, he was on a minutes restriction playing against the best defensive frontcourt in the NBA.

With that said, only 2 rebounds are tough to swallow. Mobley also struggled with OKC’s physicality on offense, being moved off his spots and resorting to three-point attempts in the fourth quarter. The Cavs need him to be more aggressive, getting to the paint or forcing his way to the free-throw line.

Grade: D

Jaylon Tyson

7 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal

Tyson’s going through an adjustment period, and it’s affected his recent performances. His role is smaller than before, and his impact has felt more scattered.

Grade: D+

Keon Ellis

9 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 2 steals

I’m loving the Ellis experience. He’s a difference maker on the defensive end. Just follow him on any given possession and watch how he disrupts actions for the opponent. It’s a joy to watch, and he’s a competent enough offensive player to hang in any matchup.

Grade: A–

Dennis Schroder

11 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block

Schroder’s scrappiness is something that will always be valuable. His ability to run the pick-and-roll only adds to his value.

Grade: A+

Sam Merrill

20 points, 3 rebounds

The Cavs fell into a hole early in this game, and Merrill brought them back to life. His momentum-swining three-pointers made this competitive. And, as the day went on, Merrill began attacking closeouts and making great plays inside the perimeter.

Grade: A

Dean Wade

0 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block (18 minutes)

There isn’t much room on the court for a player as hesitant as Wade in this matchup. The Thunder pounce on any form of hesitation. Wade is a quality defender and rebounder, but he’s a bad fit offensively against this OKC defense.

Grade: F