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The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t do enough to get the win, but there were some positives to take away from their narrow 118-116 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Jarrett Allen was far and away the most dominant on the court on a night the Cavs were without three starters in James Harden (thumb), Donovan Mitchell (groin), and Evan Mobley (calf). He controlled every aspect of the game on both ends of the floor, showcasing once again that he’s playing the best basketball of his career.
There was nothing the Bucks nor Myles Turner could really do to stop Allen, only the final buzzer coming a millisecond before his would-be game-tying shot did. Allen finished with 27 points and 11 rebounds on 10-15 shooting.
Performances like this have been nothing new for Allen this month, but there’s something symbolic of having this kind of game against Turner — someone who significantly outplayed him last postseason when he was a member of the Indiana Pacers.
Allen struggled for most of that series, besides having solid showings in Games 2 and 3. He was a non-factor on offense, allowed Turner to push him off his spots, combined for just six rebounds in the final two games, and made a minimal impact defensively against a Pacers team that had their way with the Cavs. It was the type of series that made you question whether Allen really belongs with this core.
The game he had on Wednesday couldn’t have been more opposite.
Allen was Cleveland’s offensive engine, consistently bullied Turner in the post, grabbed six offensive rebounds, and helped stabilize what was otherwise a poor defensive effort.
There have long been questions about how Allen fits with this team. Playing with two bigs is challenging in the modern NBA, even if you have two elite guards. That said, this version of Allen should work in any lineup that you put him in. And if you can’t find a way to get consistent production out of a big this skilled, with this much touch and coordination inside, then whatever system you’re trying to run isn’t worth it.
There’s simply no excuse for not prioritizing Allen going forward.
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Dennis Schroder has been a seamless fit. He’s consistently excelled in whatever lineup or context he’s been asked to play in. This game, he was tasked with being the team’s leading ball handler and play initiator, and did his job, pouring in 26 points and contributing five assists.
Shifting between roles like that isn’t easy; then again, if anyone is used to constantly adjusting to different situations, it’s someone who’s played on as many different teams as Schroder.
There’s a reason Schroder has bounced around from team to team. He’s overqualified to be a backup, but not quite good enough to be a high-end starter. And, he has the confidence and bravado of someone who’s won multiple MVPs in international tournaments. This combination makes him highly in demand, but also not someone you’re losing sleep over trading away if you get the right package in return.
Even though the boxscore will show that Schroder missed the game-tying shot, he did a good job of managing the offense in the clutch. Schroder made a nice floater to briefly tie the game with 36 seconds left after seeming to twist his ankle a few plays earlier. He followed that up with getting a clean look to potentially tie the game just before time expired, but missed.
It’s difficult to get too hung up on the results in a game like this. Schroder generated good looks and filled in admirably at point guard. The Cavs haven’t had a reserve who could do so since letting Ty Jerome walk in free agency last summer.
Speaking of perfect fits, Keon Ellis once again showed how impactful he can be. He was everywhere defensively, while providing 14 points on 5-9 shooting.
The Harden acquisition has gotten most of the praise, but Koby Altman targeting Schroder and Ellis shouldn’t be overlooked. Both have the skills to make a meaningful impact in the playoffs.
The Cavs need to find a better balance with their three-point defense. They have understandably emphasized protecting the paint first and foremost. That’s a worthwhile goal, but it seems like they could do so without crashing in as much as they do, especially from the corners.
The Bucks took 17 corner threes, which accounted for 19% of their total shots (99th percentile). They converted 52.9% of these looks (81st percentile). Both of these numbers are concerning if you’re the Cavs.
The rim is the most efficient place to score, but the corner three isn’t far behind. In an effort to cut off the basket, they’ve left themselves vulnerable to easy kickouts to the corner. And they’ve also made losing players in the corner a bad habit.
You can’t give up this many corner threes and be an elite defense.
Additionally, they gave up clean looks to Milwaukee’s best shooters. A.J. Green — a 42.3% three-point shooter — can’t be allowed to take 10 triples. It isn’t an outlier when he converts half of them.
To make matters worse, the Cavs also didn’t protect the rim well. They allowed Milwaukee to finish 89.5% of their looks in the restricted area (97th percentile).
It’s easy to dismiss some of the clunkiness as being without Mitchell and Harden, but there’s few excuses for being this poor defensively. No matter how good Mobley is on that end, you can’t rely on him this much to be passable.
We’re seeing too many preseason-like games in the NBA this season. The Cavs did the right thing by being cautious with their star players. Additionally, Giannis Antetokounmpo wasn’t available due to a calf strain that has kept him in and out of the lineup all season.
Injuries are a part of sports, and there’s nothing you can do to take those completely away. However, the number of games that have felt like a step above preseason games, but below other regular-season games, has been too much around the league. It’s not good for anyone when four All-NBA players from last season are in street clothes and not actually participating.
I’m not going to act like there’s an easy solution to the number of injuries and scheduling issues that we’re seeing. It’s just a bummer to watch a game and spend the same amount of time thinking about who isn’t playing as to who is.