Players Grades: Cavs at Heat
The Cavaliers defense took the night off as the Heat’s offense excelled
The Cleveland Cavaliers came out sluggish against the Heat and the defense looked asleep at the wheel, allowing the Miami Heat to comfortably keep the Cavaliers at bay.
Grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Donovan Mitchell
12 points (5-16 shooting), 1 rebound, 5 assists, 2 steals
Outside of a stretch in the early fourth quarter, Mitchell appeared to be on autopilot for major stretches of this game. He has been excellent all season at finding his spots to make his baskets count. Against the Heat, Mitchell when he decided to dial it up, the shots were mostly falling short. It’s a long season but Mitchell probably just played his worst game of the season against the Heat.
Grade: B-
Evan Mobley
4 points (2-4 shooting), 3 rebounds
Myself as most Cavalier fans were excited to see how Mobley would respond after the best game of his career on Saturday. Well... that stunk huh? Mobley was largely a nonfactor on offense for the limited time he was even on the floor. Mobley in the second quarter rolled his ankle and played limited minutes and didn’t suit up in the second half.
Grade: Incomplete
Darius Garland
23 points (9-19 shooting), 5 assists, 5 rebounds
Garland felt like the only player who understood the situation the Cavaliers found themselves in throughout the game. Garland tried his best to go shot for shot with the Heat who were finding plenty of quality open looks. Unfortunately, he could not beat the Heat on his lonesome. For long stretches of Garland’s minutes, it felt like he was the only hope for the team to claw themselves back into the game.
Grade: A-
Jarrett Allen
6 points (3-7 shooting), 7 rebounds,
Alright, I am starting to be a little alarmed at Allen’s play recently. The big man has been spoon-fed quality matchups where he could have a get-right type of performance but just has not found his groove. Allen was getting limited looks against the Heat and they simply were not falling. I do not think that this is an Allen is regressing or has lost his way. It feels like with every game that Mobley takes another step it comes at the expense of Allen finding his way back into a focal point of the offense.
Grade: C-
Dean Wade
11 points (3-7 shooting), 8 rebounds
Wade notched another start under his belt against the Heat and put a quality game together. Wade had to teeter between playing the three for stretches in the first half to the four in the second half without Mobley. He constantly shows his value through his adaptability and versatility to fill in the gaps depending on the lineup he is placed in. Shooting is always the name of the game for Wade to earn more minutes and grabbing rebounds is always a bonus for Wade who still feels like he is getting his legs back under him.
Grade: B
Caris LeVert
13 points (5-7 shooting), 2 rebounds, 4 assists
LeVert had it going offensively but strangely didn’t take more shots and was too contained. It is weird to critique LeVert for playing within the offense, however, when the Cavaliers offense was on autopilot for long stretches, a LeVert takeover could have helped Garland try to lift the team.
Grade: B
Sam Merrill
10 points (3-6 shooting), 2 assists
Merrill seems to be finding his groove again as the offense is coming back together. He has had quality looks all season, the issue was that the shots were not falling. Against the Heat, Merrill had limited opportunities but made the most of the minutes. While the shots were not pivotal, signs continue to point to Merrill returning to form.
Grade: B+
Georges Niang
15 points (5-7 shooting), 6 rebounds, 2 assists
Niang is becoming one of the more consistent bench performers on the Cavaliers this season. He showed life on offense and was active off-ball relocating to generate open threes. Niang has also shown a willingness to bang bodies in the paint and use his little hook when the opportunities present themselves. He deserves a lot of praise for really rebounding after a rough first season in Cleveland.
Grade: B+
Ty Jerome
14 points (4-11 shooting), 4 rebounds, 6 assists
Jerome’s first few months were fantastic, the shot selection Jerome displayed was 100% warranted. I do not think Jerome has realized his shooting has dipped from his otherworldly performances. His shot selection is uncalibrated right now, it feels like he is trying to shoot himself back to his play but it is hindering possessions. Everything else about Jerome’s play has been impactful but when he pulls up way behind the arc on contested pull-ups, I get concerned.