For the Cleveland Cavaliers, nothing went as planned in the playoffs.
An amazing regular season was followed by a second-round thud, with the Cavaliers losing in five games to the eventual Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers. That much you know.
You probably also know that as soon as the Cavs were eliminated, the demands began to make the rounds. Trade Jarrett Allen. Trade Darius Garland. This team isn’t tough enough. Blow it up. Do something, anything. Just don’t run it back.
Well, Cavaliers legend Mark Price doesn’t think that major changes are necessarily the answer. After all, the Cavs did finish 64-18. So clearly, they did a lot of things right.
“It’s hard to say disappointing season when you won 64 regular-season games,” Price told John Sabol of Fox 8 during a Mark Price Basketball Skills camp stop at North Ridgeville High School.”They had a phenomenal regular season. But we all know that you’re judged by what happens in the playoffs. That’s just the reality of professional sports and the Cavs came up short.”
Price added that injuries may have played a role. So did the fact that the Pacers got really hot when it meant the most. Still, Price suggested the Cavs shouldn’t yet give up on the Core Four of Donovan Mitchell, Garland, Evan Mobley, and Allen.
“You’ve got four really good players there that have played together now for two, three years,” he said. “I’m all for having a core and keep growing. They’re still really young. Evan Mobley is just coming into his own. Darius Garland needs to get healthy.
“But I would tend to (say), ‘Hey, let’s find a couple pieces.’ Maybe an Alex Caruso is out there or someone that could come in and be a difference-maker off the bench.”
Everyone has said that the Cavs need to get tougher to make a serious run next season. The list includes Cleveland president of basketball operations Koby Altman. It also includes Price.
“They need another big. I think they need a couple of what everybody likes to refer to as dawgs on the defensive end of the floor,” Price said. “That was kind of a glaring difference in the makeup of some of these teams — whether it be OKC or Indiana or Minnesota or New York. They really got after you on the defensive end of the floor. I think that’s the next step the Cavs gotta take.”
Sometimes, teams have to go through lots of playoff pain before reaching the pinnacle. That may be the current Cavs’ trajectory. But Price suggested they are right there, and should only get better by staying the course and adding some reinforcements.
“Look at Indiana,” he said. “Do you really think Indiana’s that much better than the Cavs? I don’t. They played better and they beat them … but I think everybody believes (the Cavs had) a legit shot this year. They will again next year.”
Price is a four-time All-Star and four-time All-NBA member, including a one-time All-NBA First Teamer. He played for the Cavs from 1986-95, averaging 16.4 points and shooting 41 percent on 3-pointers during his career in Cleveland.
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If your core four play 35 minutes a game, this leaves only a few minutes for these ‘tough’ guys we all seem to want to get. Javonte Green was tough but yet there were no minutes. If core four aren’t tough, there is no math that works because they get the minutes. Dean Wade, Okoro, Tyson, Green…..CAVS had good defenders. But if you are committed to playing Garland and Jerome heavy minutes it doesn’t matter. If Cavs had Caruso, how many minutes would he have gotten last year?
Max Strus is way over rated. Garland has played 12 more games than him over last 2 years reg seasons. The role players have lost their joy since Strus has come. He is a mouth that can’t back it up. 10th on team in +- behind Levert who was traded. I believe Allen, Okoro, and Wade are better without Strus. Few like to hear about analytics but Sam Merrill did much more than Ty Jerome to affect winning. If he is half the price, there is no contest which one to keep. Craig Porter regressed. Need a vet point guard instead. Trade Strus. Let Jerome walk. Trade Porter. Start Hunter. Promote Tomlinson. Let Tyson have Strus minutes. Sign vet pg.
Anybody know what’s happening with Khalifa Diop? Is he better than Tristan Thompson right now? Probably. He would be one of the top second rounders this year if in the draft.