How to fix the Cavaliers

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It’s no secret that the Cavs have problems. They’re 29th in offensive rating and 19th in defensive rating, leading to a net rating that is 28th out of 30 teams. After a hot start, they’ve now lost 8 of their last 10, with more to come with the brutal remaining schedule. That being said, there is still talent on this roster, and there is a path to success. Here’s how to fix the Cavaliers:

  1. Roster Construction

    1. Trade Drummond and McGee, maybe Osman too

    2. Get a 6th man SG in the mold of Spencer Dinwiddie or Lamelo Ball. Norman Powell or Monte Morris or Austin Rivers if not possible

    3. Look for Love trades while simultaneously preparing for him to play. He’s on the team until he isn’t

    4. Rotation (not in order)

      1. Sexton

      2. Garland

      3. Okoro

      4. Nance

      5. Allen

      6. Love

      7. Prince

      8. Windler

      9. Backup big or 6th man SG

  2. Ball screens

    1. Absolutely zero Larry Nance ball screens when playing with another center, unless it's a pick and pop

    2. Set the ball screens higher

      1. Allows for pull up threes from the ballhandler

      2. Forces the big out father from the hoop so Sexland can use their speed to blow by and actually get all the way to the basket

        1. Currently it is way too easy for opposing bigs to keep Cavs’ ballhandlers in front of them

    3. Actually set a screen and only mix in slips situationally (looking at you Drummond)

    4. Double drag screens

    5. Maybe those Jazz plays where the initial screener slips out for a three and the center sets a flare screen for him

  3. Spacing

    1. Larry Nance jr should be spotting up full time. I am sick and tired of seeing him park himself on the block when he isn't the center and can shoot threes good enough to space the floor

    2. Okoro is competent at shooting from the corners. He really shouldn’t be shooting threes from anywhere else except in garbage time

    3. Just keep 4 out 1 in spacing all the time. Its not that hard

  4. 3 point shooting

    1. Sexland needs to take more threes

      1. Pull up threes out of the PnR were already addressed 

      2. Isolation threes need to be more frequent, especially when Garland is switched onto a big. He needs to either take the three or back up more so he actually has space to get by him off the dribble

    2. Transition threes need to become more frequent. If the paint is covered, fill to the corners

    3. Actually look for opportunities to generate threes

    4. We need quicker triggers from deep overall, especially Garland 

  5. Off ball screens

    1. Not my area of expertise but setting solid pindowns and double pindowns with audibles into slips and backdoor cuts would be nice

    2. Maybe draw up some Nance lob plays

    3. We’ve tried what looks like some Spain pick and rolls but they’re either horribly executed or they’re elevator screens disguised as Spain PnRs. Probably the former. Don't run those

    4. Momentarily screen the opposing big while simultaneously having the center run up to set a high ball screen and then have the original screener quickly get back to the 3pt line

      1. Helps delay the big from getting into his PnR coverage in time

  6. Other

    1. Garbage time

      1. I like the idea of keeping Okoro out there and running offense through him as a way to develop him

      2. Okoro-Dotson-Windler-Stevens-Wade would be an interesting lineup

    2. Taurean Prince sucks at creation inside the three point line. Getting a 6th man would be huge because I’m tired of Taurean trying to make plays off the dribble outside of attacking closeouts with straight line drives to the basket 

    3. Love’s minutes causes problems  

      1. Nance deserves heavy minutes but playing love might be worth it simply because of shooting and spacing

      2. Maybe one of Nance and Love can play backup 5 behind Allen. Would certainly free up minutes for the both of them, plus 5 out

        1. Sexton needs to always be on the floor when there’s 5 out opportunities. Iso blowbys!

      3. Injury plagued so you need a backup plan for when he’s out

The problems with this team are fixable. The ceiling with this core is debatable, but they could simply be better tomorrow with these changes. 

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