Danny Cunningham here, the host of the daily Locked On Cavs podcast, with your daily Locked On Cavs newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Cavs and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Ty Jerome Helps the Cavs Bounce Back with a Win Over New Orleans
In today’s newsletter, we dive into the Cleveland Cavaliers’ impressive victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, highlighting Ty Jerome’s standout performance. With a career night, Jerome has become an essential part of the Cavs’ success this season. Let’s break down the key moments and insights from the game.
- Ty Jerome’s Career Night: Jerome delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 29 points, including 20 in the second quarter alone. His ability to step up, especially in the absence of key players like Darius Garland, has been crucial for the Cavs. Jerome’s consistent improvement and scoring prowess have made him an indispensable asset to the team.
- Unexpected Rise: Entering the season, expectations for Jerome were modest, with many viewing him as a fringe rotation player. However, his contributions have exceeded expectations, making him a vital component of the team’s strategy. His scoring ability and versatility have filled gaps left by injured players, showcasing his importance to the roster.
- Team Depth and Resilience: The Cavs’ depth was on full display against the Pelicans, who were missing several key players. Despite this, the Cavs maintained focus and executed their game plan effectively. Jerome’s performance, along with contributions from other role players, highlights the team’s ability to adapt and thrive under challenging circumstances.
- Evan Mobley’s Role: The coaching staff emphasized Mobley’s involvement early in the game, addressing his lack of shots in the previous matchup against Boston. Ensuring Mobley remains a focal point in the offense is crucial for the team’s success, and his early engagement set the tone for the game.
- Jaylon Tyson’s Debut: Tyson made his first NBA start, impressing with a double-double performance. His energy and work ethic have been noted by the coaching staff, and his potential to contribute in the future is promising. Tyson’s development is seen as a key factor in maintaining the team’s depth and competitiveness.
- Upcoming Schedule and Rest: With a grueling start to the season, the Cavs are set to enjoy a brief respite before their next game against Toronto. This break is expected to rejuvenate the team, allowing them to return refreshed and ready to continue their strong start to the season.
- Fan Engagement and Support: The Cleveland fanbase has embraced Jerome, with his popularity soaring due to his performances. His jersey sales reflect his growing status among fans, underscoring the impact he’s had both on and off the court.
- Looking Ahead: As the Cavs prepare for their next matchup, the focus remains on maintaining their momentum and building on their early-season success. The team’s depth and ability to adapt will be critical as they navigate the challenges of the NBA season.
A refrain I’ve increasingly heard from casuals, like the talking heads on the NBA’s biggest broadcast partners, is that the league is too homogenous these days, that every team just goes out there and chucks up threes. Every game is the same.
Leaving aside the shortsightedness of famous, influential media analysts dumping on their own product, it’s a common enough complaint that I felt an urge to investigate. My eyeballs tell me the league’s never been more diverse and fun, thanks largely to the absurd wealth of stars today with skill sets as bespoke as their draft night suits. Jokic’s Nuggets look nothing like Tatum’s Celtics look nothing like Brunson’s Knicks, and to suggest otherwise is willful ignorance.
As I wrote about for Basketball Poetry yesterday, the current top five offenses are Boston, Cleveland, New York, the Lakers, and Dallas. Those five teams rank first, 14th, 17th, 24th, and 21st, respectively, in share of shots that are triples. You certainly don’t need to launch a million threes relative to your peers to score the basketball successfully.
Of course, that’s a rather superficial analysis. Regardless of rank, what if the absolute numbers are all getting closer together? That would represent a growing sameness.
I looked at shot data from this season, a decade ago, and 20 years ago to see how much the share of three-pointers had changed.
Mike Shearer (@bballispoetry) has written about the NBA full-time since 2021 at various and sundry places. For more from Mike, check out his Substack bestseller, Basketball Poetry, where he uses unnecessary metaphors and the occasional haiku to discuss the NBA’s happenings with an analytical lens.
Home and Away
Analysis In the matchup against the Pelicans, Jerome and Niang’s performances stood out, showcasing their offensive prowess and contributing significantly to the team’s success.
Milestone Cavaliers rookie posted a historic performance in his first NBA start, earning recognition and setting a promising foundation for his career. (Sports Illustrated)
Injury Cleveland Cavaliers are dealing with additional injuries ahead of their game against the New Orleans Pelicans, posing challenges for the upcoming match. (Sports Illustrated)
Stat Owen Phillips of The F5 looks at how often centers defend guards, how often perimeter players are involuntarily guarded by centers (aka the Tony Allen effect), and much more in his analytical newsletter.
Analysis Jared Dubin of Last Night, In Basketball discusses something related: what kind of players are guarding point guards these days?
Must Read Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic talks about the NBA’s increasing difficulty for defensive-minded, older players, but the real story is that Draymond Green claims to have started lifting just four years ago.
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
The Randomness Of Fantasy Basketball On A Wednesday In The NBA
Nov 20, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) drives to the basket as Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells (0) defends during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images|Petre Thomas/Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Top Five Fantasy Takeaways from Wednesday’s Games
1. Paul George’s Knee Injury Concerns
Paul George’s knee hyperextension during the 76ers vs. Grizzlies game is a significant concern for fantasy managers. While initial reports suggest no structural damage, his availability in the coming games is uncertain. This situation could open up opportunities for other players on the 76ers to step up, making it crucial to monitor updates closely.
2. Unpredictable Pelicans vs. Cavaliers Game
The Pelicans vs. Cavaliers matchup was a bizarre affair, with unexpected lineups and performances. Elfrid Payton started for the Pelicans, and Jaylon Tyson shone for the Cavs, but these anomalies are unlikely to have long-term fantasy implications. Managers should view this game as an outlier and avoid making hasty roster changes based on these performances.
3. Pacers’ Struggles and Tyrese Haliburton’s Slump
The Pacers are facing challenges, particularly with Tyrese Haliburton’s shooting woes. His road performance has been notably poor, possibly due to lingering back issues. Despite this, Haliburton’s track record suggests a turnaround is likely, making him a prime buy-low candidate for managers willing to take a risk on his recovery.
Click the button below to see how Norman Powell’s injury could open up opportunities for the Clippers, and a top 50 player returns to action.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Cavs podcasts.
Stumbling in Boston The Cavs fell to the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night on the road to see their winning streak snapped, but there’s still reasons to be optimistic that the Cavs are contenders.
Cavaliers Finally Get Some Rest This Week This week had one challenge against Boston and two games the Cavs should win against New Orleans and Toronto. What do the folks that cover those teams think of the Cavs?
Ty Jerome’s Clutch Performance Ty Jerome set a career-high with 29 points on Wednesday night to help the Cavs win despite a few key players on the shelf.
