It’ll be a true test on Friday night for the Cleveland Cavaliers, as they play in their first back-to-back since the team had an overhaul of the roster during the NBA Trade Deadline. Cleveland matches up with the Memphis Grizzlies for the only visit to the FedEx Forum for the Cavs and it comes fresh on the heels of a 110-103 home loss to the Washington Wizards. However, Memphis is one of the more ideal opponents to see on the second night of a back-to-back. The Grizzlies have gone 2-9 in their last eleven contests. It’s been a rough season for Memphis, as they’ve been without Mike Conley for most of the season and have been off kilter since firing David Fizdale early into the campaign. For Cleveland, a win tonight will be dependent on keeping their eyes set on the task at hand.
Let’s look at the three keys for a Cavaliers victory in Memphis:
1. Let Hill Run The Offense Early- It’s usually not ideal for a point guard to actually run the Cleveland offense when LeBron James is in the ballgame and for the most part, it works out well for the squad. But with George Hill out on the floor for the Cavs it would make more sense to let him command the point. Even if it’s for the early stages of the contest, allowing Hill to create not only passing lanes but also open shooters with ball movement. Tonight against an undermanned guard position for the Grizzlies, LeBron should let Hill handle business at the one-spot.
2. Run Plays For Rodney Hood- The one thing that is truly unique about the new rendition of the Cavaliers roster is the fact that all four players do well in all facets of the game. With three of the four new Cavs coming off the bench, it’s interesting to note that there isn’t one player that stands out particularly early on. This author believes the Cavs should try to figure out if any of the four new players can become a standout player down the stretch and that should begin tonight with Rodney Hood. The lefty is uber-dangerous from behind the arc and can get to the key with ease. It’s a matter of finding his flow and with his game becoming a catch-and-shoot style for the time being, Hood has yet to show what he can do on-the-ball for an extended period of time.
Hood’s having a strong season and a lot of that is attributed to his ability to create his own plays. Against Memphis, let’s see what a Rodney Hood-led second unit looks like.
3. From The Lake Show To The Land- The biggest surprise on that NBA Trade Deadline Thursday was Cleveland acquiring Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. for Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye, and their 2018 first-round pick. Most didn’t know how to process or evaluate the trade due to the fact the Cavaliers just sent the second-biggest piece of the Kyrie Irving deal for two young players that weren’t starting for the Los Angeles Lakers and were relegated to the bench for players like Brandon Ingram and Julius Randle. The results have shown that general manager Koby Altman and company knew what they were doing.
Where Clarkson has been a scoring option and a wild card in terms of production so far, Nance Jr. has been the feel-good story due to his father playing for the Cavaliers in the past, signifying a homecoming of sorts for the twenty-five-year-old. Nance Jr. has also brought in a lot of energy and athleticism that hasn’t been seen as of late for Cleveland. That’s why it’s important for the Cavs to get the two role players involved more as they continue to log minutes for the Wine and Gold. By June, it’ll be imperative that Clarkson and Nance Jr. are playing quality minutes.
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