Cleveland Cavaliers 2022-23 Season Preview
Donovan Mitchell enhances their offense, but doesn't change it.
Welcome to the 2022-23 previews for every NBA team! These breakdowns are designed to look at stats, film & anything I found interesting in my preparation for the upcoming NBA season.
If you liked this breakdown feel free to share it & if you have any other scenarios, plays, or thoughts on any future breakdowns let me know in the comments below!
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Stats
Net Rating: +1.9 (13th)
Offensive Rating: 111.8 (19th)
Good
The Cavs did a good job on the offensive glass with their “tall ball” lineups ranking 10th in the NBA, but it will be interesting to see how the addition of Mitchell impacts this, since they are taking away some size in their lineups.
Ok
Getting to the rim was great for the Cavs, ranking 5th in the NBA and finishing well there ranking 10th in the NBA in rim finishing at 66.5%. Besides getting to the rim the rest of the Cavs shot profile was all over the place, ranking in the middle of the NBA when it comes to the rest of their shots.
Ugly
They turned the ball over ALOT, ranking 27th in the NBA turning it over 15% of the time. Mitchell should alleviate some of the playmaking and the fit with their best lineups will be cleaner, but this has to improve in order to become a legit playoff contender.
Defensive Rating: 110 (6th)
Good
By holding opponents to a lower eFG% and limit fouling (ranking 5th in both categories), the Cavs were able to have the 6th best defense in the NBA. While surprising, the inside presence of Mobley and Allen makes the Cavs defense feel sustainable.
Bad
Good offensive rebounding teams are usually good defensive rebounding teams as well, so it is a little strange to see the Cavs ranking in the bottom half of the league is surprising. Ranking 18th and allowing teams to rebound back 26% of their misses is a bit concerning, considering their best lineups will be downsized with the addition of Mitchell - something to look out for.
Ugly
Cleveland gave up a lot of shots at the rim, allowing teams to shoot 37% of their shots from within 4 feet of the basket - although they did a good job containing them and contesting them as their opponents shot 64% on those chances ranking 13th in the NBA.
Film
Wedge Roll
A set made popular by the San Antonio Spurs & Popovich, this empty ballscreen set is designed for teams to create bad coverages for the defense.
As the ball is brought up on the wing, the guard will go and screen for a big in the middle of the floor for the big to go set a ballscreen for the player with the ball on the wing empty.
SOB Horns Miami
The most run sideline out of bounds set the Cavs will run is this hand off into a pick and roll, typically with a stretch big. Starting off with a screen for the opposite corner, the pass goes to the middle of the floor.
The big at the elbow the screens out to the wing and goes into a hand off for the player in the corner.
As the hand off is occurring the other big will follow into a ballscreen.
Double Fist Low
This is a simple variation on the normal double ballscreen, where the design is to have the second player start off lower and the slip early to the rim.
Against drop coverage this is a good look since when the guard turns the corner it almost always creates a 2 on 1 scenario.
Hand Off Runner
A set that the Cavs ran for Garland last season that I can see them running for Mitchell is to tweak how the Spurs loop works, with a hand off entry.
The hand off on the wing then reversal triggers a double screen on the baseline for the guard to look to score off of, then flows into a side ballscreen.
Horns Rip DHO (ATO)
One of my all-time favorite sets for Kevin Love is one of the Cavs go-to plays After Time Out.
The ball gets passed to the elbow and then on the empty side of the floor the opposite corner sets a backscreen for the player at the top of the key.
Because this action forces the defense to react, this goes into a dribble handoff that is usually open.
Zipper Dribble (ATO)
Another way the Cavs go into Miami action or also called dribble action, is to have the shooter come off a zipper screen.
Then they hand it right back and go into a ballscreen creating shake action.
Horns Elbow Get Spain (ATO)
Perhaps my favorite set from this past season was this Spain counter out of the normal “Elbow Get” action.
The counter to this that the Cavs run is to have the guard who passes to the elbow come off a backscreen and then be the backscreener in Spain action.
If you liked this breakdown feel free to share it & if you have any other scenarios, plays, or thoughts on any future breakdowns let me know in the comments below!
🏀Resources:
Basketball Playbooks | Coaching Clinics | Coaching Membership | Newsletter
👉🏻Follow:
🔎Explore:
5-Out Breakdowns | Space & Pace Clinic | NCAA “Delay” Series Playbook
Note: if you are reading this in the e-mail-only form some of the gifs and videos do not always show up correctly.
Outwork Yesterday.
Coach Pyper