By james art The Cleveland Cavaliers improved to 5-0 after starting the game strong and holding the Lakers back.
Ratings are based on our expectations for each player.
Donovan Mitchell
24 points (10-20 shooting), 7 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals
The announcement made it clear that Mitchell will make his mark early. Mitchell would often get the inbounds, drive to the perimeter and just shoot. This immediately put the Lakers in a bad position and his aggression really set the tone for this offense and put this game in jeopardy for the Lakers early.
Grade: A+
Evan Mobley
25 points (12-16 shooting), 5 rebounds, 3 turnovers, 5 fouls
Mobley’s stats are more impressive than the tape itself. Mobley was a big benefactor of garbage time as he scored 17 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter. Mobley had foul trouble early on, picking up four fouls that allowed him to play just 12 minutes through the first three quarters. While it’s nice to see Mobley aggressive, against the likes of Jackson Hayes and Max Christie, it wasn’t enough to warrant a great rating.
Degree: B
Darius Garland
12 points (5-14 shooting), 10 assists, 2 steals
Garland was solid tonight after his offensive explosion against the Knicks. While he wasn’t a human torch against the Lakers, Garland did a great job of managing the Lakers defense and finding quality looks for all of his teammates. Garland doesn’t need to score 30+ points a night to make an impact, especially when he puts his teammates in the right spots.
Grade: B+
Jarrett Allen
20 points (9-12 shooting), 17 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 assist
Typical great game from Jarrett Allen. Allen was a force on both ends of the court. He was the Lakers’ worst nightmare: whether it was stifling the Lakers’ attempts at the rim (I don’t know if Rui ever recovered) or dealing with the mismatches the Lakers forced him to. Games like this are a reminder why you don’t trade Jarrett Allen for Brandon Ingram or someone similar in the offseason. It is a special center that, when turned on, is a serious destroyer.
Grade: A+
Dean Wade
8 points (3-7 shooting), 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals
A good game by Wade in the sense that while his shots weren’t frequent, his defense was. Wade was a threat to the Lakers’ staff. He was disrupting passing yards, ripping the ball out of LeBron’s hands and suffocating perimeter players. Games like this show why Wade is more layered than the average fan might think.
Degree: B
Caris LeVert
16 points (6-8 shooting), 6 assists, 1 steal
Best case scenario for LeVert’s pendulum. LeVert was controlled, deliberate and determined. He continued to ride his hot three-point stretch (4-6 shooting) and took them into rhythm on offense. LeVert not only scored, but created the bigs with some crafty assists when driving the rim.
Degree: A
Sam Merrill
3 points (1-4 shooting), 3 assists, 2 steals
Not Merrill’s best game, although the shooting isn’t over yet, it’s clear the staff likes what Merrill brings to the table. He can be a great secondary playmaker and has some stretches on defense that can surprise. His basketball IQ allows Merrill to be much more than just a shooter.
Grade: C
Georges Niang
5 points (2-4 shooting), 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Niang did a decent job against the Lakers. Although his shot wasn’t needed in this win, Niang provided good defensive help and was a nuisance for opposing players. That’s a good impact for a player who didn’t have to light it up.
Grade: C+
Isaac Okoro
3 points (1-3 shooting), 1 steal, 5 fouls
Okoro had a lot of game in this one. With 20 minutes to show, Okoro just didn’t play well. Around Okoro, he was often second-guessed offensively, and the defense wasn’t notable enough to make big plays to step up the class. I think Okoro will turn it around eventually, but when the team is firing on all cylinders and he’s the odd one out, it’s not a great look.
Degree: D
Ty Jerome
14 points (5-7 shooting), 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal
Jerome didn’t get a lot of meaningful minutes in this game. Like Mobley, Jerome benefited from garbage time in the fourth quarter. Outside of some runs in the second quarter, Jerome mostly picked up his stats in the fourth quarter. Good to see the shot still falling though.