The Cavaliers won’t fall off and end up like the Knicks and Hawks

MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 01: Kevin Love #0 and Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers high five against the Miami Heat during the second half at FTX Arena on December 01, 2021 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 01: Kevin Love #0 and Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers high five against the Miami Heat during the second half at FTX Arena on December 01, 2021 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Oct 23, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ricky Rubio (3) drives to the basket against Atlanta Hawks forward Cam Reddish (22) during the second half at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ricky Rubio (3) drives to the basket against Atlanta Hawks forward Cam Reddish (22) during the second half at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

Why the Cavs aren’t like the Hawks

The Hawks threw a bunch of players against the wall to see who would stick. They brought in Danillo Gallinari, Bogdan Bogdanovic, DeAndre Hunter, and Cam Reddish in back-to-back offseasons but that created a log jam.  A log jam that has bled over into a confusion of roles.

Gallinari is less involved in the offense this year, Bogdanovic has regressed, Reddish was traded and while Hunter is great on defense, his advanced stats paint a different picture for him on offense.

This is a team that has a lot of good players but not a lot of defined roles. Specifically on defense. The Hawks are 9th in points for, but 25th in points against. Their defense has no bite to it, and what bite it had left with Reddish. It’s made worse by the fact that their star player, Trae Young, is a massive liability defensively. He’s posting a defensive RAPTOR score of -3.9. That’s horrid levels of defensive effort. To the point where one has to ask if he’s even trying.

The Cavaliers have no players on their roster that 1) don’t fit a role or 2) don’t give any effort defensively. Of the players who have played 600 minutes, only three have a negative RAPTOR score on defense, and that’s Cedi Osman (-0.3), Lauri Markkanen (-0.3), and Garland (-0.3). They are one good home series from all being positives on that end of the floor.

The Hawks, on the other hand, have just three with a positive RAPTOR score; John Collins, Clint Capela, and Delon Wright. No Hawks player has a more damning score than Young, however, and it’s fair to say that the entire team is actively trying to cover up for his glaring lack of ability or desire to play defense.

The Cavs don’t have that issue. Even the players who aren’t “positives” are at least near that threshold, and are actively trying.