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4 things the Cleveland Cavaliers have to work on going forward

By Chad Porto

Oct 19, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) controls the ball as Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (32) tries to defend during the third quarter at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 19, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) controls the ball as Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (32) tries to defend during the third quarter at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /
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TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 19: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors drives against Isaac Okoro #35 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half at Scotiabank Arena on October 19, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 19: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors drives against Isaac Okoro #35 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half at Scotiabank Arena on October 19, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) /

Better perimeter defense

The fourth-quarter switching was atrocious. The Raptors passed the ball around the perimeter with ease until they found a guy who was open. Sure, most teams won’t be able to hit the volume of threes, in the time frame given to them, that the Raptors did but that’s no excuse. Especially since the Raptors aren’t known for their perimeter shooting. It’s even more inexcusable.

Some of this does fall on Donovan Mitchell for getting trapped up. Some of it falls on Isaac Okoro, if he’s not going to impact the game offensively, he has to do it somehow. The same goes with Caris LeVert, another culprit in the collapse of the perimeter defense. While we know Levert and Mitchell aren’t great defenders, to just let open shots go is inexcusable. Raul Neto didn’t help at the end either.

Some of this will be improved upon just with Darius Garland back, and the return of Ricky Rubio, but asking Dean Wade to sprint out from the block to get a hand in someone’s face, who should already be covered, is really poor defense.

This is the one area where the team was expected to struggle and in their defense, it didn’t happen all game, just in the third, near the end, and for most of the fourth quarter. So it’s not like it was a disaster.

It just needs to be shored up.

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