Cavs Top 3: Donovan Mitchell and Steph Curry duel but poor shooting dooms team

The Cleveland Cavaliers had their third loss handed to them in a row thanks to the Golden State Warriors

The Cleveland Cavaliers were unable to hold off a rally from the Golden State Warriors on Friday night, dropping their third straight to the final score of 106-101. The Cleveland Cavalier’s three-game losing streak all happens to coincide with their trip to California.

It’s becoming a state that isn’t very hospitable to the Cavs. You’d think they’d be better hosts. The Warriors are mostly cooked these days, as they’re a fully healthy squad and still relying on Steph Curry to drop 40 points to mount a comeback.

The Cavs aren’t losing big, by any means across these three games. Not at all, in fact. The team is still mostly playing well, but they’re having a bout of shooting woes, especially from their two best pure shooters.

Darius Garland is just shooting 31% from the floor over the last three games, while just 22% from three. Kevin Love is hitting just 39% from the floor, and 41% from three. Not terrible numbers, but not as efficient as he’s been.

Another issue is Cedi Osman, though not for the same reason. Since Nov. 2, he’s shot 46% from the floor and 40% from three but he played just three minutes in the loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, only played 15 minutes against the Sacramento Kings and just 21 minutes against the Warriors. The Warriors’ lack of minutes is even more damning, considering Dean Wade was out.

The Cavs starting five is among the best in the game, but if they’re not backed by a good bench, they’re doomed. Not just the Cavs, but any NBA team in the history of forever needs a potent bench. The bench is good, it has talent, it’s just struggling to get its points at the moment.

Garland needs to fix his shooting woes and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff needs to get his bench players more shots.

Cleveland Cavaliers top 3 vs. the Golden State Warriors

1 Point – Jarret Allen

Jarrett Allen played some good bully ball against the Golden State Warriors and even put up a box+/- of 0 despite the five-point loss. He finished just one rebound shy of a double-double.

2 Points – Evan Mobley

Evan Mobley had one of his better games in his sophomore season, dropping 20 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. A great outing, and it’s great to see Mobley being more engaged as of late. At times it felt like Mobley was getting lost in the flow of action over the first few weeks of action.

3 Points – Donovan Mitchell

Like Kevin Love before him, Donovan Mitchell just missed a triple-double. He had 29 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists, and nearly led the Cavaliers to a win over the defending NBA Champions. Losing streaks like this happen from time to time but they’ll eventually right the ship.

Cavs Top 3 Seasonal Standings

1. Donovan Mitchell – 24 Points
2. Jarrett Allen – 12 Points
3. Kevin Love – 8 Points
4. Cedi Osman – 7 Points
5. Caris LeVert – 5 points
6. Darius Garland & Evan Mobley – 4 Points
7. Dean Wade  – 3 Points