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Cavs Top 3: Defense implodes in two consecutive outings for the Cleveland Cavaliers

By Chad Porto

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 24: Darius Garland #10 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots against Onyeka Okongwu #17 of the Atlanta Hawks during the second half of the game at State Farm Arena on February 24, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 24: Darius Garland #10 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots against Onyeka Okongwu #17 of the Atlanta Hawks during the second half of the game at State Farm Arena on February 24, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Alex Slitz/Getty Images) /
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The Cleveland Cavaliers defense has fallen apart in back-to-back games.

The Cleveland Cavaliers defense has not seen an improvement on defense yet following the All-Star break. The team was supposed to have better perimeter play with the loss of Kevin Love and the addition of Danny Green, but early returns have not been kind.

The Denver Nuggets were able to take the lead and secure the win on Thursday, thanks in part to their three-point shooting. They shot 36 threes and hit 17, giving them a 47.2% mark from beyond the line. A mark that the Cavs’ defense has given up far too often.

The Hawks were more efficient on Friday, going 15-28, and hitting just under 54% from behind the line. It’s one thing to allow such volume, as nearly 40 three’s attempted is horrendous for a defense, but the Cavs are giving up 50% of the three-pointers attempted in the first two games back.

This is not a good sign for the team. To make matters worse, Donovan Mitchell is just chucking up junk threes. He’s averaging just 23% from three over the last two games, and while his three-point shooting has been average at best since arriving in Cleveland, these last two games have shown that he pushes far too often for threes when the team is struggling.

Only one bench player, Cedi Osman, has also hit double-digits yet since the return from break, which continues to highlight a major issue with the team’s scoring for the second unit.

The Cavs fell in a close one to the Western kingpins, the Denver Nuggets via a score of 115-109. Considering Nikola Jokic is the runaway favorite to win the MVP right now, that’s tolerable. But the Cavs then lost a back-to-back to the Hawks, 136-119, where the Cavs didn’t even show up in the first half and only mounted a comeback against the Hawks bench.

light. Related Story. Cavs Top 3: Cavaliers forget how to play defense despite Danny Green’s debut

Cleveland Cavaliers Top 3 Denver Nuggets and Hawks

1 Point – Jarrett Allen/Cedi Osman

30 minutes, 14 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, – 6 BPM

16 minutes, 10 points, 5 rebounds, + 9 BPM

2 Points – Donovan Mitchell/Evan Mobley

35 minutes, 22 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds, 4 steals, -1 BPM

30 minutes, 13 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, – 8 BPM

3 Points – Evan Mobley/Darius Garland

38 minutes, 21 points, 9 rebounds, 0 BPM

21 minutes, 22 points, 2 assists, – 10 BPM

Cavs Top 3 Seasonal Standings

  1. Darius Garland – 72 Points
  2. Donovan Mitchell –68 Points
  3. Evan Mobley – 54 points
  4. Jarrett Allen – 45 points
  5. Cedi Osman –  37 points
  6. Isaac Okoro, Caris LeVert & Kevin Love – 20 Points
  7. Raul Neto & Dean Wade – 4 Points
  8. Ricky Rubio – 3 points
  9. Lamar Stevens – 2 Points

Next. 3 Cleveland Cavaliers whose futures will be decided over the last 21 games. dark

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