While the Cleveland Cavaliers have been doing quite well this season, currently sitting third in the East with a 12-7 record, they still have one question to address and who should be the team's starting small forward when they are fully fit.
With Caris LeVere injured and Lamar Stevens falling ill, Cavaliers coach Bikstaff had to try a few different lineups last week, though even before those attempts, LeVert was moved to the bench to become Stevens' backup, but with Dean Wade's return, the trio began the Cavaliers' starting small forward race.
The Cavaliers' starting small forward was LeVere, who performed well in training camp, and he started the season with a strong performance, even slashing 41 points against the Boston Celtics, the Eastern Conference brother, but when Darius Garland returned from injury, LeVere began to become inconsistent as he had less and less possession.
LeVere's numbers as a starter are actually pretty good, averaging 12.9 points per game and shooting 50.5 percent from the field in his starting game. But the problem is that LeVere needs to have the ball in order to have an impact on the game, so he is not suitable to partner Garland and Donovan Mitchell in the starting line-up, and his style of play may be more helpful on the bench.
In theory, Wade is the best choice for the Cavaliers to start small forward, and Wade, who is 2.06 meters tall, gives the Cavaliers a great advantage in this position, and can also be a very good three-point option, and he is very good at not having the ball, does not need the ball, and can defend some of the opponent's lineup with some of the most significant forward players.
The Cavaliers certainly see the potential in Wade, otherwise they wouldn't have rushed to offer him a three-year $18.5 million contract extension before the season began. Although Wade has only played a few games this year due to a knee injury, that hasn't prevented him from becoming a starting small forward for the Cavaliers.
But compared to Wade, the editor still feels that Stevens is the best choice for the Cavaliers to start small forward when all three players are healthy, and the data supports this view. This season, when Stevens was in the starting lineup, he averaged 28.5 minutes per game, nearly 10 points and 4 rebounds, and was also very efficient, shooting 48.8% from basketball and 60.8% from the field, and as for his most criticized three-pointers in the past, he also improved greatly in his starting lineup, as high as 45%.
LeVere, Wade and Stevens all have their own reasons to be the Cavaliers' starting small forward, but in the end the position depends on who is best suited to partner with Garland, Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. #头条群星10月榜 #