The Cavs look to keep their good play going on the road.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are set to embark on their longest road trip of the season so far heading into the new year. The Cavs begin their Western Conference tour with a rematch against the Denver Nuggets, followed by matchups with the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, and Dallas Mavericks over the next week.
Of Cleveland’s first 30 games, 18 of them have been at home, where they have a league-best 17-1 record. Their road record is a little lighter at 9-3 and the Cavs have not been on the road for more than two games at a time yet. With this pivotal trip, here are three things to look out for.
After having subpar defensive performances through the first couple weeks of December, the Cavs have gone back to their elite ways in the last five games. In that stretch, Cleveland has had a defensive rating of 105.5, which is fourth in the league in that span.
Part of the reason the Cavs have had so much defensive success is their ability to force turnovers. Opponents have committed 18 turnovers per game in that stretch and on the season, they have a forced turnover percentage of 16.2%, which is fourth in the league.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson has not been afraid to tinker with lineups in-game and that is exactly what he did on Monday against the Utah Jazz. Sensing that the team needed more spacing, Atkinson benched Jarrett Allen down the stretch for Georges Niang, allowing Evan Mobley to run the center spot.
Atkinson was pleased with Mobley’s minutes at center and has said that Mobley has shown an ability to hold down the fort by himself due to his improved strength. In years past, the Cavs were hesitant to put Mobley at center due to his slender frame, but that has changed.
If Cleveland finds themselves in close games this trip, don’t be surprised if they close with Mobley at the five and Allen on the bench.
Strus made his return to the lineup last week against the Bucks after missing two months due to an ankle sprain. He has been on a minutes restriction in his first two games, not going over 22 minutes in both.
Strus is expected to stay on the restriction for the time being, but with forward Isaac Okoro out due to injury and Dean Wade battling knee soreness, this road trip could be a chance for Strus to catch a rhythm offensively.
Strus has put up ten threes over the last two games, only making three of them. However, this new offensive scheme fits his skillset perfectly and more game reps will be the key to unlocking his potential in Atkinson’s system. With more touches and three-point shots opening up with the injuries at small forward, look for Strus to take advantage.
