Cavaliers: Cleveland Has Exactly What It Needs In Love, Shumpert and Mozgov

Kevin Love has a new found aggression, and the additions of Iman Shumpert and Timofey Mozgov give the Cleveland Cavaliers the defensive adjustments they need to win

There’s no way to say this nicely, but the Cleveland Cavaliers have been far beyond disappointing so far. Until the last few days that’s been more than apparent, yet with several new arrivals and Kevin Love finding his All-Star form the future is looking a little brighter.

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The chemistry just hasn’t been there, their defense was dire at the start of the season and now they’re suffering with the injuries of LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, as well as Anderson Varejao.

To top it off, Dion Waiters has now been traded to the New York Knicks in exchange for J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert. Meaning it’s time for Davit Blatt to work out this team’s chemistry, again.

However, there are a couple of a few good things going for the Cavs now.

Waiters has never really been able to gel with his teammates since the arrival of Love and LeBron, and averaged just 10.5 points per game on 40 percent shooting this year. So now the Cavaliers have brought in another trigger happy, streaky, and relatively inefficient guard in the form of J.R. Smith. It hardly seems like a recipe for success, does it?

Smith is effectively just a 29-year-old version of Waiters; a two-guard who shoots more than he should, averaging just over 10 points a game (10.9) and shooting 40 percent from the floor. Hopefully he learns his role with the Cavaliers though, and his spirits should be far higher than they ever were in New York as Cleveland actually have some serious potential. Even if they aren’t close to reaching it yet.

Dec 4, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers small forward LeBron James (23) and New York Knicks shooting guard Iman Shumpert (21) chase a loose ball during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. The Cavaliers defeated the Knicks 90-87. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Smith isn’t really the part of this trade that people should be worrying, though. He’ll receive fairly moderate playing time (at least he should do) and it’s Shumpert who is going to add the tenacious defense on the perimeter that the Cavs have been longing for all season.

He’s willing to play tough defense for the entire game, he’s excellent in the passing lanes (averaging 1.7 steals per 36 minutes) and he should blend in well on offense; by shooting the odd three-ball (35% from deep this year) and only attacking the rim or taking a long jumper when he has the opportunity to do so. Unlike Waiters.

Nov 28, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith (8) attempts a shot against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Even though Shumpert might not be in action for another 2 weeks due to a dislocated shoulder, we can still expect to see the defensive impact in his return that the Cavaliers have lacked all season from their other guards.

Another reason Cavs fans should be excited, however, is because Kevin Love has started to look like the elite power forward that he truly is. And the very recent acquisition (I only found out as I was proof reading this piece) of Timofey Mozgov significantly bolsters Cleveland’s interior defense and rebounding while Varejao is inactive, not to mention providing much needed depth in his return.

Regardless of the fact that Love couldn’t carry his team past the 76ers (admittedly he didn’t have much help due to injuries and Michael Carter-Williams played an exceptional game) he has still started to improve his game as of late, which can only bode well for Cleveland as the year progresses.

Dec 15, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) drives on Charlotte Hornets forward Marvin Williams (2) during the fourth quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs beat the Hornets 97-88. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

After averaging 26.1 points and 12.5 rebounds per game last year, everyone knew that Kevin Love was most likely going to decline in terms of his stat-sheet-stuffing-abilities once he joined the Cavaliers. He went from a talent deprived Minnesota Timberwolves team to joining a four-time MVP and two strong rebounders, in the form of Tristan Thomspon and Varejao.

What made the start to his career in Cleveland even harder, though, was that none of his teammates seemed to realize just how talented he is. And that he can do so much more than just be a stretch-four who just knocks down the occasional three-pointer.

I genuinely have no idea how anyone in the Cavaliers organisation can think it’s OK for Love to have 11 shots or less in fourteen games this year. He can post-up and his mid range jumper and fade-away work (he’s shooting 51% from 16 feet out), so just give him the ball, someone.

The Cavaliers may have lost four of their last five games, against mainly mediocre opponents too, but not all the blame can be put on Love for this recent bad spell. With no Kyrie, Waiters, LeBron or Varejao against the 76ers, it’s not even all that surprising they lost. Once you take out their star players and add injuries into the equation this team isn’t quite as good you’d think.

Dec 28, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) drives against Detroit Pistons forward Greg Monroe (10) during the second half at Quicken Loans Arena. The Pistons won 103-80. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Despite these struggles, Love has managed to at least start showing some of the offensive aggression that he desperately needs to in order to give the Cavaliers a fighting chance this postseason.

All year Love has been restricted in comparison to what he could do in Minnesota, averaging just over five less shots per game (now 13.1) to result in a drop from 26.1 points per game to just 17.8.

With Kyrie and LeBron out the way though (the Cavs’ two top scorers), Love has been getting his dues, and is finally having the opportunity to showcase what he can do as a scorer.

In the last three games, Love has taken 18 shots a game (including a season high 21 field goal attempts against the Dallas Mavericks) which equals the number he took per game last year, and he’s scored at least 27 points in all three contests, a mark which he’d only reached twice in the previous 31 games this year.

Love dropped 30 points and 10 rebounds against the Mavericks, and despite the Cavs losing 109-90, there were at least signs that their star power forward has found some anger. He wanted to be the go-to star on the team, and it showed.

Jan 4, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) looks to the basket against Dallas Mavericks forward Richard Jefferson (24) in the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

He didn’t hesitate to take long-range jumpers, he made 3 three-pointers, had a season high six offensive rebounds, and added the odd dunk and a very smooth 4-point play over Monta Ellis for good measure.

There’s no way Kevin Love can be described as reliable defender, but in terms of doing what he does best he’s averaging 21 points over his last eight games and is coming off three of his best performances as a Cavalier. If he continues to show this kind of aggression and still demands to have the ball in his hands from time to time when LeBron is back, then there’s no doubt that this team is going to improve.

Admittedly, there will obviously be less opportunities when the world’s best player is on your team, but Love showing that he even has this mindset in a Cavaliers jersey is very promising.

And just as this article was going to come to a close, I’ve now found out that the Cavaliers have traded for Timofey Mozgov.

Oct 21, 2014; Boulder, CO, USA; Portland Trailblazers center Robin Lopez (left) shoots the ball over Denver Nuggets center Timofey Mozgov (25) during the first half at the Coors Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

I was going to say that the Cavaliers are still going to be in trouble defensively, as they don’t have the extra center they need alongside Varejao or a rim protector who can reduce opponents efficiency inside the paint. Yet that looks redundant now.

Even though the Cavs have reportedly sacrificed two first round picks to make this happen, Mozgov is an excellent addition to fill this gaping hole in Cleveland’s roster.

I only started this piece earlier today and just hours later their squad already looks far better, now that they have Shumpert and Mozgov. Talk about a roller-coaster 72 hours. Well played, David Griffin.

Even guys who didn’t play for the Heat want to come join LeBron now, and the Cavaliers are finally making some major towards contending in the East.

Next: Knicks: Everything from here on out is on Phil Jackson