First Quarter Progress Reports

As Christmas (and the unofficial start of the season for some fans) approaches, it’s time for Cavs: The Blog’s first quarter progress reports. After a slow start to the season, the Cavaliers have won 13 straight games, and currently sit in second place in the Eastern Conference behind the Boston Celtics. As in past seasons, our progress reports take a look at each player on the Cavaliers’ roster, as well as head coach Tyronn Lue and general manager Koby Altman. While letter grades are assigned, they’re by no means conventional and each one is clearly explained. With that, take some time and check in on how we grade each Cavalier so far this season.

LeBron James

Much more on @KingJames tonight on @foxsportsoh and his player of the Month honor..he starts Dec #1 in Player Efficiency rating, a career best rank in assists, #4, and career high in 3FG% (42.5%) and 2FG% (63.7%)

— Fred McLeod (@CavsFredMcLeod) December 2, 2017

Fred McLeod’s tweet pretty much says it all. James has been amazing to start the season, and particularly spectacular over the last month. His lack of defensive effort early in the season was a big problem for the Cavaliers (if he doesn’t switch when his teammates do, then someone is always left wide open), but he has ramped up his efforts on that end as of late. Right now, the race for MVP seems to be between James and James Harden. If it looks close in the second half of the season, don’t bet against James upping his play to yet another level to seal the deal.

Grade: D. James is still the NBA’s most Dominant player, and he has Defied Father Time in a way unseen since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kevin Love

I’m not sure that any other current All-Star gets taken for granted more than Love. He’s currently averaging 19 points and 10 rebounds with a True Shooting Percentage of 62% The only other player putting up that combination of scoring, scoring efficiency, and rebounding is Anthony Davis. He remains a mismatch for both traditional big men and smaller stretch fours. Despite the fact that Love doesn’t like playing center, the Cavaliers have played well with him in that spot. While he’s not the longest or most athletic defender, Love is smart and typically gets to the right spots on that end.

Grade: U. Love is such an Underrated player, both when compared to other big men around the league, and in terms of his defense, which is much better than advertised.

J.R. Smith

After missing much of last season for a variety of reasons before playing quite well in the playoffs, Smith got off to a terrible start this season. When you look back at his career, slow starts are fairly common for Smith. Perhaps more alarming was his poor defense early on, although that has begun to improve. While Smith has been solid since the beginning of November, but he still hasn’t shot the ball quite like he did in the 2016 Championship season. At 32 years old, he may never do so again.

Grade: R. After a horrid October, Smith has been able to Regroup. There’s still Room for improvement, but he Remains on of the Cavaliers’ better wings. 

Jae Crowder

Crowder joined the Cavaliers with much fanfare, with many proclaiming he was the type of athletic wing needed to better compete with the Warriors. A favorite of advanced metrics in previous seasons, Crowder has gotten off to a poor start this season. His role on both ends of the floor have been far different than what he had during his time with the Celtics. He has struggled to score, particularly from beyond the arc, while a constantly changing defensive role has also been hard for Crowder to adjust to. Perhaps joining the bench unit would be more comfortable for Crowder as that group moves the ball a bit more.

Grade: C. Crowder seems to be struggling with his Confidence, particularly with his outside shooting. Hopefully, we will see more Consistent performances from him soon.

Isaiah Thomas

A hip injury suffered in March has kept Thomas from suiting up for his new team thus far, but that may change soon. While initial timelines had Thomas returning to action around the New Year, he seems likely to return before Christmas. It’s fair to wonder whether Thomas will still have the same quickness that helped him become an MVP candidate last season, but considering all that he has overcome throughout his career, it would also be unwise to bet against him.

Grade: U. It’s Unknown whether Thomas will be the same player he was before his hip injury, but his Upcoming return has fans Understandably excited. 

Tristan Thompson

Like many of his teammates, Thompson got off to a terrible start to the season, averaging career lows in points, rebounds, blocks, and free throw percentage. Unlike his teammates, Thompson hasn’t had a chance to redeem himself as he was sidelined with a strained calf just eight games into the season. While some have wondered whether or not Thompson has been completely focused on basketball, his effort has never been in question before, and rumblings of leg issues began well before his strained calf. There’s been a lot of debate as to what Thompson’s role should be going forward, but a return to the starting lineup makes the most sense. While Crowder is a better shooter than Thompson, he hasn’t really helped with the team’s spacing, and starting Thompson limits his time on the court with Dwyane Wade and Jeff Green, neither of whom are three-point threats either.

Grade: I. Thompson’s season have been Incomplete thus far. He’ll likely be Inserted into the starting lineup when he returns since Love doesn’t like playing center and James shies away from power forward.

Dwyane Wade

In many ways, Wade has been a catalyst for both positive and negative change within the Cavaliers. His arrival initially caused the removal of J.R. Smith from the starting lineup, Channing Frye from the rotation, and Richard Jefferson from the roster. His move to the bench has given the Cavaliers their most productive second unit in years, and may have spelled the end of Derrick Rose in the rotation. Wade isn’t what he used to be, but he’s still and incredibly smart player who can be a big part of a contender in the right role.

Grade: O. The Old Man has been Outstanding while leading the Cavaliers’ second unit. 

Kyle Korver

Korver signed a three-year $22 million dollar deal with the Cavaliers this past summer, and so far, he’s been worth every penny. Korver continues his elite shooting from the outside with a 43% mark on 5.8 three-point attempts per game. He’s also averaging a career-high 65.5% on two-point shots, and has played smart team defense as a key member of the Cavaliers’ second unit. For all the talk about Wade’s candidacy for Sixth Man of the Year, Korver should get some consideration as well.

Grade: T. As one of the greatest Three-point shooters of all-time, Korver is an enormous Threat on offense.

Jeff Green

Not much was expected of Green when he signed with the Cavaliers. He has never been the most efficient player, and his teams have typically been better with him on the bench over the course of his career. So far, it’s been different for Green as a Cavalier, and much of that may have to do with his role. He isn’t expected to carry a large load on this team, and that’s helped him play to his strengths more than ever before. Green seems to have locked up a spot in the rotation, and he’s certainly earned it.

Grade: S. Green has been Surprisingly Successful thus far. He’s a Solid addition to the team.

Channing Frye

At the start of the season Frye lost his spot in the rotation through no fault of his own, and saw his best friend on the team traded in a salary dump. Now, Frye has earned back his spot as the main big man on the bench through a combination of his ability to space the floor and some surprisingly solid defense. A recent slump has dropped his three point shooting to 34.9% for the season, but Frye is making up for that by shooting an amazing 70.3% on two point shots. Frye isn’t the most conventional big man, but he sure is effective.

Grade: R. Frye Remains a Respected locker room voice and one of the most Reliable backup big men in the NBA.

Iman Shumpert

Shumpert started out as the tenth man in the Cavaliers’ rotation, became a starter after Rose injured his ankle, and will now be out of action for the next 6-8 weeks after surgery on his left knee. Considering he’s shooting just 38% from the field and 28% from three while averaging the fewest steals per game of his career, it’s fair to wonder if he has any kind of real role to come back to.

Grade: I. Shumpert Is what he Is, and Inconsistent shooter who has battled Injuries throughout his career.

Derrick Rose

When Rose signed a contract for the Veteran’s Minimum with the Cavaliers this summer, there were mixed reactions from both the fans and media. Some believed that Rose would be an upgrade at backup point guard and could potentially revive his career in Cleveland. Other thought that Rose was a poor fit on a team that was built around James being surrounded by shooting. It turned out the latter group was right. Rose has played in just seven games this season after injuring his ankle, and those seven games weren’t anything to write home about. While Rose is averaging 14 points per game and scoring at the rim with decent efficiency, that doesn’t make up for his lack of defense, passing, and shooting. Even before his ankle injury, the Cavaliers were playing better with Rose on the bench. He’s a former star who never developed role player skills.

Grade: G. For a while, Rose was Gone from the team. He may soon be Gone from the league. 

Cedi Osman

Fans who had followed Osman overseas were excited for the rookie to join the Cavaliers, and so far he has justified that excitement. Osman is a big wing with a high motor and solid basketball I.Q.. He needs to add some muscle and work on his shot, but even now, The First Cedi is proving that he is a legitimate NBA player. Once he learns the league, Osman could be a high-level role player for years to come.

Grade: E. Osman’s Energy and Enthusiasm are contagious. Cavalier fans are Excited to have him. 

Jose Calderon

It was a mystery when the Cavaliers signed Calderon to a guaranteed contract on the first day of free agency, and it was disappointing when they traded Richard Jefferson because it was cheaper than cutting Calderon. But, it’s also been surprising that Calderon has done a better job as the Cavaliers’ starting point guard than either Rose or Shumpert. Calderon will return to the bench when Thomas returns, but he’s shown that he still has a place in the NBA.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRzbc6FCIOk&feature=youtu.be

Grade: S. Calderon remains an incredibly Smart player who has been Satisfactory as a Show Starter for the Cavs. 

Ante Zizic

Zizic arrived in Cleveland as part of the Kyrie Irving trade. While he was a well-regarded prospect, he has yet to make any impact in Cleveland, and has begun to make regular visits to the Canton Charge. He’s shown some promise with the Charge, but it’s fair to wonder how a traditional center like Zizic fits in today’s NBA.

Grade: P. Zizic is a bit of a Project, and it will be some time before we know if he truly has the Potential to be part of the Cavaliers’ future. 

John Holland

Considering he is 29 years old, it could be seen as a bit of a surprise that the Cavaliers signed Holland to one of the new two-way deals over a younger player with more upside. Maybe they saw this as a way to add another experienced player for little money while rewarding Holland, who has been the go-to scorer for the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers’ G-League affiliate, for the past few years. Considering how long he has fought to get to the NBA, it’s nice to see a guy like Holland get some recognition.

Grade: R. It was nice of the Cavaliers to Reward Holland’s play for the Charge with a two-way contract. Now, the Cavaliers should try to find out if he is a Real NBA player. At his age, there’s not much time left.

London Perrantes

There really isn’t much to say about Perrantes at this point. A solid, if unspectacular, combo guard at Virginia, Perrantes has been on the bench for one game with the Cavaliers and has yet to see action with the team. He missed time early in the year with a concussion, and while he’s averaging 15.9 points and 4.6 assists per game with the Charge, he’s shooting just 38% from the field and 30% from three. It’s hard to know what the Cavs see in him, although he did just tie a Canton Charge record with 16 assists in one game.

Grade: M. Perrantes is a Mystery to many Cavalier fans. It’s easy to forget he’s on the roster.

Tyronn Lue

It’s a pretty common to see fans ripping Lue, but what has he done to warrant it? Yes, the lineups early in the season weren’t the best, but we know he was letting the players see for themselves that they wouldn’t work. One could blame the team’s lack of effort on him, but we’re talking about grown men on the oldest team in the league. Lue takes the long view more than most coaches, and while he wants to win every game, he realizes that the regular season is really just high level practice for a team like the Cavs. It’s okay to try something that doesn’t look like it will work, because sometimes you’re surprised (see Green, Jeff). That can be frustrating, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true. Lue has shown that he is willing to make tough adjustments when he needs to.

Grade: P. Lue is a Player’s coach. He is Patient when his team struggles, and gives his team time to come around to his way of thinking. 

Koby Altman

Six months ago, it was unlikely that Altman thought he would be the General Manager of the Cavaliers. Then David Griffin and Trent Redden left, and after an unsuccessful courtship of Chauncey Billups, Cavs owner Dan Gilbert decided that Altman was the man for the job. Regarded throughout the NBA as a bright young mind, Altman was thrown into the fire immediately as he had to trade an unhappy Kyrie Irving and retool the team’s bench. We’ll know more about how successful Altman has been once Isaiah Thomas returns to action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZObPzdwYgw

Grade: S. Altman has had some Success with his offseason Signings of Jeff Green, Jose Calderon, and Dwyane Wade, but Derrick Rose hasn’t worked out. It’s unknown how much of a Say owner Dan Gilbert allows Altman in important decisions with the team to begin with, and we’ll See how the Kyrie Irving trade works out.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are playing arguably the best regular season basketball we’ve seen from the team since LeBron James’s first run with the team. Despite that, there are still plenty of challenges ahead. The Boston Celtics’ defense looks like the real deal and the Houston Rockets have the look of true title contenders, plus there are still those pesky Warriors to deal with. Still, if the Cavaliers are able to keep up their current level of play, there will be plenty of reason to be optimistic about the Wine & Gold.