Cavaliers found something offensively with their one-big lineup in Game 5
The Cavs used the extra spacing to put together a functional offense for the first time this postseason
The Cleveland Cavaliers offense is simple to a fault. Their main principle is simple: pressure on the rim and generate drive and kick threes once the defense collapses. The Cavaliers can overpower many teams in the regular season by spamming high pick-and-rolls with two bigs, but the postseason has proven to be a different story. It isn’t a coincidence that their best offense in the regular season and the only time they broke 100 points in the playoffs came with only one center on the floor.
Cleveland’s simple offense gets dumbed down even further when there’s just one big. But, this time that simplification is beneficial. The guards are able to play in space which allows them to read and react much easier. The remaining center can also effectively play make from the high post with the additional room, allowing them to be a triple-threat in a way they aren’t when there’s an additional defender in the dunker’s spot because of the other center on the floor.
“The spacing is obviously different,” Donovan Mitchell said. “There’s longer rotation. You got guys like Jonathan Isaac, for example, he’s coming from the corner as opposed to helping off.”
This is an example of what it looks like when Isaac is just able to hang out in the paint playing help defense. Mitchell converts the layup, but he has to beat his man, Wendall Carter Jr. at the rim, and Isaac. That’s a lot of work for just two points.
The next clip shows what the long rotations look like. Mitchell only had to beat his on-ball defender as Isaac had to stay on Max Strus. Paolo Banchero was forced to either take away the pass to the corner or contest the layup. And Franz Wagner decided to stay home to take away the lob to Mobley. Instead of needing to beat three guys, Mitchell only had to go through Markelle Fultz.
“The biggest thing is just the difference in distance,” Mitchell said. “It’s a game of inches. Having guys like Jonathan Isaac or a Wendell Carter having to come from the wing or come from the corner. Now you’re making that pass. Now you’re getting them in rotations. It changes the game.”
Mitchell was able to have his second-highest point total for the series even though he lacked the burst he had in the first four games. The more spaced-out floor allowed him to get into the chest of his defender and get to the line in a way he wasn’t able to do previously. That wouldn’t have been possible if his defender knew there was help on the backside like there is when the Cavs are playing two centers.
This is the type of offense Mitchell thrived in during his playoff runs with the Utah Jazz. The issue with those teams was on the defensive side of the court as they ranked tenth or worse in playoff defensive rating in their last three postseasons.
The Cavs will need to prove this small ball lineup can work defensively if they’re forced to be without Allen for an extended period. They were good defensively with just Allen in the middle of the season and held up well on that end with just Mobley in Game 5. Playing with one big requires more buy-in from everyone defensively, especially to clear out the offensive glass like they did in Game 5.
The best basketball team isn’t always the one that can put the most talent on the court. It’s about putting the best talent on the court that fits together. The offensive pieces complement each other much better with just one center.