Cavs player grades from preseason loss to Pistons
Cavs turned in some questionable work on Wednesday night.
The Cleveland Cavaliers remain winless in preseason. Does it really matter? Probably not. But let’s hand out grades for their loss to the Detroit Pistons.
Donovan Mitchell
13 points (5-13 FG), 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 22 minutes
Donovan Mitchell isn’t expected to exert himself too much in the preseason. But when you’re this good, sometimes even minimal effort can impress. Mitchell looked explosive, spinning past defenders and knocking down jumpers. I think we can expect him to hit the ground running once the real games begin.
Grade: A
Jarrett Allen
19 points (7-9 FG), 8 rebounds, 27 minutes
Jarrett Allen was awesome on both ends of the floor. He was a detterance on defense and ran the length of the court for numerous easy dunks. Most of all, he applied vertical gravity by rolling hard to the basket after setting a screen. This was everything we’ve come to know and love about Allen.
Grade: A+
Evan Mobley
10 points, 4 rebounds, 4 blocks, 23 minutes
We haven’t seen a proper follow-up to Evan Mobley’s stellar preseason debut. He sat their previous game and was relatively reserved in this one. Still, he’s playing above the break and handling the ball more often than usual. The offensive development is still in question but four blocks in 23 minutes is business as usual for Mobley.
Grade: B+
Darius Garland
9 points (3-10 FG), 2 assists, 1 rebound, 6 steals, 4 turnovers, 25 minutes
There wasn’t much going on in this game for Darius Garland, aside from a surprising six steals. He took appropriate shots and filled his role on offense — but it just wasn’t his night. We’ll expect more from him next week.
Grade: C+
Caris LeVert
6 points (2-7 FG), 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 21 minutes
Caris LeVert earned a start tonight in place of Max Strus. He struggled to provide the same level of floor spacing, going 0-3 from deep and finishing as a -19.
Grade: D+
Dean Wade
5 points (1-3 FG), 5 rebounds, 19 minutes
Can I give a positive grade to a player with that stat line? I sure can. Wade was fantastic on the defensive end tonight and cleaned the glass to secure stops. He only made one field goal but attempted shots within the flow of the offense and was an all-around +20.
Grade: B+
Georges Niang
5 points (1-5 FG), 3 rebounds, 15 minutes
Georges Niang is on the floor for his three-point shooting. When that shot isn’t dropping, it can be a rough thing to watch. He was burned defensively and didn’t contribute much anywhere else.
Grade: D-
Jaylon Tyson
1 point (0-1 FG), 1 assist, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 12 minutes
We all hoped to see more from Jaylon Tyson after a successful stint in Las Vegas. So far, he’s been underwhelming against NBA-level talent. He hasn’t found a rhythm on offense — though he has been a sturdy defender. Tyson didn’t grab a rebound tonight but this has been a strong suit for him in previous games.
Grade: D-
Craig Porter Jr.
5 points, 2 rebounds, 0 assists, 4 turnovers, 12 minutes
This was maybe the worst game Craig Porter has played in a Cavs uniform. He was a turnover machine, coughing the ball up with little resistance. To make it worse, Porter had a hard time finding his man defensively. This was one to forget for CPJ fans.
Grade: F
Ty Jerome
8 points (2-3 FG), 4 rebounds, 1 steal
Ty Jerome benefits from being included in the Cavs' best lineup of the night. His minutes alongside Mitchell, Wade, Allen and Okoro helped Cleveland surge to a lead after struggling to start the game. Jerome’s responsibility with the second unit is to push the pace and orchestrate the offense. Tonight, he did a fair job.