Who will be Cleveland’s fifth starter, alongside Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen? JB Bickerstaff seems to have decided, starting Caris LeVert since the start of the preseason.
The coach likes the offensive power of the trio Garland – Mitchell – LeVert, and he counts on the former Nets and Pacers player to make the defensive efforts on the other side of the field.
“He’s been as selfless as you’d expect, just trying to make it work”, explained the coach about Caris LeVert. “Sometimes to a point where we want to push him to do more, and it will be a matter of time. Playing with Donovan and Darius, he knows he’s going to have to be more of a facilitator at times, but he’s also going to understand that we want him to play to his strengths. »
“I try to be reliable on both sides of the pitch. This is where it starts. I push myself to be the best player possible. Defense is part of the game. I try to be the best at that too”
For Caris LeVert, therefore led to play a role of Swiss army knife, it is a question of being more complete.
“I try not to think too much about the shots”he explained after the loss to the Sixers. “I just think about getting to certain places on the pitch. If the shot comes, I take it, otherwise I find a teammate. I think I’m at my best when I’m not putting pressure on myself to score. I have always said that I was a complete player. I think scoring overshadows all of that because everyone’s like, ‘Oh, that’s a scorer. But I’m really proud to be a complete player. »
Moreover, JB Bickerstaff had made the first defender on James Harden last night.
“Every drill we do, he’s in the mindset of helping us as a defender first, and then obviously he’ll use his attacking talent once we recover some of our rotations,” assures the coach. “I think Caris did a great job defensively. I think he was very consistent from that point of view. He has a big wingspan, a big will, he moves his feet well, and he accepts these challenges. »
What therefore give him priority, compared to Isaac Okoro or Dean Wade, for fifth place in the five major Cleveland. Even if it is in use that we will see if this solution is the best.
“I’m going to need this for me and the other team members”he concludes on his defensive concentration. “I try to be reliable on both sides of the pitch. This is where it starts. I push myself to be the best player possible. Defense is part of the game. I try to be the best at that too. »
| Caris LeVert | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2016-17 | BRK | 57 | 22 | 45.0 | 32.1 | 72.0 | 0.4 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 8.2 |
| 2017-18 | BRK | 71 | 26 | 43.5 | 34.7 | 71.1 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 12.1 |
| 2018-19 | BRK | 40 | 27 | 42.9 | 31.2 | 69.1 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 13.7 |
| 2019-20 | BRK | 45 | 30 | 42.5 | 36.4 | 71.1 | 1.1 | 3.1 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 18.7 |
| 2020-21 * | All Teams | 47 | 32 | 44.1 | 32.6 | 81.1 | 0.7 | 3.9 | 4.6 | 5.2 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 20.2 |
| 2020-21 * | IND | 35 | 33 | 44.3 | 31.8 | 82.2 | 0.7 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 20.7 |
| 2020-21 * | BRK | 12 | 28 | 43.5 | 34.9 | 76.5 | 0.8 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 6.0 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 18.5 |
| 2021-22 * | All Teams | 58 | 31 | 44.4 | 32.0 | 75.6 | 0.7 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 17.0 |
| 2021-22 * | IND | 39 | 31 | 44.7 | 32.3 | 76.0 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 18.7 |
| 2021-22 * | KEY | 19 | 30 | 43.5 | 31.3 | 74.5 | 0.7 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 4.0 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 13.6 |
| Total | 318 | 28 | 43.7 | 33.3 | 73.7 | 0.7 | 3.1 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 14.6 | |
