Grading Every Cleveland Cavaliers Player Entering NBA Finals
The spring training part of the Cleveland Cavaliers' postseason schedule is officially over.
For the third straight year, the Cavs are headed to the NBA Finals to face the Golden State Warriors. The two teams didn't leave much doubt, as Cleveland's loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 3 of the East Finals was the lone hiccup for either squad.
With Round 3 set to kick off June 1, both teams will have plenty of time to review tape on the other. Neither should like what it sees.
Golden State, 12-0, registered a 16.8 net rating since the start of the playoffs to the Cavaliers' 16.1. The next highest NBA team? The San Antonio Spurs, at 0.7.
Like last year, the Warriors will get to open at home and will be the heavy favorites to start.
As the Cavs hit the gym after a franchise-best 12-1 start to the postseason, it's time to hand out some pre-Finals playoff grades.
Inactives/Reserves: Tavares, Felder, Jones, Jones, Williams
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Inactives: Kay Felder, Edy Tavares
The shortest and tallest players on the Cavaliers were the two selected to dress up for every playoff game. Both did most of their damage in the D-League this season and should be soaking in the experience, something every Los Angeles Clipper can only dream of.
Grades: Incomplete
13. James Jones, F
Playoff Stats Per Game: 4.3 minutes, 0.4 points, 0.6 rebounds, 25.0 FG%, minus-2.8
The legendary Jones is headed to his seventh straight Finals appearance, is probably the smartest player in professional basketball and did this in a series-clinching Game 5 against the Boston Celtics.
So what if he played less than 22 minutes all postseason?
Grade: A (off court), C- (on court)
12. Dahntay Jones, F
Playoff Stats Per Game: 3.3 minutes, 1.0 points, 0.4 rebounds, 42.9 FG%, minus-2.1
Playing on a $9,000 paycheck for signing at the very end of the regular season, Jones is typically the first man off the bench in timeouts to greet the team and keep morale high.
He worked extensively with Iman Shumpert earlier this postseason when the latter was out of the rotation, keeping him fresh. If Jones would stop getting fined against the Toronto Raptors every year, he'd possibly grade out a little higher.
Grade: C
11. Derrick Williams, F
Playoff Stats Per Game: 5.5 minutes, 2.8 points, 0.6 assists, 66.7 FG%, minus-4.2
Even though Williams has fallen out of a healthy Cavaliers rotation, don't automatically assume he won't get to face the Warriors.
At 6'7" with the ability to guard multiple positions, Williams could be brought on for defensive help against Golden State. He talked to Bleacher Report earlier this season about watching the 2016 Finals and picturing himself on the court with Cleveland, mentioning areas where he could help.
A year later, Williams may get his chance.
Grade: C-
Rotation Players: Jefferson, Frye, Shumpert, Korver, Williams
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10. Richard Jefferson, F
2016-17 Playoff Stats Per Game: 10.6 minutes, 2.9 points, 1.4 rebounds, 40.0 3P%, minus-1.2
Jefferson has been a positional matchup for head coach Tyronn Lue, seeing action against the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics but left out when facing the Toronto Raptors.
At 36, Jefferson still flashes athleticism and could play Finals minutes. If Lue shortens the rotation, however, he could be the first to go.
Grade: C
9. Channing Frye, F/C
2016-17 Playoff Stats Per Game: 13.0 minutes, 7.8 points, 1.7 rebounds, 52.6 3P%, minus-0.7
Like Jefferson, Frye's playing time has depended on the series. With his fantastic outside shooting, Lue prefers to use Frye against paint-stricken bigs to pull them out to the three line.
Although one of the NBA's best floor-spacers, Frye has openly acknowledged his struggles against the Warriors in the past and was limited in his court time during last year's Finals.
Grade: B
8. Iman Shumpert, SG
2016-17 Playoff Stats Per Game: 17.4 minutes, 4.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 47.1 3P%, plus-2.7
A terrible showing after the All-Star break had Shumpert's playing time in jeopardy, but he's responded with an excellent role off the bench.
Cleveland needs all the wing defenders it can get against Golden State, and Shumpert has already warmed up against the likes of Paul George, DeMar DeRozan and Isaiah Thomas this postseason.
Lue likes to use Shumpert against opposing point guards with his 6'5" frame, so expect him to see a heavy dose of Stephen Curry very soon.
Grade: B+
7. Kyle Korver, SG
2016-17 Playoff Stats Per Game: 17.7 minutes, 6.4 points, 1.8 rebounds, 41.5 3P%, plus-4.8
Korver is one of just two non-starters to appear in every playoff game. His outside shooting and activity off screens can drive opposing wings mad.
Although his near 42.0 percent shooting from deep is quite good, Korver has been forcing a lot of shots recently and could see that success rate climb even higher.
Korver will be a free agent this offseason, so Cleveland needs to ride its 14-year veteran while it can.
Grade: B-
6. Deron Williams, PG
2016-17 Playoff Stats Per Game: 15.5 minutes, 5.6 points, 2.5 assists, 54.2 FG%, plus-4.5
While it was LeBron James or Kyrie Irving who handled the ball nearly every possession in the 2016 Finals, Williams brings some welcome relief.
He's been everything the Cavaliers hoped he would be this postseason—a high-efficiency scorer who can run the offense and give Cleveland's Big Three a break.
Like Korver, this will be Williams' first trip to the Finals.
Grade: B+
5. J.R. Smith, SG
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2016-17 Playoff Stats Per Game: 26.2 minutes, 6.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 44.9 3P%, plus-9.5
Let's be honest: This can't be an easy postseason for Smith.
Tyronn Lue opened the playoff playbook by asking Smith, not LeBron James, to guard Paul George in Round 1 against the Indiana Pacers. After that, DeMar DeRozan. Smith's first "break" came against Avery Bradley, a solid scorer in his own right.
As a result of this increased focus on defense, Smith has attempted fewer than five shots a game. While he's been successful with his shot, Smith's role on offense has been severely limited.
The kicker? Smith has been excellent as a perimeter defender with the stats to back it up.
George shot just 34.6 percent with Smith as the primary defender, per ESPN Stats and Info (h/t FiveThirtyEight.com). DeRozan was even worse at 28.5 percent but was a 50.0 percent scorer when guarded by anyone else on the Cavaliers.
Smith's net rating this postseason of plus-19.7 is third on the team, trailing only Kevin Love and James.
Eventually he'll want more shots, but Cleveland needs Smith's defense now more than ever.
Grade: B+ (or A+++ for doing this)
4. Tristan Thompson, C
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2016-17 Playoff Stats Per Game: 33.0 minutes, 9.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, 0.8 blocks, 60.0 FG%, plus-10.5
Yes, LeBron James is the Cavaliers' most valuable player, but Thompson is easily the team's most valuable defender.
His 98.9 defensive rating this postseason leads the team, while his 9.3 boards are second only to Kevin Love. His athleticism and versatility as a big man open up Cleveland's defensive playbook and allow the Cavs to blitz like we've seen this postseason.
"When you get to the playoffs with Tristan, the biggest thing for him is defensively," Lue said. "He can do so many things defensively. He can trap, he can show, he can drop, he can switch, he can guard 1 through 5, so him being that versatile on the defensive end is so huge for us, especially with the things we want to do and take away, he's very valuable. As far as being a menace on the glass, his physicality, that's something we need at that position, and he brings it every single night."
Lue has even compared Thompson to Kevin Garnett for his motor and desire to be the anchor of a defense. With no other defensive-minded big available, it's Thompson's job to take on a Garnett-like challenge every night.
Grade: A-
3. Kevin Love, PF
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2016-17 Playoff Stats Per Game: 32.0 minutes, 17.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, 47.5 3P%, plus-14.0
Don't look now, but Kevin Love is playing defense.
After a quiet start to the postseason, the 28-year-old averaged 22.6 points and 12.4 boards while showcasing strong defensive skills against the Boston Celtics.
The secret? Increased looks on offense may be serving as a motivating factor.
"As an ex-player, any time you're getting touches and getting shots, your defense is always better, you know, because you feel more involved in the game," Lue said.
"Kevin's been strong for us defensively all year. It shows this series against Isaiah [Thomas]; he's been good and rebounding the basketball. Defensively in the Indiana series and Toronto series he's been really good. Now in this series, starting to shoot the ball, getting touches and scoring the basketball, it's been great."
Love owns the highest net rating (plus-21.7) of any Cavalier this postseason, showcasing his improved all-around game.
Since his trade to Cleveland, this is the best Love has looked.
Grade: A
2. Kyrie Irving, PG
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2016-17 Playoff Stats Per Game: 34.8 minutes, 24.5 points, 5.6 assists, 46.6 FG%, plus-12.0
Although the numbers look solid, Kyrie Irving hasn't played close to his best ball this postseason.
He's just 10th on the Cavs in three-point shooting (35.6 percent) and wasn't truly dominant until Game 4 against the Boston Celtics when he dropped 42 points to bring Cleveland back for the win.
We know Irving's play only improves the brighter the lights, something the Cavaliers hope once again carries over to the Finals.
"He's a special talent," LeBron James said, via Michael Singer of USA Today. "As the stakes get higher and higher, his game gets higher and higher, but [Irving's performance Tuesday vs. Boston] was nothing surprising for me. He showed why he's one of the best point guards in the league, and he commanded us to be better, especially in the second half."
Irving saved Cleveland from going back to Boston 2-2, ending any hopes the East Finals would become a competitive series.
With one of the biggest shots in NBA Finals history already under his belt, Irving looks ready to shine once again.
"He basically was just waiting for an opportunity to be able to blossom," James said, via Singer. "I'm just happy and blessed that when I decided to come back that I was able to help him blossom, I guess, because he gets to play in games that he's always been built for. He just never had the opportunity because of the team at that point in time. I'm happy to be able to sit back with four fouls and see him do what he's always been built to do. He was born for these moments."
Grade: A-
1. LeBron James, SF
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2016-17 Playoff Stats Per Game: 40.9 minutes, 32.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 2.2 steals, 1.4 blocks, 56.6 FG%, 42.1 3P%, plus-15.5
At his current pace, James will be the first player to average 30, eight and seven on 50 percent shooting or better since...LeBron James in 2008-09.
As Bleacher Report's Adam Fromal wrote:
"Only five of the league's 30 franchises—and we can even throw the defunct squads into the mix—have as many NBA Finals appearances in their history as James has in the last seven years. If that's not the definition of a dynasty, what is?"
James has become a one-man dynasty, now having led two separate franchises to four Finals appearances each. Other stars like Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and Paul George don't have a single trip to the promised land to their name. James has eight in the past 11 years.
Without James, it's unclear how far the Cavaliers would advance in the postseason, if they'd even make it at all. He means that much.
Against a heavily favored Warriors team, James' legacy has a new chapter waiting to be written.
Grade: A+
Stats via Basketball Reference and NBA.com and are accurate through May 25.
Greg Swartz is the Cleveland Cavaliers Lead Writer for Bleacher Report.
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