CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers just put together their best month since LeBron James bolted for Los Angeles. The team won 11 games in the month of January, capped off by an ugly, come-from-behind win over the New Orleans Pelicans without the help of star point guard Darius Garland.
The Cavs, even when things haven’t been going their way, have consistently found ways to win. The team’s 31-20 record has them not just in the playoff picture, but in the race for homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs. With the Cavs having one of the easiest remaining schedules in the NBA, finishing up the season as one of the top seeds in the Eastern Conference isn’t a farfetched thought.
With all that said, the Cavaliers are in a position where they need to improve if they’re going to make any significant noise in the postseason when that time comes. Here are the top three areas the Cavs need to improve before the NBA’s trade deadline later this month:
An additional creator
When the Cavs lost point guard Ricky Rubio to a torn left ACL at the end of December, it became clear and obvious that he would be missed. In order to fill that hole, the team traded for point guard Rajon Rondo, but it doesn’t appear as if that is enough.
While Garland has been an All-Star caliber player this year, the Cavs need someone else that can not only create his own shot but also create shots for others. Garland has been dealing with a sore back as of late -- he missed Monday’s game due to it -- and the team doesn’t have a good enough answer for when he’s not available. Pushing Rondo down the depth chart to the third point guard, instead of the second, could do wonders for the Cavs and their offensive production.
Help on the wing
Entering the season, help on the wing was clearly Cleveland's biggest need, but Rubio and guard Collin Sexton both going down to season-ending knee injuries changed that from being the case. That, however, doesn’t change the fact that the Cavs could still use that help on the wing, especially when swingman Cedi Osman is pressed into duty as an emergency point guard.
The Cavs have done a terrific job playing larger than every other team with a typical starting group that includes Lauri Markkanen at the small forward position. But Markkanen is dealing with an ankle injury that has caused him to miss a few games already, with no firm timeline for his return yet. Adding more depth there would be a huge boost to the Cavs and if they could land someone that can thrive in a role as sort of a big creator, it could be knocking out two objectives with one new addition.
More shooting
In the NBA, teams can never have too much shooting, and that certainly holds true for the Cavaliers.
The Cavs currently rank in the middle of the pack in three-point shooting percentage at 35 percent on the season, which is a fine number that certainly could be improved. The team could also improve upon its frequency of three-point attempts, which currently rank 21st in the NBA.
Adding a dangerous outside shooter to the lineup could also create more room for Garland to operate and improve his play both on and off the dribble as well.