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'Necessary': Cleveland Cavaliers bench being led by Caris LeVert, Ty Jerome
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- 'Necessary': Cleveland Cavaliers bench being led by Caris LeVert, Ty Jerome
CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers have the best record in the NBA , a perfect 6-0 with Friday's win over the Orlando Magic .
And one of the biggest reasons for their early season surge? It isn't just the big names in the starting lineup. It's also the "necessary" second unit that has overpowered opponents whenever it's been on the floor.
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The Cavs have won five of their six games by double digits , the only other win being a key victory over the New York Knicks . They've averaging more than 120 points, one of only two teams in the league scoring at such a high pace.
It isn't just that Donovan Mitchell has been terrific, or that Jarrett Allen has been arguably the most efficient player in the NBA, or that Darius Garland has looked more like himself, or that Evan Mobley looks like he's emerging as a star in his own right.
It's also that the second unit hasn't allowed opposing teams to catch their breath, even for a second. The bench hasn't only not lost any leads, it has extended them.
When asked how he could quantify the importance of the Cavs bench, Mitchell gave, at first, one word: "Necessary."
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"When you have a bench unit that not only keeps a lead, but pushes a lead, that makes you so, so tough as a team," Mitchell said. "Every night it's somebody different, and everybody's consistent."
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Caris LeVert (3) drives to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers guard Max Christie (12) during the first half Friday in Cleveland.
Caris LeVert putting himself in Sixth Man of the Year territory as key member of Cavaliers bench
Second unit members Caris LeVert, Ty Jerome , Isaac Okoro , Georges Niang and Sam Merrill have all excelled in their current roles under new coach Kenny Atkinson . That's especially true of LeVert, who's been one of the most effective players in the league thus far on a minute-by-minute basis while operating as the team's sixth man.
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Entering Friday, LeVert was averaging 11.8 points while shooting a ridiculous 68 percent from the field. He was also averaging 3.8 assists and 1.2 steals in 21.6 minutes per game. Then, in Friday's win, LeVert totaled 13 points and seven assists as the Cavs put the game away.
LeVert is second in the league in Win Shares Per 48 Minutes (a stat that analytically measures a player's impact on winning or losing), behind only Allen. And while plus/minus — which measures whether a player's team gains or loses points when he's on the floor — isn't always the best statistic, LeVert's numbers have been eye-popping. Entering Friday's game, LeVert was fifth in the NBA at 8.7 per game, and he then led the Cavs with a plus/minus of 18 in their win over the Magic.
The Cavs bench overall has a plus/minus of +207, second best in the NBA .
"He's unbelievable. I mean, he's a starter, he's our sixth starter," Jerome said. "He's just super complete. What is he not doing right now? Shooting the crap out of the ball, he's defending, he's pushing the pace and getting to the paint. … He's got to be Sixth Man of the Year in these early games."
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When LeVert and Atkinson were both in Brooklyn , the Nets were hoping to see a more efficient player with the ball in his hands. In fact, they were basically hoping to see this 2024-25 version of LeVert. What they envisioned has come to life.
"In Brooklyn we really implored him to be a more efficient player, and we didn't get there. We got a darn good player, but his efficiency has always been an improvement area," Atkinson said. "Caris, he's buying in. I feel like he's dribbling less, he's getting to the rim quicker, he's catching, shooting the ball without hesitation. Those are the things we're emphasizing."
LeVert being on the floor has taken some of the pressure off Mitchell and Garland in some situations, as he can facilitate and score at a high rate. It's afforded the Cavs some flexibility, along with not having to have their starters on the floor quite as much on a nightly basis.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome (2) drives to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell (1) during the first half Friday in Cleveland.
Ty Jerome making an impact off Cavs bench after missing a year with ankle injury
Jerome, too, has been a major plus for the Cavs bench. He missed effectively all of last season after needing ankle surgery. Now with a chance in Atkinson's rotation, Jerome has made his mark, averaging 11.4 points and 3.4 assists on 64 percent shooting from the floor in 14.6 minutes per game.
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When Jerome takes over at point, the Cavs offense hasn't missed a beat. In an effort to push the pace, Jerome has been a near-perfect fit.
"Energy. Passing. He's always pushing the pace," Allen said of Jerome. "[He brings] good vibes to the team. He's always coming in with good energy. He's trying to hype everybody up."
Atkinson has said he'd ideally like to run a 10-man or 11-man rotation, perhaps even extending it to 12 at some point. With how LeVert, Jerome, Okoro, Niang and Merrill are playing, once Max Strus returns from injury and pushes Dean Wade into that second unit, it seems as though the Cavs will have no choice but to run at least 11 in the rotation.
For now, the Cavs bench has been one of their most effective weapons.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Cavaliers bench an asset in 2024-25 led by LeVert, Jerome
