Story by
Cavaliers standing in East limited by bench issues, 2nd-quarter woes
- Story by
- Cavaliers standing in East limited by bench issues, 2nd-quarter woes
CLEVELAND — This Cavaliers season has been nearly a polar opposite of last year in several respects.
Much of that stems from the Cavs' injury situation , particularly with a starting lineup in which Darius Garland , Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen have all missed several games and been limited in a number of others.
Advertisement
But during a disjointed first 37 games this season, it has been the bench production that stands as one of the most glaring differences. And because of those deficiencies, second quarters are killing the Cavs' chances to build any momentum.
A year ago, Kenny Atkinson 's first at the helm, the Cavs raced out to a 15-0 start en route to an Eastern Conference-best 64 wins. Donovan Mitchell , Garland and Mobley, especially, enjoyed seamless introductions into Atkinson's offense.
At the same time, Cleveland 's bench was among the league's best, creating the feeling of a relentless onslaught for opponents. Mitchell, Garland and Mobley were all All-Stars, but even with them off the floor the Cavs bench didn't give teams much of a chance to catch their breath, a major ingredient in their recipe for success.
That hasn't been the case this season as the Cavs have sputtered to a 20-17 record. The difference in bench production has been stark.
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers forward Nae'qwan Tomlin (35) on Jan. 4, 2026, in Cleveland.
Cavaliers stats on bench production show liabilities
Last season, the Cavaliers bench ranked second in plus/minu s (3.0), behind only the NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder . They were also in the top 10 in points per game (39.7) and field goal percentage (45.9). The Memphis Grizzlies were the only other team to finish in the top 10 in all three categories.
Advertisement
Led in part by Ty Jerome's breakout season that resulted in a $28 million contract with those same Grizzlies, the Cavs' second unit acted as one of their biggest advantages on a nightly basis.
This season, the bench's production has dropped off. Entering their Jan. 4 game against the Detroit Pistons , the Cavs had fallen to 27th in points per game (32.0), 30th in field goal percentage (41.3) and 10th in plus/minus (0.6), putting more stress on a starting lineup that has also been trying to regain its collective health and find its footing.
Sam Merrill has often either been sidelined or in the starting lineup. Lonzo Ball has had an up-and-down recent few weeks. Nae'Qwan Tomlin and Thomas Bryant have at times received major minutes. Craig Porter Jr. has seen an uptick in minutes. Jaylon Tyson has likely played himself into a key role but, like Merrill, has often been pushed into a starting role.
The circumstances have been far from ideal. But there's no arguing against the fact the Cavs haven't enjoyed an elite advantage they held throughout last year.
Advertisement
"I mean, we saw our bench last year, right? We were playing elite," Atkinson said. "This year, we've had some good spurts and some not good spurts, but we're definitely playing deeper into the rotation."
Part of the issue is several regulars with ideal bench roles have been pushed into the starting lineup because of injuries. Once that is corrected, Atkinson said he believes better production is on the way.
"It's important to get everybody back more towards their role in the slot," Atkinson said. "That's so important. Even Sam off the bench helps a lot, right? When he starts, you almost laid it a little bit too much on that first unit. [Everyone being healthy] kicks him back to the bench, that makes our bench better.
"It's like this domino effect because on that second unit, we really need shooting, we need spacing, we need gravity."
Advertisement
Cavs offense in second quarters among league's worst
The inconsistent production from the bench has left the Cavs vulnerable in the second quarters of games.
In the first, third and fourth quarters, the Cavs rank seventh (1.9), fifth (2.5) and fourth (2.1) in the NBA, respectively, in plus/minus. For three of the four quarters, the Cavs have ranked as a clear top-seven team in the league.
The second quarter? They're dead last with a -3.8 plus/minus . It reared its ugly head again in a 114-110 loss to the Pistons when Detroit outscored the Cavs 47-28 in the second quarter. The Cavs outscored the Pistons in the three other quarters, but it didn't matter.
Advertisement
"It's something we've got to look at, look at the combinations," Atkinson said after the loss. "Maybe we keep two of our starters out there at the same time. Gotta help them. We started Sam tonight and that obviously hurts our bench. Just gotta figure it out. Definitely hurting us, those minutes."
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Cavaliers bench stats, 2nd-quarter offense remain top issues
