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'It's like Turbo': Cavaliers welcome back Max Strus, add shooter to NBA's best offense
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- 'It's like Turbo': Cavaliers welcome back Max Strus, add shooter to NBA's best offense
CLEVELAND — The NBA's top-shooting offense has effectively added another weapon to the mix.
Cavaliers starting small forward Max Strus returned from an ankle injury to make his season debut in Friday's 124-101 win against the Milwaukee Bucks .
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Strus missed the Cavs' first 27 games , watching from the sidelines as Kenny Atkinson's offense surged to be one of the league's best . They entered Friday night second in the NBA in points per game and first in field goal percentage.
Atkinson noted earlier this month that adding Strus after such an absence would almost be akin to acquiring a starting-level player via trade midway through the year. One game in, and the Cavs with Strus already have a blowout win under their belt.
"The same Max we all know," said All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell when asked what he saw from Strus. "I think the biggest thing is he wasn't hunting, he wasn't chasing, just continuing to play within the system and I think that's ultimately what we're going to need. He brings something that we've been missing, and I think to say that while having the best record in the league is special."
Cavaliers guard Max Strus poses for a photo during media day, Sept. 30, 2024, in Cleveland.
Max Strus joins Cavaliers after ankle injury
In 19 minutes on the floor — the Cavs want to ease Strus back into the groove of things a bit — he hit three of his eight 3-point attempts, dished out two assists and had a plus/minus of plus-20, which was second on the team.
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In a way, the Cavs' hope is that Strus' energetic style can turbocharge their offense.
"I mean the energy, that injection of energy we talked about, he's going to come in and everything that goes with that, it's like turbo," Atkinson said. "He's on turbo between the cuts and flying off staggers."
The Cavs' have found offensive success in part because their spacing has created massive problems for opposing defenses, who haven't been able to figure out a way to slow down Mitchell, Darius Garland , Evan Mobley , Jarrett Allen and Co. all at the same time. Now, with Strus back on the floor, the Cavs' hope is that his "gravity" adds another dimension to it all.
"You saw it last year. What were we, 4-6, without him or something like that? [It's helpful] just for defenses to have to pay attention to him," Mitchell said. "That's the biggest thing about our offense. You really have to make so many decisions and now you add another guy who shoots it at a high clip, that's ultimately what makes him special, as well as being able to be a great rebounder, hustle plays, little things, but having him back, being able to have another weapon is huge."
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It had been a while since Strus was able to run the floor with teammates in a game. It led to a few jokes postgame.
"I haven't heard from any of 'em during the whole time. I think they forgot I was on the team," Strus joked. "Nah, it was good to see them again. Like I said, none of them really said anything to me the whole time. Georges [ Niang ] just gave me a compliment. That's the first time I talked to him in nine weeks. But, yeah, it's good to see everybody again."
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavaliers Max Strus returns from injury, joins NBA's No. 1 offense
