The Cleveland Cavaliers lead the Japanese Convention at 41-10. Head coach Kenny Atkinson has revolutionized the best way the crew performs.
Cleveland is leading the NBA in three-point share and is second in discipline objective share. They’re eighth in defensive ranking, proving they’ve vital stability all through the roster.
Nevertheless, Cleveland’s entrance workplace felt that one other high-level wing defender was obligatory. On Thursday, the Cavaliers acquired De’Andre Hunter from the Atlanta Hawks.
Hunter is a proficient two-way wing. He thrives as a movement shooter who can rating off the catch or the bounce. The 27-year-old can also be a flexible defender with a stable monitor document when guarding forwards or bigs.
The Cavaliers have tightened up their protection by including Hunter to the roster. They’re now well-equipped to cope with groups constructed round elite wing play, such because the Boston Celtics or New York Knicks. A possible matchup with the Knicks, who’ve two elite wing defenders in OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, is intriguing.
De’Andre Hunter will not be an All-Star, however he possesses the talents to place the Cavaliers as a real contender within the Japanese Convention. He is greater than only a defender, and he’ll give Donovan Mitchell one other dependable scoring possibility when defenses collapse on him.
Hunter is averaging 19 factors, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists this season. He is taking pictures 46.1% from the sector and 39.3% from deep. Assuming Hunter slots straight into Cleveland’s beginning lineup, the crew has one of the crucial versatile beginning models within the NBA. They’ve measurement, taking pictures, playmaking and flooring spacing at nearly each place.
Atkinson has gotten probably the most out of his new crew, and the entrance workplace has rewarded him by plugging the one hole within the roster. Cavaliers followers can sit up for this postseason and the following, realizing their crew might be in a dogfight to make the NBA Finals.
