Player Grades: Cavs vs Celtics
The Cavs couldn’t get it done against the champs.
The Cleveland Cavaliers turned the ball over just eight seconds after winning the jump ball to start this game. What followed was a recurring theme of shooting themselves in the foot any time they gained momentum.
Grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Jarrett Allen
17 points (6-11 shooting), 18 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block
Allen was overdue for a great game against the Celtics. He was active from the start, grabbing 10 rebounds in the opening quarter and stuffing Kristaps Porzingis for an emphatic rejection at the rim.
The Cavs would have lost this game by 30 points if Allen hadn’t crushed it in his minutes. His energy nearly tipped the scales at various points — but as we’ll see, the rest of the team consistently squandered those opportunities.
Even in a loss, this type of performance from Allen is an encouraging sign that he can have success against the Celtics in a playoff series.
Grade: A+
Donovan Mitchell
31 points (12-25 shooting), 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 5 turnovers
This game had all the makings of a classic Mitchell takeover. His offensive surge in the first quarter felt like it could keep them from falling too deep into the hole. When that failed — his bursts of scoring continued to narrow the gap as the game went on. But at every turn, an errant three-point attempt or unforced turnover slammed the door shut.
Mitchell was special for stretches of this game. Finding a balance between being the hero and sharing the spotlight is a challenge that Mitchell has had in the past. He’s grown significantly since his days in Utah — but we still see the warts occasionally.
We can’t feel too down, however. Mitchell’s superstar prowess was on display during the various comeback attempts. And, he dug in deep to grab 10 rebounds when the Cavaliers desperately needed help on the glass. There are a few possessions Mitchell wishes he could have back but this game isn’t even close if he doesn’t show up.
Grade: A-
Darius Garland
25 points (8-20 shooting), 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 turnovers
Garland is known for his efficiency. He’s had a hard time showing that to the Celtics this season.
This game wasn’t his worst performance by any means. In fact, it turned into a pretty great one after the first quarter. Garland was aggressive attacking the drop and sparked multiple runs that nearly got the Cavaliers over the hump. But like Mitchell, Garland committed a few unforced errors that you can’t afford against Boston.
Grade: B+
Evan Mobley
7 points (3-14 shooting), 5 rebounds, 2 assists
Mobley is the key to beating Boston in a series. He’s had fantastic games against them in the past — including most recently in the playoffs. Tonight was the exact opposite as Mobley turned in his worst game of the season.
Let’s call it what it is. A 3-14 shooting game is inexcusable. Mobley looked bothered by Porzingis, which is understandable. But not being able to punish Luke Kornet in bench lineups is where this game was lost. Mobley went 0-4 from deep and never managed to make an impact on either end of the floor.
Grade: F
Max Strus
2 points (1-4 shooting), 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
The Cavaliers don’t have much depth on the wing when Dean Wade is injured. This leaves Strus playing above his weight class. He fought harder than anyone tonight, managing to make an impact with his defense despite the poor matchup.
Still, Strus was unable to provide a punch from the three-point line. A barrage of Strus threes could have swayed this game. Instead, he only gets credit for his valiant effort on defense.
Grade: C+
Georges Niang
6 points (1-3 shooting), 2 rebounds
Niang is unplayable against the Celtics. There isn’t a team more equipped to target him on defense. His only hope is torching them from deep on the other end. Niang didn’t do that tonight — and he didn’t rebound the ball, either.
Grade: F
Sam Merrill
12 points (3-5 shooting), 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Merrill turned in another quality performance. This time, against a team he has historically struggled against. Merrill has buried 12 three-pointers in his last two games and his shooting was nearly the difference at various stretches of this game.
At one point, Merrill took a blow to the chest and fell to the ground, before recovering to contest a three-point shot and burying one of his own in transition. That’s the definition of a fighter.
Grade: A+
Ty Jerome
5 points (2-4 shooting), 4 rebounds, 3 steals,
The Cavs could have used a Typhoon tonight. Instead, they received a run-of-the-mill game from their backup point guard. He wasn’t bad — but he didn’t provide a spark, either. Perhaps he would have received more minutes if Merrill wasn’t hitting from deep.
Grade: C
Caris LeVert
0 points (0-5 shooting), 3 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 turnovers
This was only LeVert’s second game back from an injury. So, take it with a grain of salt.
Nonetheless, the on-court production was abysmal. He went scoreless with a poor mid-range attempt sprinkled into the mix. You need one of Strus, Jerome or LeVert to have a big scoring game against the Celtics. The Cavs went 0-3 on that variable.